Southern Florida

Last Update: 06/JANUARY/2007

Compiled by Pete Payette - й2007 American Forts Network

Fort Jefferson
(Dry Tortugas National Park)
(1846 - 1917 ?), Garden Key дNational Archives MAPд | Overhead Photo from NOAA
A huge 16-acre hexagon-shaped fort located 68 miles west of Key West. Original name was Fort at Garden Key until 1850. Held by the Union through the entire Civil War. Mostly used as a Federal prison. Designed to carry almost 450 guns, it was never fully armed. Only Fort Monroe in Virginia is larger, but only in terms of area. Construction was finally halted in 1876. It was regarrisoned for the Spanish-American War and WWI, but newer guns were never installed. A fire gutted the barracks in 1912. Used as a Navy Coaling Station beginning in 1904. The fortress suffered damage from Hurricane Charlie in 2004. A website with great photos from Shannontech.com | More photos from Hughes Photos.

д HARBOR DEFENSES of KEY WEST
Missiles Of Key West by Richard Whitt

д Fort Zachary Taylor (State Historic Site)
(1845 - 1947), Key West Aerial photo from Aerials Only
Still under construction in 1861. It had originally three tiers of casemates with two tower bastions on each flank. Held by the Union through the entire Civil War. It was modified in 1898 by cutting down the top two tiers, to allow for the field of fire for the new Endicott batteries Battery Osceola (1900 - 1944) and Battery Adair (1901 - 1920) that were built inside the fortress. Battery Adair was partially destroyed in the 1980's, which uncovered several Civil War vintage cannon that were buried when the battery was built. Exterior batteries were built in 1873 - 1876 on the mainland behind the fort, known as the Lower Battery (aka South Battery) (14 or 17 guns), and the Upper Battery (aka North Battery) (eight or 12 guns). Hurricanes in 1873 and 1875 slowed work progress. The South Battery was later destroyed to built Batteries Covington and DeLeon. A portion of the original retaining wall still exists. The North Battery was also later destroyed for the newer batteries.

Other batteries outside the old fort were Battery Seminole (1904 - 1918) uncovered, converted to HDCP/HECP (1942 - 1943), Battery DeLeon (1904 - 1940) destroyed in 1962, Battery Covington (1904 - 1917) destroyed in 1962, Battery DeKalb (1906 - 1917) destroyed in the 1950's, Battery 231 (1940's), Battery Gardiner (1898 - 1913) destroyed in 1962, Battery Ford (1906 - 1946) destroyed in 1964, Battery Dilworth (1901 - 1920) destroyed in 1944, Anti Motor Torpedo Boat Battery 5 (1943 - 1946) one gun was on Battery Adair, and a four-gun 155mm battery (1942 - 1944) two Panama mounts on Battery Covington and two Panama mounts on Battery DeLeon. Anti-aircraft artillery was also emplaced in the area. Two additional WWII fire-control towers were once located on Stock Island and on Fleming Key. A NIKE missile battery and radar site were located here in the 1950's - 1960's. Most of the original fort is not open to tourists due to its condition. Many of the original guns were unearthed during excavations in 1968, buried during the 1898 Endicott battery construction. Admission fee. *PHOTO*
Another website from Florida Keys.com || Another website from CWartillery.org || Another website from NPS || Library of Congress link

д Key West Barracks
(1831 - 1947), Key West
Known as Post of Key West until 1845. It was the cantonment area for Fort Taylor. Located on grounds of Key West Naval Station, now a housing project.

д West and East Martello Towers
(East Martello Tower Museum)
(1862 - 1946), Key West
Four brick gun towers were planned to defend the landward approach to Fort Taylor, but these two were the only ones built. Tower Dutton was the proposed name (1862) for the East Tower, and Tower Fraser was the proposed name (1862) for the West Tower. The plans were enlarged to include a semi-circular ring of casemates around each tower. The East Tower was abandoned in 1873, the West Tower was abandoned in 1866. The East Tower is near the airport, and the West Tower is about halfway between the East Tower and Fort Taylor. Inside the West Tower was built Battery Inman (1906 - 1946), and nearby was Anti Motor Torpedo Boat Battery 6 (1943 - 1946). The East Tower was used as an observation station in WWII. A four-gun 155mm battery (1942) was located by the West Tower, and another four-gun 155mm battery (1943 - 1944) was located by the East Tower. The West Tower, mostly in ruin, is now the Joe Allen Garden Center, located at the end of White Street. The East Tower is now an art/history museum (admission fee), located at 3501 South Roosevelt Blvd.

