Battery Hoskins WWII-Era Casemated Bunker at Fort Crockett

Battery Hoskins WWII-Era Casemated Bunker at Historic Fort Crocket

Background & Historical Context

• Fort Crockett was originally established in 1897 as part of the coastal defenses for Galveston Bay. After the devastating 1900 hurricane, the fort was rebuilt and officially named in 1903 in honor of Davy Crockett. It was later manned for coastal defense, training, and wartime use through World War II
• In 1942–43, amid threats from German U‑boats operating in the Gulf of Mexico, Battery Hoskins underwent a major upgrade: two powerful 12-inch guns were encased within a massive concrete casemate (commonly referred to as a “bunker”) to protect both guns and magazines from potential naval bombardment

Bunker Description & Legacy

• The casemate was engineered to withstand direct hits from 5,000‑pound naval shells, built in secrecy by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and completed in 1943
• Post-war, most of Fort Crockett was declared surplus and many military structures were dismantled. However, the massive concrete structure of Battery Hoskins proved uneconomical to remove, so it remained largely intact. Eventually, the San Luis Resort was built atop and behind the battery site.

Current

Today, the massive casemated bunker remains a striking landmark along Galveston’s Seawall Boulevard. One of the original gun emplacements now supports a resort swimming pool, while the other features a wedding gazebo—modern additions that both conceal and emphasize the historic structure beneath. As one of the few surviving Endicott- and WWII-era coastal artillery bunkers in Texas, it stands as a rare and significant reminder of the island’s military past.

Explore Galveston's history with the PastPort!

Your journey includes Fort Crockett bunker, a powerful experience highlighting the island's immigration and maritime past. Learn More.

Sources: Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston. Rosenberg Library, Galveston. NOAA Fisheries.