Wednesday, March 19th I explored Fort Clinch State Park on Amelia Island.
First, once you enter the park, the drive to the fort is a few miles with woods on both sides of the road. So pretty.
Go through this museum to get to the fort.
General Duncan Lamon Clinch is who the fort is named after.
It's one of a series of masonry forts constructed between 1816 and 1867, known as the 3rd System Fortifications. It was built at the mouth of the St. Mary's River to protect the natural deep-water port of Fernandina - the eastern link of Flordia's only cross-state railroad. It was never fully completed, but still served as a military post during the Civil War, Spanish-American War, and WWII.
The plaque says "Union forces reoccupied the town of Fernandina and the fort on March 2, 1862, and resumed construction of the latter immediately. Most of what is visible today was completed before work ceased after the end of the war.
When battle losses in KY. and TN. stunned the South, the Confederacy decided to abandon Fl. in order to move its troops to more critical fronts. After the union victory at Vicksburg on July 4, 1863, the rebellious states east of the Mississippi had to rely on their own territory for food. Fl. became the major source of beef, pork, beans, corn, and salt needed to sustain the Confederate armies."
Fort Clinch was occupied by the U.S. Coast Guard in joint operations with the Army and Navy. The Coast Guard was responsible for mounting a horse patrol, monitoring ship traffic, preforming search and rescue, patrolling the waterways, and maintaining navigational markers.
The fort incorporates elements of Gothic European fortresses, like the flying buttresses and hexagonal archways.
Fort Clinch was unoccupied from late 1898 to 1926 when it was offered for public sale by the Federal Government. After passing from owner to owner, the fort was purchased by the Sate of Florida in 1935. During the next two years the Civilian Conservation Corps worked at the fort removing sand and refuse and making repairs and improvements. In 1938, Fort Clinch State Park was opened to the public. During WWII, Fort Clinch saw it's last military occupation when the Coast Guard, in joint effort with the Army and Navy, maintained a surveillance and communication system within the fort and on the various coastal islands in the area. Part of this operation included the Coast Guard's mounted beach patrol. Guardsmen reported their observations by field telephone which they plugged into jacks installed along the beach for that purpose.
Small bunkbeds with 2 beds on each.
The signs on the bucket say Drunkard and Thief.
Looking through a gun hole.
Spiral staircases
You can walk along the ramparts and look at the views which are beautiful.
They offer different events throughout the year, including a reenactment on the first full weekend of every month.
Peering out this gun hole gives you a glimpse of the beach.
At each fort, it's cool to see the housing situations. Many of them are similar.
When I was leaving, I started talking to a couple who were entering with their Belgium Malinois dog. Can you believe he is a puppy? He's very attentive and protective.
View of the fort from the beach.
Besides the fort, the park also has miles of hiking/biking trails. If you don't mind walking through the woods these trails are great.
There was quite a bit of stagnant water.
Williow Pond Nature Trail had several gross-looking green ponds along the trail. I didn't walk far on this path because who knows where the gators are hiding.
More green water. If only recommend biking/hiking these trails if it hasn't rained in a while.
If you're in this area be sure to stop by Fort Clinch. You'll love walking through this piece of history. :)
