Fort Pickens

Our first adventure out was a visit to Fort Pickens National Park. Fort Pickens was one of four military forts built to protect the Pensacola Bay. The fort was constructed between 1829 - 1834 and was the largest of the four built. The forts were built to protect from any enemy approaching from the Gulf of Mexico, little did they know at the time that the first attack would come from the mainland. In 1861 Union and Confederate troops began to fight over the four forts protecting the bay. After several bloody battles the Confederates evacuated the area in May 1862 and the Union held onto Fort Pickens. After the Civil War Fort Pickens was used as a prison for Apache Indians, the most famous being Geronimo. Fort Pickens remained an active military post until 1947.

Now that you have the history lesson, lets take a look at some of our pictures!
IT'S GONNA BE A LONG POST.

Driving between the fort and the sea wall.
This side has the gun holes that were armed with rifle soldiers to protect from soldiers approaching from the sea.

The bay side was protected by cannons 

One of the guns that can be rotated. Can't imagine how many it took to move it.

One of the many hallways that lead to other smaller passages as you see below.

These smaller passages were used to place explosive to blow up the fort if capture was foreseen. 

Soldiers sure were shorter in 1829!

There would be one of those big guns where you see the half circles. Can you imagine how loud
it was in there when they were firing them? 

One of many ammunition spots

Geronimo and others

One of the types of guns on the top of the fort.

There were spots for about ten of these guns in this area that points toward the entrance to
Pensacola Bay

They rotate by a crank handle you see in the center.

New gun a coming

The new gun would rise out of this hole, shoot and then go back into the hole for reloading.
There was a whole big fort built in the center area of the original fort for two of these guns and their ammunition. 

In 1899 a fire broke out near an ammunition storage area which set off an explosion
that took out a corner of the fort. They say that bricks were thrown across the bay to the Navy yard.

One of the bay protection guns on top of fort

These were fixed and pointed toward the east side (land side) of the fort.

Bay entrance gun

Battery Van Swearingen was built in 1898 on the coast line in front of Fort Pickens. The battery was the
lookout point for the approaching enemy.  

Men and guns were located on the tops of the buildings as lookouts. Not a job I would want.

One of the many guns located about a mile or so from the fort. They were shielded to protect
the gun men and could rotate as well. There was a small window cut out on the left for them to see out. 

Front part of the gun. These guns were part of the front line of protection and also
protected bunkers you see below.

Hidden bunker that is covered with dirt and vegetation.

Unfortunately they have these bunkers locked but we got a few pictures through the cracks in the doors.
Looks to be octagon shaped with big room in the center. These bunkers were thought to be where
radar type activity occurred. They would message the fort of any activity they picked up or saw.

One of the "shoot and duck" guns. These are really cool guns. Once loaded they are raised up and
are pushed forward. After they shooting the force pushes the guns backwards and it lowers down. 

David standing on one. Gives you an idea of how big they are.

Another hidden bunker being protected by the Cooper Battery with the shoot and duck guns.

The fort is still a bloody place even today...clumsy me fell and busted up my knees and hurt my hand. Overall we had a great day!

                                                                        Lane


“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.” ~~ Dr. Seuss