Fort Pickens is a historic Third System fort located in Gulf Breeze, FL. Constructed in the early 19th century, the fort was designed to protect Pensacola Bay and the Pensacola Navy Yard and Depot from foreign attacks. Its strategic location on Santa Rosa Island allowed it to command the approaches to the channel, control access into and out of the bay, and prevent enemy forces from using the island to launch attacks against the navy yard. With its impressive design and massive size, Fort Pickens served as an enduring symbol of the United States and its democratic institutions.
Designed by Lieutenant Colonel Joseph G. Totten and later modified by Brigadier General Simon Bernard, Fort Pickens featured a five-bastioned work with two tiers and a man-made hill and outer wall for added defense. The fort could house up to 1,000 soldiers during a siege and unleash a ring of fire from its five walls. Construction of Fort Pickens began in 1829 and involved skilled tradesmen, general laborers, and enslaved individuals who were rented from slaveholders. Today, Fort Pickens stands as a testament to the country's military history and offers visitors a glimpse into the past.
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