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Gallery: Fort Pickens

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	Entrance through counterscarp wall. Ft. Pickens has undergone massive changes and renovations through the years. Today, the entrance road cuts through the former counterscarp wall. The wall was built to protect the landward face of the fort from artillery fire.
	View of Ft. Pickens through the gap in the wall that was once Bastion D. This bastion was destroyed on June 20, 1899, when a fire reached a magazine containing 8,000 pounds of powder. The explosion scattered debris over one and a half miles, killing one man.
	Counterscarp wall by Bastion E. The counterscarp wall was built to protect the landward face of the fort from artillery fire.
	View from Bastion E. The fort was named in honor of Revolutionary War hero, General Andrew Pickens.
	View from the Tower Bastion (C) to Bastion B. A 15-inch Rodman cannon was installed on this bastion in 1868.
	The counterscarp wall (right) and Bastion E (left).
	View of the Gulf of Mexico beyond the fort.
	The counterscarp protected the fort from land attack.
	Over 21.5 million bricks were used in the construction of Fort Pickens.
	View of an area within the fort.
	Rainwater from the fort's walls was channeled into these two cisterns to provide fresh water for the fort
	View of a cannon now displayed in the center of the parade ground.
	This 8-inch Rodman cannon was recently mounted on the northwest wall where a similar cannon had existed until 1901.
	View from atop the Tower Bastion.
	View of a cannon displayed atop Bastion E.
	Large arches transfer the weight of the fort to the brick piers.
	The massive weight resting upon the piers is transferred to "reverse arches" to minimize sinking in the soft sand.
	View of the large arches supporting the weight of the fort.
	Stairs from Bastion E down to the fort's parade ground. The original parade ground covered seven acres.
	View of an interior area of the fort.
	Metal door within the fort.
	View through one of the slots in the fort walls.
	Embrasure in the fort wall. Cannon were fired through the embrasures from interior rooms called casemates. After the fort fell into disuse, bars were added over the embrasures to keep out intruders.
	Embrasure in the fort wall. Cannon were fired through the embrasures from interior rooms called casemates. After the fort fell into disuse, bars were added over the embrasures to keep out intruders.
	Embrasure in the fort wall. Cannon were fired through the embrasures from interior rooms called casemates. After the fort fell into disuse, bars were added over the embrasures to keep out intruders.
	Window opening to interior of fort.
	View of the Tower Bastion from outside the fort.
	Gun battery west of the fort.
	Informational sign at Battery Van Swearingen. "1898. Two 4.7-inch Rapid-Fire Rifles. During threat of war with Spain, Van Swearingen mounted two British 4.7-inch rapid-fire rifles, but was declared obsolete in 1917. The battery came back to life in 1922 when one emplacement was converted into a range finder station for Battery Payne."
	View of Battery Van Swearingen.
	Informational sign at Battery Trueman. "1905. Two 3-inch Rapid-Fire Rifles. This gun emplacement is part of a network of batteries. While heavy artillery kept battleships far out to sea, Trueman's 3-inch rapid-fire rifles could defend the inner channel and submarine minefield from fast torpedo boats and minesweepers. The two guns were moved to Battery Cullum in the in 1940's when the minefield was eliminated."
	View inside Battery Trueman.

 

 

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