Fort Adams – Haunted Fort in Newport, Rhode Island

Fort Adams stands as a massive coastal fortress overlooking Narragansett Bay in Newport, Rhode Island. This imposing military installation has guarded the entrance to Newport Harbor since the early nineteenth century. The fort’s dark stone walls and underground passages have witnessed countless military operations and human dramas. Today, visitors and staff report strange encounters with entities from the fort’s storied past.

The paranormal activity at Fort Adams ranges from phantom soldiers to unexplained sounds echoing through empty corridors. Many believe the spirits of military personnel who served and died here never truly left. The fort’s isolation and military history create the perfect atmosphere for supernatural occurrences. Ghost hunters and history enthusiasts flock to this location seeking evidence of the afterlife.

Historical Background

Construction of Fort Adams began in 1824 under the direction of French military engineer Simon Bernard. The massive project took thirty-three years to complete, finally finishing in 1857. Named after President John Adams, the fort was designed to be one of America’s strongest coastal defenses. The structure covers over twenty-one acres and cost approximately three million dollars to build.

The fort served actively during the Civil War, housing Union troops and Confederate prisoners of war. During this period, overcrowding and disease claimed the lives of numerous soldiers and prisoners. Yellow fever and dysentery swept through the cramped quarters in the summer of 1862. At least forty-seven Confederate prisoners died within the fort’s walls during a particularly brutal outbreak.

Fort Adams continued military operations through World War II, housing thousands of soldiers over the decades. The fort’s hospital treated countless injuries and illnesses throughout its active service. Many soldiers took their final breaths in the fort’s underground medical facilities. The Navy officially decommissioned the fort in 1950, ending over a century of continuous military occupation.

The fort witnessed several tragic accidents during its operational years that still echo today. In 1893, a powder magazine explosion killed three soldiers during routine maintenance work. The blast was so powerful it shattered windows in nearby Newport mansions. Workers discovered the remains of two soldiers weeks later buried in debris.

Paranormal Activity Summary

Visitors to Fort Adams frequently report encounters with phantom soldiers in period military uniforms. These apparitions appear solid and lifelike before vanishing into thin air. Witnesses describe seeing men in Civil War era Union and Confederate uniforms walking the ramparts. The ghostly soldiers often seem unaware of modern visitors, continuing their eternal patrols.

Disembodied footsteps echo through the fort’s tunnels and corridors, especially after dark. Tour guides and maintenance workers hear marching boots on stone floors in empty sections. The rhythmic sound of military drills sometimes emanates from the parade ground when nobody is present. These phantom sounds often occur during the early morning hours between three and five AM.

Cold spots plague certain areas of the fort, even during hot summer months. Visitors describe sudden temperature drops of twenty to thirty degrees in specific locations. These icy zones move and shift throughout the underground passages and casemates. Electronic devices frequently malfunction or drain completely when encountering these cold areas.

Shadow figures dart through the fort’s many underground tunnels and defensive positions. These dark forms appear human-shaped but lack any distinguishable features or details. Witnesses report seeing shadows move against walls with no source to cast them. The entities seem most active in the older sections of the fort.

Unexplained voices and whispers fill the empty spaces throughout the massive structure. People hear conversations in languages and dialects no longer commonly spoken in the area. Some visitors report hearing shouted military commands echoing through vacant chambers. Recording equipment often captures electronic voice phenomena when nobody is speaking.

Ghost Stories & Reports

The most frequently encountered spirit at Fort Adams is known as the Confederate Prisoner. Witnesses describe a gaunt young man in tattered gray uniform appearing in the old prison areas. He looks approximately nineteen or twenty years old with hollow, desperate eyes. The apparition seems to be searching for something or someone he cannot find.

Staff members have reported multiple encounters with this particular entity over the years. Security guard Michael Patterson documented seeing the Confederate soldier in 2008 during a night patrol. The figure appeared near the entrance to the underground prison cells around two-thirty AM. Patterson watched the apparition pace back and forth for nearly five minutes before it faded.

Another prominent ghost is the Officer of the Watch, seen on the fort’s seaward ramparts. This spirit appears as a tall man in a dark blue Union officer’s uniform. He carries what appears to be a spyglass and scans the horizon intently. The officer never acknowledges living people but continues his vigilant watch over the bay.

Local historian Dorothy Hendricks claims this ghost matches the description of Captain James Morrison. Morrison served as officer of the watch during the Civil War until his death in 1864. He reportedly died from pneumonia after refusing to leave his post during a severe winter storm. His dedication to duty apparently extends beyond death into the supernatural realm.

The Ghost of the Powder Magazine haunts the site of the 1893 explosion. Witnesses report seeing three shadowy figures near the reconstructed magazine building. These entities appear more as dark silhouettes than fully formed apparitions. Visitors often smell the acrid scent of gunpowder when these spirits manifest.

A female presence inhabits the former officer’s quarters near the main entrance. She appears as a woman in mid-nineteenth century civilian dress, possibly a military wife. The spirit seems sad and often looks out windows toward the water. Some researchers believe she died while waiting for her husband to return from sea.

Tour guide Rebecca Chen encountered this female ghost during a private walkthrough in 2015. The apparition stood at a second-floor window in full daylight around noon. Chen watched the figure for several seconds before it slowly faded from view. She described feeling overwhelming sadness during the encounter that lingered for hours afterward.

Most Haunted Spot

The underground tunnel system beneath Fort Adams generates the most consistent paranormal reports. These dark passages stretch for nearly a mile beneath the fort’s massive earthworks. The tunnels served as troop movement corridors and storage areas during active military operations. Today they remain cold, damp, and filled with unexplained activity.

