Fort Pickens: The fortress of Santa Rosa Island

Images of Fort Pickens in Santa Rosa Island, Florida - Photos: Still Gravity.
On the left: Section of Fort Pickens destroyed by an accidental explosion - License our images here.

The biggest fort of Pensacola is on the western tip of Santa Rosa Island. Built in 1834, it was named after General Andrew Pickens. 

Fort Pickens was the only fort in hands of Union forces during the Civil War. In 1861, its cannons destroyed Fort McRee across the canal in Perdido Key, but they couldn't reach Fort Barrancas on the other side of the inlet.   

The Apache Chief Geronimo was imprisoned here. Also, there are ruins around Fort Pickens of the coastal batteries that defended Pensacola during WW2.

(We stayed in the campground of Big Lagoon State Park.)

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