Take a Trip Back in Time by Visiting the Many Different Historic Forts That Are Strategically Built Across the United States of America.
The historic forts speckling the United States, beckon us to step back in time and give us the opportunity for reality and imagination to collide. Enter through their massive gates and stand within the walls that are several feet thick and even greater in height and listen to the sound of eerie silence. You don’t have to be a history buff to be enthralled by the incredible stature and even more incredible stories that these forts have to offer their modern-day guests. Walk in the very footsteps where this country’s first heroes walked; Where they lived, fought, and died. Visiting America’s forts is immensely educational, but you can also pay homage to those that, centuries before, fought for the birth of a new country, fought to defend it, and fought for their beliefs. Forts of America, engineering marvels, have stood the test of time and for that, they give fortunate visitors the chance to travel back in history and experience a unique adventure.
Walk down the path, over the drawbridge, and through the massive gates, and you’ll step right into history. At those same gates centuries ago, soldiers took up arms on two opposing sides, either to defend them or attempt a breach. Today, entry into the forts is much easier and more peaceful. Once inside, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported back in time. Stand and look up at the walls, up to twenty feet thick and fifty feet tall. Tour the casements, barracks, bastions, and cannon platforms. No matter which fort you visit, each share similarities but have unique construction and military elements. One similarity is that they are all engineering marvels. Strategic geographic placement, specific angles, geometric shapes, as well as the materials used, were all implemented into each fort’s many years of planning, design, and construction. Another similarity is that they each have stories to be told. Tour guides and park rangers at each site are more than pleased to share such stories with visitors.
On April 12, 1861, at 4:30 a.m. the Civil War officially began when a ten-inch mortar shell was fired at the Union soldiers and exploded above Fort Sumter in South Carolina’s Charleston Harbor. Compliments of George Sholter James, a Confederate Commander at the time, stationed only about 7 1/2 miles away in Fort Moultrie. Originally built of very flexible but strong palmetto logs and sand, Fort Moultrie on Sullivan’s Island in South Carolina, saw its first action before its construction was completed. On June 28, 1776, Sir Peter Parker of the Royal Navy attacked Fort Moultrie with nine British men-of-war. After a nine-hour battle, the British ships were forced to retire, quite damaged, and learned that their cannon balls were bouncing off the sides of the flexible fort. The palmetto log and sand fort won its first battle, saving Charleston from British occupation. The fort was named in honor of its commander, Colonel William Moultrie.
Leaving South Carolina and traveling further south, you’ll arrive at one of the most incredible forts. If you only have the opportunity to visit one fort, let it be Castillo de San Marcos, in St. Augustine, Florida. Castillo de San Marcos, Spanish for St, Mark’s Castle, is the oldest masonry fort in the continental United States. It was built by the Spanish to protect and defend Spain’s claims in the New World. Construction lasted for 23 years, from 1672 – 1695. Throughout its 327-year history, the fort has changed hands five times, but never by force. Multiple sieges took place but failed. The architectural mastery used in the construction of Castille de San Marcos is nothing short of remarkable. Its ability to withstand the impact of cannonballs is just one of them. The walls are 14 feet thick and made with coquina blocks, a soft limestone-type sedimentary rock made with cemented seashells. Those walls also made the fort fire-resistant. Castille de San Marcos is a must-see.
Hundreds of forts speckle this country. Many of them still stand strong like Fort Sumter, Moultrie, and Castille de San Marcos. Many couldn’t withstand the test of time, especially the wooden ones. Others are sadly in ruins. Those that remain standing, basked in the benefit of numerous restorations over the centuries. As stated earlier, each fort has unique elements over others. It’s that feature that makes visiting different forts so exciting – not a case of “seen one, seen’ em all”. Historical facts about each fort are plentiful. Fort Monroe in Hampton, Virginia is the largest stone fort ever built in the United States. Fort Macon in Carteret, North Carolina comprises 2,379,546 bricks – more than any other United States fort. Blackbeard’s ship, Queen Anne’s Revenge, was discovered in shallow waters just offshore from Fort Macon. How about the largest masonry structure in the western hemisphere? Fort Jefferson in Key West, Florida holds that title. The incredible story of Fort McHenry in Maryland. British ships bombarded it all night until the British depleted their ammunition and retreated. A flag was raised over the fort to signal American victory. Francis Scott Key, a lawyer on a nearby ship, was so moved, he wrote a poem entitled “Defense of Fort M’Henry,”. That poem was later renamed “The Star-Spangled Banner”.
Visiting forts allows you to see living history in its finest form. Walk where significant historical figures walked, lived their lives, and had their lives taken. All the forts hold a special significance in the course of United States history. Pay tribute to the many young men that called these forts home and assisted in the formation of this country. Forts in America are truly amazing.