Fort Sewall is a historic coastal fortification in Marblehead. It was built in the 1600s and served as a defense for the town and the harbor during several wars, including the American Revolution and the War of 1812. It was named after Samuel Sewall, a prominent judge and politician, in 1814. The fort offers scenic views of the ocean and the nearby islands, as well as a glimpse into the past. It is part of the Marblehead Historic District and is open to the public as a park.   

Fort Sewall was first established in 1644 as a defensive breastwork on Gale’s Head, one of this area’s rocky headlands. The fort was enlarged in 1742 for defense against the French, and further construction including a magazine and barracks occurred in 1794 and, again, at the time of the Civil War. A company mustered at the fort during the War of 1812, and in 1814 the fort was named in honor of Judge Samuel Sewall, a town benefactor during and after the Revolution, who later became a Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Court. The Fort’s greatest moment in history was on Sunday, April 3, 1814, when the U.S. Navy’s Constitution, being chased by two British frigates, escaped into Marblehead Harbor under the protection of the fort’s guns. The “Fort” which was deeded to the Town by the Federal Government in 1922, still contains bunkers and underground rooms once used to detain prisoners. Today, the headland, which is open to the public as community parkland, provides spectacular views of Marblehead Harbor, Cape Ann, off-shore islands, and the Atlantic. Revolutionary War re-enactment encampments by members of the modern-day Glover’s Marblehead Regiment occur at the fort annually, and public programs are presented.

Open year-round, daily, sunrise to sunset.

Take I-95 to MA-128N, Exit 25A. Follow MA-114 East through Salem to Marblehead; MA-114 becomes Pleasant Street. At the High School, veer left onto Pleasant Street and follow it to the end. Turn left onto Washington Street to the end, right onto Franklin Street to the end, and left onto Front Street. Park on any street or in the small lot at the end of Front Street.