Near Key West in Monroe County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Rifled Cannon
Fort Jefferson
| | Dry Tortugas National Park | |
Photographed by Brandon D Cross, May 4, 2023
1. Rifled Cannon Marker
The 300-pounder Parrot had spiral grooves, called rifling, which caused its elongated, pointed projectile to spin. This made the Parrotts much more accurate than smoothbore Rodman cannon that fired round cannonballs. The Parrot's muzzle-loaded bullet could also penetrate masonry forts. In the 1890s, steel, breech-loading rifles replaced the brittle cast-and-wrought-iron Parrots, and over time steel reinforced concrete batteries replaced brick fortifications like Fort Jefferson.
(captions)
A gun crew at a Civil War-era fort fires a Parrott rifle.
Projectile for rifled cannon
Look in the barrel to see the rifled grooves.
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • Parks & Recreational Areas • War, US Civil.
Location. 24° 37.718′ N, 82° 52.333′ W. Marker is near Key West, Florida, in Monroe County. It can be reached from no nearby street. This marker is located within Fort Jefferson, Dry Tortugas National Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or
this page online
Regionally, this marker is on the Florida Keys. It is also in the American South and on the Gulf Coast. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Soldiers' Barracks (a few steps from this marker); Traverse Magazine (a few steps from this marker); Catching Rain (within shouting distance of this marker); Intricate Gun Rooms (within shouting distance of this marker); Mariners Beware! (within shouting distance of this marker); Makeshift Living Quarters (within shouting distance of this marker); In Memory of Brevet Major, Jos. Sim Smith (within shouting distance of this marker); Touring Fort Jefferson (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct
Photographed by Brandon D Cross, May 4, 2023
2. Rifled Cannon Marker
Also see . . .
1. Well Armed. (Submitted on June 3, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
2. Dry Tortugas National Park. (Submitted on June 3, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
Credits. This page was last revised on June 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 3, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 376 times since then and 50 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 3, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
