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Fort Pickens
was a massive project. Over 21.5 million brick were required, most made
locally and barged to the island. 26,000 casks of lime were shipped from
Maine for mortar mix. Granite for steps, coping, and traverses came from
Si
The brick walls of Fort Pickens were obsolete by 1865, yet they were not replaced until the 1890s. Rifled artillery and armored warships called for more elaborate defenses. Five reinforced concrete fortifications were built in the Fort Pickens area between 1897 and 1899, and a minefield was prepared for the harbor entrance. One new battery was built in the Fort McRee area. The next threat came from the development of smaller and faster ships designed to penetrate minefields. These minesweepers and torpedo boats led to the development of rapid-firing cannon to protect the minefields. Three batteries were built between 1898 and 1905 at Fort Pickens for such weapons. Improved amphibious assault tactics, guided missile technology, and the terrifying destructiveness of the atomic bomb all combined to render even the concept of coast defense obsolete. Coast artillery guns were scrapped, and bases closed. Fort Pickens was closed in 1947, after 118 years of service. |
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Last Updated:
1/6/03
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in New York. Lead for waterproofing arches came from government mines
in Illinois. Copper for drains was shipped from Switzerland. Strong and Underhill
Company of New Orleans provided the workforce of skilled slaves. Other
slaves were hired locally for unskilled labor. Supervising the project
was Major William Henry Chase, U. S. Army Corps of Engineers. Currier
& Ives lithograph of Fort Pickens shown right.
Seeking
a means of defense which would not require a large military in peacetime,
the United States relied upon forts to deny harbors to any invader. Following
the War of 1812, a series of forts were built at all principal harbors
and rivers. As weapons technology improved, old forts were modified and
new forts built. This process continued until missiles, airplanes and
atomic bombs made harbors unimportant for national defense. For over a
century, seacoast forts served to discourage attacks on this country.
Today they serve as links to the world which existed before World War
Two.
