Fort Gaines

[18thVirginia]

On a weekend trip to New Orleans, we stopped by Fort Gaines on Dauphin Island in Mobile Bay. The fort is considered environmentally endangered, but it seems to have been well-maintained, considering its location.

Dauphin Island is a barrier island, which translated means "giant sandbar." The fort was built in 1819 as part of the defense of the Gulf Coast, but with problems in construction and land titles and a whole new plan for construction, it was not finished until 1861. In 1898, the Fort was again modified in preparation for the Spanish American War.

Entrance to Fort Gaines

 

[18thVirginia]

Sallyport

 

[18thVirginia]

Quartermaster's Office

 

[Union_Buff]

Those are some amazing photos - thanks for posting them

 

[18thVirginia]

Quartermaster's Office

 

[18thVirginia]

Southeast Bastion Pointing toward Sand Island Lighthouse

 

[18thVirginia]

Closeup of Southeast Bastion

 

[18thVirginia]

 

[18thVirginia]

Gives you an idea how close the fort is to the Bay.

 

[18thVirginia]

Gun Ramp on left and Bakery on right

 

[18thVirginia]

Looking across toward the Bakery and Blacksmith Shop

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

These are wonderful, thank you! It must be incredibly hard maintaining our historic forts by any salt water- between storms, tides, erosion and salt it's a wonder these are left in any kind of condition, so lucky to have them! Was it a little eerie like some are, SO empty where once men were so living so closely together?

 

[TinCan]

Enjoyed those very much.

 

[redbob]

Great pictures, were you able to take the ferry across the bay to Fort Morgan?

 

[18thVirginia]

No, there looked to be about a 5 hour line to take a ferry and it didn't seem like a vessel we wanted to go on. We went to Bellingrath Gardens and to Bayou le Batre before Fort Gaines, so only had time for one fort that day. We'll get back to Fort Morgan another time.

 

[18thVirginia]

The Museum - a surprisingly nice collection for a tiny museum in an area modified for the Spanish American War.

 

[18thVirginia]

Officer's Quarters

 

[18thVirginia]

Dam the torpedoes, full speed ahead.

Anchor from Farragut's flagship, the U. S. S. Hartford

 

[rickvox79]

Great pictures. I went to Fort Gaines last year around July I believe. I could have sworn I posted some of them here but couldn't find them when searching. Anyway, did you see this sign on your trip? I thought it was interesting and amusing at the same time.

 

[18thVirginia]

Didn't actually go in the latrine--great photo. Thanks