War remnants, abandoned for over 100 years, make for a surprisingly peaceful park setting at the Manchester State Park. These buildings are also located near the torpedo store house that I wrote about earlier.

Battery Mitchell, shown above, was named for Lieutenant Robert B. Mitchell, who’d given honorable service during the Philippine-American War that ended in 1902. The Battery was built to help protect Rich Passage, but was never utilized. Therefore, the rapid fire guns were never installed. The staircases lead down to ammunition storage rooms call ‘magazines’, and there are two lower rooms called ‘bombproofs’.  When I first caught a glimpse of it, I thought it looked  like an abandoned Mayan Temple with its great maze of concrete steps.

The building seen above Battery Mitchell is a Mining Casement. It was built as a command post for the operation of the Middle Point fortification between 1900 and 1910. It included an Engine Room, Battery Storage, an Operations Room and a Dormitory. What I love about this building is how thick the concrete walls are. They must be nearly 18 inches thick. And the way time has weathered them with moss and rust is really amazing. When standing inside of it, it feels oddly tranquil. There’s a coolness to the air, and it’s remarkably quiet.  The starkness of the concrete against the lushness of the park creates  a vibe that’s oddly romantic. It would make such a great getaway cabin.

I love that these abandoned buildings are so well cared for, ie, no graffiti. The locals and tourists who come to visit the park seem to respect them and enjoy them for their simple beauty. And like I mentioned previously, they’re a great location for weddings, photo shoots and other events. Click here for more info.