д Salt Ponds Military Reservation
(1940's), Key West
Located near the airport, east of the East Tower. Located here was Battery 232 (1944 - 1946).

Fort Tequesta
(1567 - 1570), Miami
A Spanish 20-man blockhouse and Jesuit mission at the mouth of the Miami River that was later burned by the Tequesta Indians. Also spelled Tegesta.

The Spanish Jesuit Mission de Santa Marэa de Loreto (1743 - 1751 ?) was located here much later, but was withdrawn for economic reasons.

Fort Dallas
(1836 - 1838, 1839 - 1850, 1855 - 1858)), Miami
Established by the U.S. Navy, originally at the mouth of the Miami River (north-side). The Army took over in 1838 and moved the post to the opposite side (south) of the river. Transferred back to the Navy from 1842 - 1849. In 1855 the post was moved back to the north bank of the river. Site sold in 1870. A hurricane in 1874 destroyed the remaining wooden buildings. The Stone Barracks were leased out. The remaining Barracks building was moved upriver to Lummus Park in 1925 (located between NW 1st and 3rd Streets, and NW 2nd Ave. and North River Drive).
Fort Kemble (1839) was located nearby, built by the U.S. Marines as a temporary post to protect wood-cutting parties on the Miami River, before Fort Dallas was rebuilt.

Camp Miami
(1898), Miami
A Spanish-American War assembly camp built by Henry Flagler's Florida East Coast Railroad. Located in the northern part of present-day downtown, bounded by Biscayne Blvd. to NW 2nd Ave., and NE 2nd Street to the FEC rail station (today's Miami News-Freedom Tower). Royal Palm Park was the parade ground. The Royal Palm Hotel was used as Officers' quarters.

Miami Battery
(1898 - 1899), Miami or Miami Beach
A Spanish-American War temporary battery was built, unknown number of guns. Undetermined location.

дд TEMPORARY HARBOR DEFENSES of MIAMI

дд Fisher Island Military Reservation
(1942 - 1944), Miami Beach
A four-gun 155mm battery in revetments was located on Fisher Island protecting the Government Cut inlet.

Fort Lauderdale
(1838, 1839 - 1842), Fort Lauderdale
Originally established on the New River between SW 8th and 9th Aves. Moved in 1839 to new site at the head of the inlet (now Bahia Mar Yacht Center). It was later abandoned. Settlers didn't come to the area until the 1890's.

ддд TEMPORARY HARBOR DEFENSES of FORT LAUDERDALE

ддд Fort Lauderdale Military Reservation
(1942 - 1944), Fort Lauderdale
A four-gun 155mm battery in revetments was located by the Coast Guard base. Mobile 90mm guns replaced them briefly before the defense was abandoned.

д TEMPORARY HARBOR DEFENSES of PALM BEACH

д Palm Beach Military Reservation
(1942), Palm Beach
A short-lived four-gun 155mm battery was located here. Location undetermined, possibly Peanut Island.

Peanut Island was later the site of President Kennedy's underground emergency shelter in 1962, which can be visited by appointment.

Fort Santa Lucэa de Canaveral
(1568), Jensen Beach
A Spanish blockhouse. The local Indians killed so many soldiers that they mutinied and abandoned the post, fleeing to St. Augustine.

Fort Pierce
(1838, 1839 - 1842), Fort Pierce
A log blockhouse located four miles south of the old Indian River Inlet, now closed. Site located on Indian River Drive.

Fort Ays
(1567), Oslo
A Spanish blockhouse once located one mile east of town. Also spelled Ais. After several Indian attacks, the Spanish moved further south to St. Lucie Inlet.

Fort Chokonikla
(Paynes Creek State Historic Site)
(1849 - 1850), Bowling Green
A reconstructed frontier village with a stockade fort. This was the first of several built in a chain from the Manatee River to the Indian River.

Camp Palmetto Beach
(1898), Palmetto
A Spanish-American War assembly camp.

Fort Ogden
(1841), Fort Ogden
Built on the site of an earlier Seminole Indian fort. It was an advance post for the "Big Cypress Campaign" during the Second Seminole War. It was later abandoned.
(info by David Paterno)

Fort Myers
(Fort Myers Historical Museum)
(1850 - 1858, 1863 - 1865), Fort Myers
A large stockade with four barracks, eight Officers' quarters, administration building, hospital, laundry, blacksmith, bakehouse, sutler, storehouses, and wharf. It covered about eight blocks of today's city. The museum has a scale model of the fort. Fort Harvie was first located here 1841 - 1842. It replaced Fort Dulaney. It was burned by Indians. Fort Myers was used as a Union camp during the Civil War. The town was settled in 1866.