The southern tunnel section near the old hospital area proves particularly active. Multiple witnesses report seeing full-bodied apparitions of wounded soldiers in this location. The sounds of groaning and crying echo through the passages when they stand empty. Investigators have captured numerous unexplained photographs and electronic voice phenomena recordings here.

Casemate Number Seven on the eastern wall ranks as another paranormal hotspot. This gun emplacement housed artillery during the Civil War and later conflicts. Visitors report intense feelings of being watched and sudden overwhelming dread when entering. Shadow figures frequently appear in the peripheral vision of people exploring this chamber.

Can You Visit?

Fort Adams is open to the public seasonally from late May through October. The fort operates as Fort Adams State Park under Rhode Island state management. General admission costs ten dollars for adults and five dollars for children under eighteen. Annual passes are available for frequent visitors at thirty-five dollars per person.

Guided historical tours operate daily during the open season at scheduled times. These ninety-minute tours explore the fort’s military history and architectural features. Special paranormal investigation tours occasionally run during October near Halloween. Photography is permitted throughout the fort for personal use without flash restrictions.

The park grounds remain open year-round during daylight hours for general exploration. However, building interiors close during winter months from November through April. Special group tours can be arranged during off-season months with advance reservations. The fort also hosts various events including concerts and festivals throughout the summer.

Best Time to Visit

Paranormal activity at Fort Adams peaks during the autumn months of September and October. The cooling temperatures and shorter days seem to increase supernatural manifestations significantly. Many investigators believe the anniversary of the powder magazine explosion in October triggers heightened activity. Historical reenactments during this period may also stir dormant spiritual energy.

Late evening and early morning hours between midnight and four AM produce the most reports. Unfortunately, public access during these prime investigation hours requires special permission and arrangements. Full moon periods coinciding with autumn months generate particularly strong paranormal responses. Overcast days with fog rolling in from the bay also seem to encourage ghostly appearances.

First-Hand Accounts & Eyewitness Reports

Newport resident Thomas Burke shared his 2012 experience exploring the fort with friends. The group was photographing the ramparts around sunset when Burke’s camera began malfunctioning. Every photo showed strange light anomalies and dark figures that weren’t visible to the eye. When they reviewed the images later, one clearly showed a uniformed soldier standing in an empty doorway.

Park ranger Jennifer Santos documented a chilling encounter in her 2017 incident report. While locking up the visitor center one evening, she heard distinct footsteps approaching from behind. Turning around, she saw nobody but felt a cold presence pass directly through her. The sensation left her momentarily paralyzed and struggling to breathe normally.

Paranormal researcher David Klein conducted extensive overnight investigations at Fort Adams in 2019. His team recorded over forty instances of unexplained electronic voice phenomena throughout the tunnels. One recording clearly captured a male voice saying “stand your post” in the Officer’s Quarters. Multiple team members also witnessed shadow figures moving through the underground passages independently.

Local photographer Amanda Wright captured what many consider the best photographic evidence of hauntings. Her 2020 image shows a translucent figure in Confederate uniform standing in Casemate Seven. The photograph was taken in rapid succession with others showing the same empty space. Professional analysis found no evidence of manipulation or double exposure in the image.

Paranormal Investigations & Findings

The Atlantic Paranormal Society investigated Fort Adams in 2009 for their television program. The team documented numerous unexplained occurrences during their overnight investigation session. Thermal imaging cameras recorded dramatic temperature fluctuations in the tunnel system without any natural explanation. Audio equipment captured disembodied voices and phantom footsteps in multiple locations throughout the facility.

Ghost Adventures featured the fort in a 2014 episode focusing on military hauntings. Lead investigator Zak Bagans reported feeling physically pushed while exploring the underground hospital area. The crew’s equipment experienced repeated malfunctions and battery drains in specific haunted zones. They captured compelling footage of moving shadows in the powder magazine area.

The New England Society for Psychic Research has conducted multiple investigations since 2005. Their findings include consistent electromagnetic field anomalies in the most actively haunted areas. Researchers documented objects moving on their own in the old guardhouse near the main gate. Spirit box sessions produced intelligent responses to specific historical questions about the fort.

Safety Warnings & Legal Restrictions

Visitors must stay on marked paths and avoid climbing on the fort’s earthworks and walls. The structure contains numerous trip hazards including uneven stone floors and sudden drop-offs. Underground tunnel sections can be extremely dark even during daylight hours requiring flashlights. Some passages have low ceilings that pose head injury risks to taller individuals.

After-hours trespassing at Fort Adams is strictly prohibited and actively patrolled by park rangers. Violators face fines up to five hundred dollars and potential criminal charges. The fort’s isolation makes unauthorized nighttime exploration particularly dangerous without proper equipment. Cell phone service is unreliable in many areas making emergency communication difficult.

The structural integrity of certain sections requires caution from all visitors regardless of time. Some historic areas show signs of deterioration that could pose collapse risks. Park management clearly marks restricted zones that visitors must not enter for safety. Following all posted warnings and staying with tour groups ensures the safest experience.

Nearby Haunted Places

The White Horse Tavern – Haunted Restaurant in Newport, Rhode Island

📍 1.4 miles

Seaview Terrace / Carey Mansion – Haunted Mansion in Newport, Rhode Island

📍 1.8 miles

Belcourt Castle – Haunted Castle in Newport, Rhode Island

📍 2.1 miles

Ladd School – Haunted Asylum in Exeter, Rhode Island

📍 12 miles

Mercy Brown's Grave / Chestnut Hill Baptist Cemetery – Haunted Cemetery in Exeter, Rhode Island

📍 13.5 miles

Lizzie Borden House – Haunted Historic Home in Fall River, Massachusetts

📍 17.8 miles