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Gallery: Fort Jefferson

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Fort Jefferson is located on Garden Key in the Dry Tortugas, about 70 miles west of Key West. It was named in honor of our third president. Officer quarters are visible in this view from the center of the parade grounds.

Fort Jefferson was the largest coastal fort built in the nineteenth century. Begun in 1846, construction continued for 30 years.

The lower fort walls were made of a light colored brick produced by a southern company. During the Civil War, the top of the fort was constructed with a darker brick supplied by a New York company.

Fort Jefferson was a nineteenth century engineering marvel. Its broad walls were designed to support three tiers of guns.

Interior view of Fort Jefferson.

Interior view of Fort Jefferson.

Interior view of Fort Jefferson.

Interior view of Fort Jefferson.

Interior view of Fort Jefferson.

Interior view of Fort Jefferson.

During the Civil War Fort Jefferson was used as a prison for deserters and other criminals. Its most famous inmate was Dr. Samuel Mudd, the physician sentenced to jail in the wake of the Lincoln assassination.

Fort Jefferson from the air.

Fort Jefferson from the air.

Fort Jefferson from the air.

Fort Jefferson from the air.

Fort Jefferson from the air.

A photo of Fort Jefferson in DryTortugas in the Florida Keys.                                                                 

A photo of Fort Jefferson in DryTortugas in the Florida Keys.

 

 

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