5 Forts to Explore in Florida

Checkout places to visit in Florida

Florida

Florida is distinctive for its large Cuban expatriate community and high population growth, as well as for its increasing environmental issues. The state's economy relies mainly on tourism, agriculture, and transportation, which developed in the late 19th century. Florida is also renowned for amusement parks, orange crops, winter vegetables, the Kennedy Space Center.

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Forts to Explore in Florida

Dry Tortugas National Park

The park preserves Fort Jefferson and the seven Dry Tortugas islands, the westernmost and most isolated of the Florida Keys. The archipelago's coral reefs are the least disturbed of the Florida Keys reefs. The park is noted for abundant sea life, tropical bird breeding grounds, colorful coral reefs, and legends of shipwrecks and sunken treasures. The park's centerpiece is Fort Jefferson, a massive but unfinished coastal fortress.

Egmont Key National Wildlife Refuge

Located on Egmont Key, at the mouth of Tampa Bay, it can only be reached by boat or ferry. The Egmont Key Lighthouse and the ruins of Fort Dade, a Spanish–American War era fort, are located in the park. The entire 328 acres (133 ha) island is actually part of Egmont Key National Wildlife Refuge.

Fort Caroline

An attempted French colonial settlement. It was established under the leadership of René Goulaine de Laudonnière on June 22, 1564, as a new territorial claim in French Florida and a safe haven for Huguenots. The French colony came into conflict with the Spanish, who established St. Augustine in September 1565, and Fort Caroline was sacked by Spanish troops under Pedro Menéndez de Avilés on September 20. The Spanish continued to occupy the site as San Mateo until 1569.

Fort Foster State Historic Site

The Fort Foster State Historic Site is an iconic remnant of the Seminole Wars. It was initially built as a military base by the federal forces in 1837 during their operations against the Seminoles. The white-washed fort was never actually used in battle, but its presence was enough to show that the Americans were ready to wage war against the native population. Today, it is preserved as a historical site and has gained importance due to its diverse landscape.

Fort Zachary Taylor

A Florida State Park and National Historic Landmark centered on a Civil War-era fort located near the southern tip of Key West, Florida. In 1968, volunteers led by Howard S. England excavated Civil War guns and ammunition buried in long-abandoned parts of the fort, which was soon discovered to house the nation's largest collection of Civil War cannons.

Map of Forts to explore in Florida