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'''Fort Pickens''' is a pentagonal historic United States military fort on [[Santa Rosa Island]], at the entrance to [[Pensacola Bay]]. It is named after [[Wikipedia:American Revolutionary War|American Revolutionary War]] hero [[Andrew Pickens]]. The fort was completed in [[1834]] and remained in use in some form until [[1947]]. | '''Fort Pickens''' is a pentagonal historic United States military fort on [[Santa Rosa Island]], at the entrance to [[Pensacola Bay]]. It is named after [[Wikipedia:American Revolutionary War|American Revolutionary War]] hero [[Andrew Pickens]]. The fort was completed in [[1834]] and remained in use in some form until [[1947]]. | ||
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Fort Pickens is currently part of the [[Gulf Islands National Seashore]], and as such, is administered by the [[Wikipedia:National Park Service|National Park Service]]. The '''Fort Pickens Area''' encompasses the western seven miles of Santa Rosa Island, including the fort itself as well as numerous auxiliary batteries. | Fort Pickens is currently part of the [[Gulf Islands National Seashore]], and as such, is administered by the [[Wikipedia:National Park Service|National Park Service]]. The '''Fort Pickens Area''' encompasses the western seven miles of Santa Rosa Island, including the fort itself as well as numerous auxiliary batteries. | ||
− | == | + | ==Construction== |
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[[Image:Fort Pickens map 1861.png|thumb|right|1861 sketch of the fort]] | [[Image:Fort Pickens map 1861.png|thumb|right|1861 sketch of the fort]] | ||
− | French engineer [[Wikipedia:Simon Bernard|Simon Bernard]] was appointed to design Fort Pickens. | + | French engineer [[Wikipedia:Simon Bernard|Simon Bernard]] was appointed to design Fort Pickens. Construction on Fort Pickens lasted from [[1829]] to [[1834]], with 21.5 million bricks being used to build the fort. Much of the construction was done by slave labor. |
Fort Pickens was the largest of a group of forts designed to fortify Pensacola's harbor. Fort Pickens supplemented [[Fort Barrancas]], [[Fort McRee]], and the [[Navy Yard]]. Located at the western tip of Santa Rosa Island, just offshore from the mainland, Pickens guarded the island and the entrance to the harbor. Its construction was supervised by Colonel [[William H. Chase]] of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Ironically, during the [[Civil War]] some years later, Chase was later appointed by the State of Florida to command its troops and seize for the South the very fort he had built. | Fort Pickens was the largest of a group of forts designed to fortify Pensacola's harbor. Fort Pickens supplemented [[Fort Barrancas]], [[Fort McRee]], and the [[Navy Yard]]. Located at the western tip of Santa Rosa Island, just offshore from the mainland, Pickens guarded the island and the entrance to the harbor. Its construction was supervised by Colonel [[William H. Chase]] of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Ironically, during the [[Civil War]] some years later, Chase was later appointed by the State of Florida to command its troops and seize for the South the very fort he had built. | ||
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===Battery Van Swearingen=== | ===Battery Van Swearingen=== | ||
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'''Battery Van Swearingen''' was activated on [[June 29]], [[1898]]. Two 4.7-inch Armstrong guns were mounted on pedestal carriages. These were replaced with 3-inch rapid fire guns during World War II.<ref name="NPS" /><ref name="Quesada" /> | '''Battery Van Swearingen''' was activated on [[June 29]], [[1898]]. Two 4.7-inch Armstrong guns were mounted on pedestal carriages. These were replaced with 3-inch rapid fire guns during World War II.<ref name="NPS" /><ref name="Quesada" /> | ||
===Batteries Cullum and Sevier=== | ===Batteries Cullum and Sevier=== | ||
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'''Battery Cullum''' and '''Battery Sevier''', completed by [[1898]], housed four 10-inch rifles on disappearing carriages. Although these structures appear to be one large complex, they are two separate structures.<ref name="NPS" /> | '''Battery Cullum''' and '''Battery Sevier''', completed by [[1898]], housed four 10-inch rifles on disappearing carriages. Although these structures appear to be one large complex, they are two separate structures.<ref name="NPS" /> | ||
After World War I, the batteries were declared surplus and two of the guns at Battery Cullum were removed. However, in [[1921]], the War Department reversed that decision and installed two new 10-inch guns at Cullum. Between [[1922]]-[[1923]], a new power station was constructed at Cullum/Sevier. In [[1942]], the 10-inch guns at Batteries Cullum and Sevier were removed. They were replaced in [[1943]] by three-inch rapid fire guns.<ref name="Quesada" /> | After World War I, the batteries were declared surplus and two of the guns at Battery Cullum were removed. However, in [[1921]], the War Department reversed that decision and installed two new 10-inch guns at Cullum. Between [[1922]]-[[1923]], a new power station was constructed at Cullum/Sevier. In [[1942]], the 10-inch guns at Batteries Cullum and Sevier were removed. They were replaced in [[1943]] by three-inch rapid fire guns.<ref name="Quesada" /> | ||
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===Battery Worth=== | ===Battery Worth=== | ||
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Completed in [[1899]], '''Battery Worth''' housed eight 12-inch mortars in two gun pits. Although the battery lost half its armament in [[1918]] in accordance with the War Department policy to reduce weaponry mounted in the nation's older emplacements, the other four mortars remained active until [[1942]]. The battery became essential for Army-Navy defense activities in the 1940s by housing the Fire Control Switchboard Room, Harbor Entrance Control Post and the Harbor Defense Command Post.<ref name="NPS" /> | Completed in [[1899]], '''Battery Worth''' housed eight 12-inch mortars in two gun pits. Although the battery lost half its armament in [[1918]] in accordance with the War Department policy to reduce weaponry mounted in the nation's older emplacements, the other four mortars remained active until [[1942]]. The battery became essential for Army-Navy defense activities in the 1940s by housing the Fire Control Switchboard Room, Harbor Entrance Control Post and the Harbor Defense Command Post.<ref name="NPS" /> | ||