Geoengineering

Before GPS, CAD, drones, and LiDAR, American military engineers were laying out massive forts with astonishing geometric precision using little more than chains, optical instruments, pencils, and a serious command of mathematics. Fort Wayne’s remarkable symmetry raises an irresistible question: brilliant engineering—or something more mysterious? From star-fort battlefield geometry to Freemasonry’s famous obsession with the square and compass, we separate the fascinating history from the conspiracy theories. The conclusion may be even more humbling: the old guys were really freaking good at math.