Fort San Antonio de Padua
(Mound Key Archaeological Site)
(1567 - 1568), Mound Key
A Spanish blockhouse and Jesuit mission at the Calusa Indian village Calos, that was abandoned after being starved out by the Indians. It was later burned. Also referred to as the Calos Blockhouse. Jesuit missionaries returned in 1569, but left for good in 1570.

An unnamed Franciscan mission was briefly established here in 1697, but failed the same year.

Seminole Wars Forts
(includes those forts and posts not already listed above)

Monroe County:
Fort Henry (unknown dates), possibly located on Fiesta Key.
Indian Key Post (1856, 1869), Indian Key. A temporary post.
Key Largo Post (1857), Key Largo. A temporary post.
Camp Malco (1857), near Pavillion Keys close to the head of the Malco River.
Camp Moulder (1857), Pavillion Keys.
Camp Romano (1857), Pavillion Keys, adjacent to Camp Moulder.
Fort Poinsett (1838, 1839 - 1843, 1856 - unknown), Cape Sable (East Cape).
Fort Cross (2) (1857), Cape Sable (Middle Cape) at Palm Point, four miles northwest of Fort Poinsett.
Fort Westcott (unknown dates), Everglades, near Monroe Station.
Camp Hunter (1840), Everglades.
Fort Harrel (1837), at the head of the New (Acotofia) River, near Pinecrest.
Fort Hooke (unknown dates), unknown location.

Dade County:
Everglades Post (1857), Everglades.
Key Biscayne Post (1838, 1839 - 1842), Key Biscayne, at Cape Florida. Renamed Fort Bankhead in 1838. Renamed Fort Russell (1) in 1839. The U.S. Navy occupied the post from 1842 - 1844. (info by Marshall Sitrin)
Camp Center (1838 ?), Key Biscayne, at Lewis' Settlement. A temporary depot that was later moved to Fort Dallas. (This may be the same as Fort Bankhead)
(NOTE: The U.S. Army alternated between the occupation of Key Biscayne and Miami (Fort Dallas) from 1838 to 1842.)

Collier County:
Fort Howell (1835), ten miles east of Everglades City, near Monroe Station.
Camp Rogers (1) (1856 - 1857), near Deep Lake on the western edge of Big Cypress Swamp.
Fort Foster (2) (1837 - 1838), Rattlesnake Hammock, nine miles from Naples.
Camp Deposit (1841), Big Cypress Swamp.
Camp Depot #1 (1841, 1856), Big Cypress Swamp near Fort Keais.
Camp Depot #2 (1857), Big Cypress Swamp.
Fort Keais (1838 - 1857), ten miles south of Immokalee.
Fort Simon Drum (1855 - 1856), between Immokalee and Lake Trafford. A stockaded depot.
Fort Doane (1841 - 1842), two miles west of Lake Trafford.

Lee County:
Fort Harney (2) (1839), Cape Coral, at Harney Point (Cape Coral Bridge). Burned by Indians.
Fort Daniels (1855), aka Camp Daniels, located 200 yards from Fort Myers.
Camp Walbach (1856 - 1857), near Fort Myers. Lasted only six days.
Camp Hospitika (1841), on the Caloosahatchee River.
Fort Dulaney (1837 - 1838, 1841, 1856 - 1858), Punta Rassa. Hurricane in 1841 destroyed fort.
Fort Casey (1850), east-central side of Cayo Costa Island at Charlotte Harbor.

Charlotte County:
Camp Whipple (1857), on the Peace River. Surrounded by defensive earthworks.

Hendry County:
Fort T. B. Adams (1838 - 1839), north bank of the Caloosahatchee River, opposite Fort Denaud, seven miles from Lake Flirt.
Fort Denaud (1837 - 1838, 1840 - 1842, 1855, 1857 - 1858), Denaud, two miles from the Caloosahatchee River, 20 miles above Fort Myers. Also spelled Deynaud. Relocated in 1857 to a new site on the other side of the river two miles downstream.
Fort Simmons (1841 - 1842), south bank of the Caloosahatchee River, six miles below Fort Denaud, 40 miles upstream from Fort Dulaney.
Fort Shackleford (1855), Big Cypress Swamp, 20 miles south-southwest from the southern shore of Lake Okeechobee.

