Alternative Portfolio 9, Camp Hero: An Architect's Point of View

Camp Hero, a place of mystery and wonder. Brochure mode writing commence. For those of you who have never heard of or visited this State Park, located at Montauk Point, Long Island, New York, an intriguing time is in store for you. This former military base and coastal defense installation was built to defend against a German attack during World War II that never came. Although located in a scenic setting visiting this decommissioned base gave me an eerie feeling of history - you would expect to find a golf course like Pebble Beach not a fort. The Park contains all the natural beauty of a sea side setting, and the remnants of a derelict military fortification including the barracks of "Downtown Camp Hero" that were designed to look like a quite sleepy Long Island Village. This is ironic since the massive battery guns not far from this supposed "sleepy village" when fired could probably be heard as far as Germany itself. I'm sure this ruse would not have fooled anyone.

The Barracks

The Gymnasium designed to look like a church

The architecture as far as the "Village" goes is unimpressive such as the gymnasium for example, designed to look like a church but in its abandoned state well worth the visit.

Massive concrete cantilever over the once mighty gun.

Battery side opposite the gun, the supplies entry.

The batteries/bunkers within a few 100 yards or so of the barracks housed the enormous 16" guns pointed out to the Atlantic ocean could shoot a shell (almost as tall as the average sized man) 24 miles out to sea. Just as impressive (at least to an architect or engineer) are the protective concrete cantilevers still above protecting the guns long ago removed for scrap metal. The reinforced concrete mass is still in pretty good condition as is the bunker structure which connects the battery guns.

Radar as seen from a distance

After the war, the Army turned over the base to the Air Force which is where the conspiracy theories begin. Some beleive the base gained its true covert use during operation "Paper Clip", when Nazi scientists brought over from Germany continued their bizarre experiments for the military, supposedly stuff they had been working on while back in Germany. These and other experiments, specifically "The Montauk Project" . were reportedly conducted in multi-level sub-terrain bunkers that at present, if they exist, are inaccessible to the public. Some conspiracy theorists claim Camp Hero was a continuation of the "Philadelphia Experiment" where a ship , the USS Eldridge

SAGE Radar

was said to be able to become invisible through advanced technology, possibly extra terrestrial in origin. That research was then continued at the Brookhaven National Lab (Formerly Camp Upton, Ah Ha!) then moved to nearby Camp Hero where the use of a newly built  radar would help in their supposed science. Many bizarre experiments were said to have been conducted such as mind control through manipulation of electromagnetic fields that "Could drive an enemy insane" inducing schizophrenia at a touch of button, time travel, and the "Montauk Chair".  There are also people claiming to have been abducted for research purposes who lived to tell the tale and others who have forever gone missing such as the homeless, and "run away" kids,  "Rainbow Six anyone"? (Book by Tom Clancy-if you believe Clancy this sort of thing really happened)

I have yet to see any evidence at the park of any underground entrances, (I admit, I have not done an exhaustive search by any means) hatches or passage ways that could lead to an underground laboratory which would be strong proof of these claims. The bunkers above are impressive to view and the brutal concrete fortification are similar in nature to the "Atlantic Wall"  WW2 structures built across the ocean.

Radar through the reeds

The radar dish is the most impressive structure on the site and the must intimidating, if you believe in the conspiracies. A SAGE radar, the first of it's kind which from what I understand could scan objects beyond the horizon was installed after WWII  when the base was transferred to the Air Force. Missing, destroyed or demolished are the many structures that once surrounded the radar. I have seen photos with many spherical structures dotted around the radar which at this time do not exist. One conspiracy states the radar is here because it could not be installed at the Brookhaven National Lab as part of the Pheonix project, due to secrecy concerns. I don't know the whole story but it does make more sense that the radar was installed during the cold war as an early warning system, part of NORAD, to guard against a Soviet attack? Which ever story you believe, it's certainly interesting stuff but you have to think, If I were a high ranking member of the military wouldn't it be my duty to "explore" all possible military advantages, no matter how unbelievable?

The Bluffs at Camp Hero

My personal experience with Montauk and my feelings about the stories, conspiracies and Camp Hero itself are intertwined to form a strong connection with the site. I definitely feel a pull toward the area, and a sense of wanting to learn about all the unknown's that Montauk begs you to think about. As I gaze over the ocean I have many mysterious thoughts that creep through my mind searching for answers but also questions. The lighthouse is what most people come to Montauk for and so do I but there is so much more.

Looking out to sea from Camp Hero

If you visit Montauk Point, I recommend you head to Camp Hero right before the light house and park your car near the bluffs and look out over the Atlantic ocean and marvel at the majesty of the sea. It is a surreal feeling, combined with all the history and mystery of Montauk right there before you in the form of a vast endless ocean. The thought is not lost upon me that once upon a time nestled in the idyllic scenic setting of bramble and brush laid powerful machines of death waiting for its time that never came. Instead, now the lighthouse with its concrete sentinal before it continuously scan the seas keeping watch of all that go out into that black night.  

Montauk Point light house as seen from Camp Hero