One of the ten-inch disappearing main guns at Fort Casey.

Amazing Fort Casey protected the Admiralty Inlet from attack.

Fort Casey was so strong it was never attacked. Along with its sister forts, it guarded the entrance to Puget Sound, protecting Seattle, Tacoma, and the Puget Sound Naval shipyards. Fort Casey on Whidbey Island, Fort Worden near Port Townsend, and Fort Flagler on Marrowstone Island were linked together as if they were one fort. This was because they all had one task. They created a crossfire that defended Puget Sound from a Naval attack at the Admiralty Inlet.

Google map of Fort Casey Fort Worden and Fort Flagler
Google map of the Admiralty Inlet, Fort Casey, Fort Worden, and Fort Flagler

Admiralty Inlet

The Admiralty Inlet is south of the San Juan Islands and southeast of Victoria, Canada. Access to Victoria, the San Juan Islands, Vancouver to the north, and the Admiralty Inlet from the Pacific Ocean is via the Strait of Juan de Fuca. All large ships heading into Puget Sound must go via the Admiralty Inlet. Whereas the Spanish were the first to discover the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the English Captian George Vancouver named the Admiralty Inlet. My previous post had a lot to say about George Vancouver. Here is a quick link. Lost in Vancouver

A tanker in the Admiralty Inlet as seen from Fort Casey
A tanker in the Admiralty Inlet within easy gun range of all three forts.

I mentioned George Vancouver in our previous blog post and that he named nearly every landmark after himself or his friends. Joseph Whidbey was on the Vancouver expedition and was the master of the HMS Discovery, one of Vancouver’s most important ships. The HMS Discovery was the first ship of the expedition to circumnavigate the island. Vancouver named it in his honor.

Admiralty Head Lighthouse at Fort Casey
Admiralty Head Lighthouse at Fort Casey.

The circumnavigation of the island was an impressive feat because it included traversing Deception Pass (also named by George Vancouver because he thought Whidbey Island was a long, narrow peninsula. Deception Pass is between Whidbey Island and Fildago Island. Here is a link to our previous post about visiting Deception Pass. Deception Pass

Tami and Scott at Fort Casey.
Tami and Scott at Fort Casey.

Fort Casey is about 25 miles south of Deception Pass on the west side of Whidbey Island. From Coupeville, it is south on South Engles Road. The Washington State Ferry dock from Coupeville to Port Townsend is just south of Fort Casey. Our visit to Port Townsend was the subject of this blog post. Port Townsend

Fort Casey

Construction at Fort Casey began in 1897 and was remarkable because, unlike Fort Wardon (built simultaneously), it could not be made naturally defensible without moving a massive amount of dirt. The forts are all about 1000 acres each. Fort Wardon had a natural hill at the fort site. The seaside at Fort Casey was nearly the same as the rest of the island and didn’t have a prominent hill until construction started. Not unlike Fort Wardon, Fort Casey was intentionally huge.

An early arial photograph of Fort Casey. The main gun emplacements are to the left of the photo.
An early aerial photograph of Fort Casey. The main gun emplacements are to the left of the photo.

Unlike Fort Wardon, Fort Casey was remote. They didn’t have Port Townsend nearby to provide extra manpower to build Fort Casey. Gradually, as the fort was being built, more people appeared in the surrounding rural area. The closest city of any size is Coupeville. Rail service was not available during constructing any of these three forts. The lack of close rail lines presented enormous challenges, especially for supplies and moving big guns. Instead of using rail lines, large items had to be sent in by ship.

The gunfire control bunker on the hillside behind the main gun emplacements.
The main gunfire control bunker on the hillside behind the main gun emplacements.

10-inch guns

The big guns were mounted on disappearing carriages, so after firing, each would descend behind the hillside for reloading. Then, when ready to fire, they would rise out of their reloading position and fire directly at the target.

One of the ten-inch disappearing main guns at Fort Casey shown in its hidden position.
One of Fort Casey’s ten-inch disappearing main guns is shown in its hidden position.

From the Admiralty Inlet, Fort Casey looks like an unremarkable treeless hillside.

View of Fort Casey on Whidbey Island
View of Fort Casey on Whidbey Island from Fort Wardon looking at the Admiralty Inlet. Any ship in this area would be targeted from all three forts.

To the north of the main guns, seven small emplacements protect the flanks of the twelve main guns. Unlike the main guns, one man could carry the ordnance to the guns. The big guns required mechanical loading systems to move the shells and powder charges.

One of the three-inch secondary guns at Fort Casey.
One of the three-inch secondary guns at Fort Casey.

The guns were never used in engagements with the enemy; instead, they were made obsolete by the invention of aircraft. Airplanes could drop bombs on targets from above, making the disappearing guns easy targets. During World War I, the guns were shipped off to Europe and Asia to be placed on rail cars for use during the war. The guns now at Fort Casey were located in the Philipines and shipped back to Fort Casey for display.

One of the three-inch secondary gun emplacements at Fort Casey.
One of the three-inch secondary gun emplacements at Fort Casey.

Our Visit

This summer wasn’t the first time we visited Whidbey Island during our seven years as full-time RVers. Since we have family in northwest Washington, it is a frequently visited site. We took our twin grandsons to Fort Casey on this visit. Overall, it was a very interesting, enjoyable day.

Tami and our grandsons at Fort Casey standing in front of a ten-inch disappearing gun.
Tami and our grandsons at Fort Casey standing in front of a ten-inch disappearing gun.

A small Washington State Parks Campground with twenty campsites between the Fort Casey gun emplacements and the Washinton State Ferry Landing. The campground has beautiful views of the Admiralty Inlet and surrounding islands.

Washington State Ferry coming from Port Townsend docking at the Coupeville ferry dock.
Washington State Ferry coming from Port Townsend docking at the Coupeville ferry dock.

More Reading

More reading from our blog about Whidbey Island and the area.

Fort Wardon

Port Townsend

Deception Pass

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Historic Fort Worden

Washington State Parks Peninsula Region

Historic Fort Casey

Historic Fort Flagler

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