- Page 2 of 3 -
The two RV Gypsies explored
Fort Gaines on Dauphin Island in Alabama
May 1, 2015

Fort Gaines is an historic fort on Dauphin Island in Alabama. It was named for Edmund Pendleton Gaines. Established in 1821, it is best known for its role in the Battle of Mobile Bay during the American Civil War.

Exhibits include the huge anchor from the USS Hartford, Admiral David Farragut's flagship on which he gave his world famous command, "Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!" The fort also has the original cannons used in the battle, five pre-Civil War brick buildings in the interior courtyard, operational blacksmith shop and kitchens, tunnel systems to the fortified corner bastions, and similar features. A museum details the history of this period, as well as the French colonial presence beginning in the late 17th century. The fort was partially modernized for the Spanish-American War. The site is considered to be one of the nation's best-preserved Civil War era masonry forts and has been nominated for listing as a National Historic Landmark.

Significant masonry damages have been sustained during hurricanes and tropical storms in the past decade. Though these damages have been largely repaired, the fort continues to be under threat from erosion. The fort sits on east end of Dauphin Island, only meters from the Gulf of Mexico. Ongoing erosion losses of sand dunes and beach total up to 10 feet per year. For these reasons, the Civil War Preservation Trust placed Fort Gaines on its History Under Siege listing on March 18, 2009. The listing identifies the ten most endangered Civil War battlefields in the United States. Additionally it was placed on the list of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 2011.

Below The two RV Gypsies decided to explore the upper level first, and Karen Duquette took a panorama of the lower level.

Below: Looking down at a winding staircase. There was a small opening at the bottom of the stairs going into a short tunnel that exits into a small area and looking down from above, there is a doorway going into the building.

Below: Two photos that are of the same area shown in the two panoramas above.

Below: Panorama views of the lower level as photographed from the upper level.

Below: Latrine sign and view of the outside of the latrine as taken from the second level of Fort Gaines.

Below: The actual Latrine area which is located on the lower level of Fort Gaines. Yuck!

please continue on to Fort Gaines, page 3 - the lower level.