Fort Pickens has many Historic Attractions
Fort Pickens' attractions date back before the Civil War, of which it played a role. Built on
the western end of Santa Rosa Island, it guarded the entrance to Pensacola Bay. It was under
Union command throughout the Civil War.
This fort was named after American Revolutionary War hero Andrew Pickens. The fort was designed
by Simon Bernard, a French engineer. The construction took 5 years to complete and some 21.5
million bricks.
With its pentagonal shape, Lieutenant Adam J. Slemmer, in charge of union forces at Fort Barrancas, determined it was more defensible than Fort Barrancas.
On January 8, 1861, Slemmer's guards repelled a group of local men trying to take the fort. Some suggest these were the first shots fired of the Civil War. Apache Indian Cheif Geronimo was imprisoned here from 1886 to May 1887 along with several of his warriors. New gun batteries were installed in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
On June 20 1899, a fire in Bastion D reached the magazine containing some 8,000 pounds of powder. The explosion killed one soldier and Bastion D was destroyed.
After all this fort has been through, it still must withstand attacks from Mother Nature.
In 2004, Hurricane Ivan came ashore very near to the fort destroying many structures and much of the surroundng landscape. The fort itself withstood the storm and is doing well. The road is closed to vehicle traffic but repairs are ongoing. The road is scheduled to reopen in 2009.
Come on down and pay the fort a visit and enjoy the past. I have been there many times and always see something new each time.
Things to know before you go: 1) Bring a flashlight since some of the areas are poorly lit. 2) If you bring kids along, closed toe shoes are recommended. 3) There are many picnic spots so don't forget the lunch. Also don't forget to pack along a trash bag for clean-up. 4) The posted speed limit is 15 mph. For the animals sake and your wallets sake it is a good idea to obey it. Tickets are constantly issued for this offense. At times the speed limit may be changed due to various wildlife hatchings. These changes will be posted so be watchful.
The entance fee to Fort Pickens is $8.00, but if you plan on visiting all of Gulf Islands National Seashore, you might buy a park pass for $25.00 and save a little money. Don't forget to ask about getting a handicapped pass. My wife got one and I believe it is free to all handicapped persons. Don't forget to stop by the shop and browse around.
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