| 1825 |
On June 11, 1825 the cornerstone was laid on for Fort Hamilton. |
| 1831 |
In 1831, Battery F, 4th Artillery leaves Governors Island with two officers and fifty-two enlisted men and becomes Fort Hamilton's first garrison. |
| 1839 |
The 27th Regiment, New York Militia, found a home at Fort Hamilton and began training. The post became the first National Guard Training Camp in the United States. President Martin Van Buren visited on July 4th 1839. |
| 1841 |
Captain Robert E. Lee is assigned to Fort Hamilton as the post engineer. He devises a plan to improve the waterproofing of the casements in the fort. In 1846 he departs to fight in the Mexican War. |
| 1845 |
During the 1850s Lt. (later Confederate General) Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson is assigned to Fort Hamilton. He regularly attended religious services at the Episcopal Chapel which still stands right outside the post. |
| 1861-1865 |
During the Civil War, Fort Hamilton was a training site for volunteer regiments and the post strength reached as high as 1000 enlisted men. Troops from the fort helped to quell the great draft riots in Manhattan. |
| 1898-1903 |
The old waterside casemated defenses of the fort are destroyed to make way for new armaments. New rapid fire breech loading mortars and guns, including 12" disappearing rifles, as well as electrically detonated mines controlled from Fort Hamilton, made it the most powerful seacoast fort in the New York Harbor. |
| 1917-1918 |
During World War One the post became a processing point for hundreds of thousands of American soldiers going to France. |
| 1922 |
The 18th Infantry Regiment and headquarters of the 1st Infantry Division are stationed at Fort Hamilton. |
| 1942 |
Over three million soldiers were processed through the New York Port of Embarkation for transport to Europe in World War Two and at the close of hostilities Fort Hamilton also served as point of discharge for millions of returning troops. |
| 1949 |
Fort Hamilton is placed under 1st Army control. |
| 1950 |
During the Korean War, United Nations troops were staged, processed and shipped from Fort Hamilton. |
| 1959-1964 |
Construction of the Verrazano Bridge required the destruction of Fort Hamilton's parade ground and most of her
turn of the century brick barracks. |
| 1962 |
Chaplain School starts at Fort Hamilton |
| 1974 |
The old fortress is designated a National Historic Landmark. |
| 1976 |
New York City Recruiting Battalion established at Fort Hamilton. |
| 1998 |
Military District of Washington takes over command of Fort Hamilton. |
| Today |
Fort Hamilton is the U.S. Army's ambassador to the New York City serving 5000 full time active duty personnel, 126 Army Reserve units, 100,000 military retirees and numerous Department of the Defense agencies throughout the greater New York City metropolitan area. |
