Once the site of the Fort Hamilton, the Fort Hamilton Historic District located in Newport, Rhode Island includes the entire Rose Island and the Rose Island Light.
This area traces its history back to 1780, when some of its earliest fortifications were built around the American Revolution period and the Battle of Rhode Island.

More buildings were constructed on the site in the late 1700s to early 1800s. It was used as US Infantry barracks, a quarantine station, and a US Naval Torpedo Station later on. During the World War I, it housed munitions for the US Navy and was also the site for torpedo tests. In World War II, anti-aircraft guns were installed on the site.

In 2001, the Fort Hamilton Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places.