Fort Stevens began in 1863 as a Civil War fortification guarding the mouth of the Columbia River in Oregon. In 1897, the U.S. Army began construction of the William Clark Battery (named for the Clark of Lewis and Clark). The battery, which was completed in 1898, was construction with concrete and included two pits with four mortars. Originally, the plan called for four 12-inch mortars, each of which was 129 feet long, in each pit but when it became apparent that firing four mortars in a single pit was difficult and dangerous. Each pair of mortars required about 30 men to operate, and space was limited in the mortar pits.
In her book Fort Stevens, Susan Glen reports:
“Eight 12-inch mortars were positioned in two pits, which when fired all at the same time, broke windows in Seaside, Oregon, 15 miles south of the fort.”
In 1917, the mortars were removed from the William Clark Battery and today the cement structure stands empty, attracting tourists to explore the ruins.
Mortar Pits
Fire control stations
Inside
More Fort Stevens photo diaries
Fort Stevens: The West Batteries (photo diary)
Fort Stevens: Some ruins at Battery Clark (photo diary)
Fort Stevens: Battery Pratt and Battery 245 (photo diary)
The Guns of Fort Stevens (photo diary)