nps photo
Fort Massachusetts located on West Ship Island.
Fort Barrancas Fort Pickens
Advanced Redoubt Batteries
Fort Massachusetts Fort McRee
The forts of Gulf Islands National Seashore span almost 150 years, from the Spanish colonial Bateria De San Antonio (1797) to the World War Two-era Battery 234. This reflects the historic value of the anchorages at Pensacola Bay, Florida and Ship Island, Mississippi. Most striking among these are the American Third System forts: Fort Pickens, Fort Massachusetts, Fort Barrancas, and the Advanced Redoubt, all of which saw action during the Civil War.
The National Park Service will commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the American Civil War. Special events and programs will be presented at Gulf Islands National Seashore and other National Park sites.