Near Key West in Monroe County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Red-Hot Cannonballs
Fort Jefferson
— Dry Tortugas National Park —
Photographed By Vince Jackson, March 4, 2022
1. Red-Hot Cannonballs Marker
Imagine what it was like to heat solid cannonballs in a hot shot furnace like this one, so gun crews could fire red-hot projectiles at wooden warships to set them ablaze. This process involved several soldiers. One soldier maintained the coal fire and loaded the cannonballs. After 30 minutes, a second soldier removed the heated balls with tongs, and a third cleaned them with a rasp. Others carried them in ladles to the guns around the fort.The idea of setting fire to enemy warships can be traced back to the ancient world. The advent of explosive shot and ironclad ships in the Civil War eventually rendered this kind of furnace obsolete. Oceangoing ironclads, however, were not common, so this hot-shot furnace was viable for use against wooden ships long after the war.
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Historic hot shot furnace before it was rebuilt
The hot shot furnace was completed in 1863 and refurbished in 2004. It is believed to br the largest—and the last—hot shot furnace built in the United States.
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • Parks & Recreational Areas • War, US Civil.
Location. 24° 37.774′ N, 82° 52.391′ W. Marker is near Key West, Florida, in Monroe County. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Key West FL 33040, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Parade Ground Panorama (a few steps from this marker); The Moat (within shouting distance of this marker); Deadly Crossfire (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); How Do You Live Out Here? (about 300 feet away); Gateway to the Gulf (about 300 feet away); Defending US Commerce (about 300 feet away); Keeping Powder Dry and Safe (about 300 feet away); 15-Inch Rodman (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Key West.
Also see . . . Dry Tortugas National Park. National Park Service (Submitted on March 14, 2022.)
Photographed By Vince Jackson, March 4, 2022
2. Red-Hot Cannonballs Marker
Photographed By Vince Jackson, March 4, 2022
3. Fort Jefferson's Shot Furnace
Credits. This page was last revised on March 14, 2022. It was originally submitted on March 11, 2022, by Vince Jackson of Toano, Virginia. This page has been viewed 374 times since then and 237 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 11, 2022, by Vince Jackson of Toano, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
