We both love history and the Alabama Coast has plenty of it. Fort Morgan Alabama is one of two forts that were built to defend Mobile Bay. It is an amazing place and below is a bit of what we learned at Ft Morgan, enjoy.
Ft Morgan is located a few miles west of downtown Gulf Shores right on the entrance to Mobile Bay. For over 100 years, Fort Morgan played an important role in the defense of Mobile Bay and the state of Alabama. In 1819 the Federal Government decided that a permeant structure was needed to help in guarding the entrance to The Bay and it’s deep water port.
Construction of what would become Fort Morgan took years, led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and carried out by 100’s of African-American slaves. Although mortar and brick were available in the area, construction materials such as finished granite, iron works, sandstone, and cement had to be brought in by boat from New York. Upon completion in 1833 it was formally named after Daniel Morgan, a hero of the Revolutionary War, then opened to full duty in 1834.
In 1861 Fort Morgan Alabama was seized by the state of Alabama and turned over to the Confederate Army and soon became a pivotal defensive station throughout the American Civil War. Blockade runners entering Mobile Bay to convey materials to and from the Confederacy relied on Fort Morgan for their protection. Despite attempts by the Confederate Army to defend this point, Fort Morgan found itself under siege by Union forces and was eventually captured late in 1864 after the now famous Battle of Mobile Bay.
After the Civil War, Fort Morgan continued to be used to defend Mobile Bay from potential attacks and further refortifications and improvements were made to the area.
During World War I, Fort Morgan Alabama was again put to use when 2,000 troops were stationed there. After the war, Fort Morgan was ordered closed in 1923. Despite the belief that the military was done using Fort Morgan as a defensive point, the area was once again called into use by the U.S. military during World War II. In 1941, units from the 50th Coast Artillery Regiment renewed their defenses at Fort Morgan and remained there until 1944 when Fort Morgan was closed for good.
Today, Fort Morgan Alabama is a protected historical site which attracts thousands of visitors every year and hosts living history events throughout the summer months.
Fort Morgan Website
https://ahc.alabama.gov/properties/ftmorgan/ftmorgan.aspx
Mobile Ferry
https://mobilebayferry.com/schedule/
Dauphin Island
https://storiesacrossamerica.com/daytripping-on-dauphin-island/
