Fort Totten Visitor Center — Attraction in New York

We participated in the Urban Park Rangers Family Camping at Fort Totten Park in 2021 with two little kids (8 yld 5 yld). The event was a big success for our kids and they enjoyed all of their quasi-camping experience. The rangers (Max, John, and Matt?) were extremely helpful and knowledgeable about camping techniques as well as the history of the park. We have learned a lot about the history of Fort Totten and its historical buildings. Camping was also fun -- kids had a chance to build their own tent, eat snacks, and finish the day with s'mores. The rangers strongly enforced social distancing throughout the event and we felt safe (the NYS social distancing rule had already been lifted by the time of this event, but extra caution was a good idea). Overall, we highly recommend this event and appreciate all the rangers at Fort Totten Park for great summer experience...

Fort Totten is a decommissioned US Army base. Most of the land the base was on has been turned over to various government agencies-NYPD, NYFD, Army Reserve, etc. The Visitor Center is in the midst of the grounds, about 15 minutes from the parking lot, which is right outside the grounds in Fort Totten Park.

Entrance to the visitor center is free. It has a small museum in it that gives some information about the army base .

Some of the area where the army base was was left as is and is worth visiting . Urban Park Rangers leave periodically from the visitors center and give tours of this area, showing where ammunition was stored, where the cannons were used etc. The tour and the visitors center are great places to go the first time you are in...

This place is incredible, completely worth it. I wish I had more time to take a guided tour, but the small amount of time I had was riveting. The Park Rangers were the best and they were very accommodating despite it being so close to closing time. The enthusiasm of the lady that talked to us was infectious, and frankly heartwarming. She clearly cares about the history of the park and the base and it is a trait that is sincerely endearing. The park is really well maintained, and it was like being teleported to a different world. I loved it, wish I could have rats longer, staff was awesome, probably will go...