Altered landscapes and an array of concrete structures-- remnants of Puget Sound fortifications-- serve as silent reminders of a unique chapter in Pacific Northwest history. The waterway's wide entrance, deep waters, and recurrent fog left it vulnerable to attack, and it became part of the National Coast Defense System in 1894. Following construction on Point Wilson, Admiralty Head, and Marrowstone Point, the harbor became one of the most heavily guarded in the United States.

"Battle Ready" describes designs, innovations, frustrations over implementation plans, and the experience of...