Fort Dearborn-Decoy Ship Building

This place is on private property. Listing for informational purposes only. Please do not visit without express permission from the land owner. This fort is in the shape of a ship to serve as a decoy in WWII. Land for Fort Dearborne was acquired in two separate condemnation processes from private land owners. The first acquisition was for 206.08 acres formally acquired 11 May 1943 and the second was for 60 acres on 11 Oct 1943. The landowners were only given 30 days to vacate their property in 1942. A temporary battery of four 155mm guns on concrete Panama mounts was completed in April 1942 at Odiorne's Point. The temporary battery was emplaced while three new World War II gun batteries were under construction. The temporary 155mm battery was withdrawn as the new batteries came on line in 1944. The largest of the new batteries was Battery 103 (Battery Seaman) with two casemated 16" guns. Construction on it started in April 1942. The second battery was rapid fire Battery 204 with two 6" shielded guns started in January 1943. The third battery was Battery AMTB 951 with four 90mm guns designed for protection against high speed motor torpedo boats and aircraft. The AMTB battery was started and completed in 1943. Both Battery 103 and Battery 204 were completed in 1944.