Going On The Road with Monte & Rose

November 2, 2013

Fort Pickens & Historic Downtown Pensacola

After doing some research I thought we might head to Fort Pickens Campground when we leave Big Lagoon State Park on Wednesday. Weather-wise it was a beautiful day. Being that it was only a little more than an hours’ drive, I suggested we take a ride to Fort Pickens to check out the campground.

But first we stopped at the Camping World in Gulf Breeze. Our timing was great as free hotdogs were being served for customer appreciation day.

We were served by one of the salesmen who said he wanted to show us a used Teton 5^th wheel and Freightliner truck that had just arrived as a trade-in.

He was convinced we were going to fall in love with it. Honestly, I wasn’t impressed. The rig was a 2007 and showed signs of wear (frayed and faded carpet, cracks in the marble floor, and scratched cabinetry).

Whenever we stop in at a Camping World and look at some of the models I always leave happily satisfied with our rig.

Next, we crossed the bridge leading to Pensacola Beach and paid the $1 toll.

Turning on Fort Pickens Road led us to the entrance to the Gulf Islands National Seashore.

After Monte showed his Senior Pass at the gate we headed to the campground to check it out. There are several loops, many that would accommodate our size rig but the sites are very close together and there is no barrier between them. We were not impressed so I am going to research the other State Parks in the area to look for our next stay.

The one thing that caught Monte’s attention was how this bike rack was mounted to the cap of this rig.

When we left the campground we continued on the road leading to the Fort.

Completed in 1834, Fort Pickens protected the coastline from foreign invasion for over a century.

Fort Pickens is one of four forts built to defend Pensacola Bay and its navy yard.

Gift Shop

Stamping my passport

The fort was built with skilled African-American slave labor. The workers were exposed to yellow fever, an unfriendly climate and heat exhaustion.

The only real action Fort Pickens endured occurred during the Civil War as it remained in Union control.

The need for new military protection has made forts and some military bases obsolete.

We took the self-guided tour.

According to the brochure-These plaster-lined rooms were intended for officers. Floors, doors and window sashes were wood. Fireplaces had marble mantels. These rooms served as a hospital in 1861. In 1887, Apache prisoners were housed here. Geronimo, the most famous of these lived in identical rooms along the south wall.

Mine Battery Room. In 1894 these casements were converted to shelter electric batteries used to power a minefield in the harbor. Dampness forced relocation to the building outside the fort in 1904.

Mine Chambers. This tunnel system leads to three chambers, each designed to hold about 1,000 pounds of gunpowder.

Counterscarp Wall and Moat. The counterscarp protected the landward face of the fort from direct artillery fire.

Bastion A. Projecting from the corners of the fort, bastions allowed cannon to fire down into the dry moat at invading attackers.

Tunnel through Battery Pensacola. Built in 1898, Battery Pensacola was constructed on the parade ground of Fort Pickens. A tunnel was placed through the battery to allow access to warehouse areas on the south side of Fort Pickens.

Cistern. Two cisterns provided the water supply for the fort. Rainwater from the arches was channeled to the cisterns.

A man in period clothing showed up with a woman and a child. They took pictures at several different areas around the fort. ??

The Fort Pickens Museum (that had been closed for 8 years after being severely damaged during Hurricane Ivan) is a short walk or drive from the fort. We should have checked the hours of operation and visited the museum first because it closed 5 minutes before we arrived.