Glades County:
Fort Thompson (1854 - 1855), south bank of the Caloosahatchee River near the mouth of Lake Flirt (near La Belle).
Fort Center (1842, 1854, 1856 - 1857), two miles south of Lakeport on the southern bank of (Thiathlopopkahatchee) Fisheating Creek.

Palm Beach County:
Fort Jupiter (1838 - 1842, 1855, 1857), Jupiter, on the south-side of the Jupiter River at Jones Creek. Originally a settlers' fort, then a Seminole POW camp. Relocated in 1855 a half-mile northwest to the south-side of the Loxahatchee River.

Martin County:
Fort McRae (1838, 1857), on the eastern shore of Lake Okeechobee five miles north of Port Mayaca. A stockaded depot.
Fort Van Swearingen (1838 ?), six miles northeast of Lake Okeechobee (near Zana), 11 miles southeast of Fort Floyd in Okeechobee, 14 miles northwest of Indiantown.
Palm City Depot (1838 - 1843 ?), Palm City. Site now on All American Blvd. The St. Lucie Canal has obliterated all traces of the original site.
Fort Dunn (unknown dates), at Military Road at Fort Dunn Creek, near the Indian River.

St. Lucie County:
Russell's Landing Post (1849 - 1850), near Fort Pierce.
Fort Capron (2) (1850 - 1858), St. Lucie.

Indian River County:
Fort Vinton (1850), near Winter Beach (?) Located 20 miles from Fort Pierce.

Okeechobee County:
Fort Drum (1849 - 1850, 1856 - 1861), Fort Drum. On east-side of Drum Creek, two miles south of town. Used by FL state militia prior to the Civil War.
Fort Floyd (1838). near Lake Okeechobee. (May be located in Highlands County)
Fort Lloyd (1838), near Okeechobee or Whispering Pines.

Highlands County:
Fort Basinger (1837 - 1850), Fort Basinger, 1.5 miles from town. A stockade with two blockhouses in opposite corners. Originally a temporary post and supply depot, later garrisoned full-time. (info by David Paterno)
Fort Kissimmee (1850, 1852, 1857 - 1858), Fort Kissimmee. Located within Avon Park Bombing Range. The military built a bridge at the site in WWII.
Fort Josephine (1857), near Lakemont.

DeSoto County:
Fort Winder (1852), on the Peace River two miles from Fort Ogden. Site is now De Soto Peace River Heights.

Sarasota County:
Fort Armistead (1840 - 1841), Sarasota. Lasted only seven months. 600 men were posted here. Site located at Indian Beach at Coconut Ave. and 5th Street, east of the city auditorium.

Hardee County:
Fort Hartsuff (1838 ?, 1850's), Wauchula.
Fort Green (1855 - 1856), Fort Green. A settlers' (James Green's) fort sometimes used by the U.S. Army.

Manatee County:
Fort Myakka (1849 - 1850), near Myakka Head on the Myakka River.
Fort Crawford (1849 - 1850), located on the south-side of the Manatee River, between Fort Crawford Creek and Little Fort Crawford Creek, about 15 miles east of Fort Hamer.
Fort Rough and Ready (1856), Rye, on the south-side of the Manatee River.
Fort Hamer (1849 - 1850), Fort Hamer, four miles east of Bradenton on the south-side of the Manatee River. Consisted of a 100-by-60-foot warehouse, an 80-by-30-foot hospital, several log houses and a hay barn. A Presbyterian Church conference center now on site. Marker located near 1st tee of the Waterlefe Golf Club at the west-end of Upper Manatee River Road.
Camp Armistead (1840's), may have been located on an island in the Braden River. Possibly was never built.
Fort Braden Castle (1845), Bradenton. A settlers' fortified tabby mansion at the Manatee and Braden Rivers. Destroyed by fire in 1903. Ruins remain of the house and an adjacent sugar mill, located at Braden Castle Park.
Camp Armstrong (1856 - 1857), near Manatee. Renamed Camp Smead in 1856.
Dr. Franklin Branch's Fort (1849), Bradenton. A settlers' fort located at East 13th Street.
Fort Starke (1840 - 1841), Bradenton. Built on ancient Indian mounds at the mouth of the Manatee River near De Soto National Memorial. Site was also used during Civil War.
Fort Atzroth (1856), Bradenton. A sarcastic reference to Joseph Atzroth's house at the mouth of the Manatee River.
Fort Manatee (1841), south-side of Manatee Inlet near Grant's Pass.

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