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. |
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Below The two RV Gypsies
decided to explore the upper level, but first Karen Duquette took a
panorama of the lower level. |
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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. |
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Below: Two photos that are of the same area shown in the two panoramas above. |
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Below: Different views of the same areas topside at Fort Gaines.
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Below: Panorama views
of the lower level as photographed from the upper level. |
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Below: Latrine sign and view of the outside of the latrine as taken from the second level of Fort Gaines. |
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Below: The actual Latrine area which is located on the lower level of Fort Gaines. Yuck! |
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