To study the Fort Totten Park in Queens neighborhood of Bayside and its historical

background and residents of the area.

Who controls the Fort & when was it founded?What is the true history behind the

Fort?What type of people are involved in

running the Fort?How do the residents of the area feel

about the Fort?

Not many changes, only had to focus more on residents and outsiders interviews more than the workers.

The workers and volunteers were inside most of the time during the week days making it difficult to speak to them. Quicker & shorter interviews.

Interviews with workers, residents, and 1st comers. All interviews were face to face, for about 5-10 minutes.

Visiting Fort Totten four times a month for about an hour each day.

Observing the workers and residents.

Researching Fort Totten’s history

Visiting the library

Speaking to veterans who once served in Fort Totten.

Methods did change due to the workers being very busy.

Focused more on the things I learned from the internet and books.

Focused more on residents and people who visited the fort.

Learned the real history behind Fort Totten

Former U.S Army Installation

U.S Army as of now continues to stay at the Fort

City of New York now owns this property.

Land was purchased in 1857 by U.S Government from the Willets family for $200,000.

First named “Fort at Willets Point.”

Constructed in 1862

Main purpose was to protect the East River approach to New York Harbor during the Civil War.

It was then named Fort Totten after Joseph Gilbert Totten.

In 2005 Fort Totten was opened to the public.

Has numerous activities forresidents as well astourists.

People come to jog, walk their dogs, clear their minds, and attend activities.

Activities: Swimming, yoga, fireworks, tours, playground, and baseball field, as well as attend the Chapel for mass.

Residents spoke about how quiet it was and how enjoyable the scenery was to look at.

People would come to the fort just to sit & read the daily paper or read a book.

Some brought their children to play in the park after school.

This place was such a goodenvironment to be in.

There were tours for anyone to take to be brought all around the fort.

Everyone got along, as if everyone knew eachother.

The course helped me with directions on how to talk to people & approach them.

Helped me understand & focus on what were my main concerns & to stay on topic.

The readings showed me how anthropologists interacted with others and help them talk comfortably.

Did not feel there was a lot of connection to the readings with this project.

Working weekends made it difficult for me to really see interactions with people.

Volunteers, workers and the veterans were out & about on weekends speaking freely but I could not visit on weekends.

During the week it was quiet and slow.

Many were open to speaking to me but did not have much to say.

Doing it during the spring made it difficult, less interaction.

Summer is when all activities are attended and people come to Fort Totten.

I enjoyed visiting the site of Fort Totten and coming out of my shell to speak to random people.

I learned the reason why the fort was built and how it is ran today.

Each interview got better each time, and speaking to people became easier.

I would like to visit the Fort Totten again this summer.