Key West in Monroe County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
To Guard the Harbor
Photographed by Pete Skillman, November 18, 2023
1. To Guard the Harbor Marker
Fort Taylor was designed in 1843 by Colonel Joseph Totten, Chief of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Fort was to be a key installation in the Army's Third Tier System of 42 coastal fortifications. Its purpose was to guard the harbor at Key West, as well as the island itself.
Construction began in June of 1845 on a hard rock shoal 1,100 feet off the southwest point of the island. It was built by Irish brick masons with red clay brick reinforced with natural cement. The Fort was two and a half stories tall and the walls formed a trapezoid. It towered almost 50 feet above the water and had outer walls over five feet thick. In 1866, the Fort mounted 1981 cannons and housed 450 men.
A Strong Defense
There were bastions in each of the four corners which provided protection from enemy forces attempting to scale the outer walls. An extensive sand and masonry cover face was designed to protect the landward side of the Fort, which was accessed by a causeway and drawbridge.
(captions)
Drawing by Howard S. England
View of Fort Taylor from Key West
Erected by Florida State Parks.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Forts and Castles. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1845.
Location.
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: Fort Taylor (a few steps from this marker); Like the Rock of Gibraltar (within shouting distance of this marker); Fort Zachary Taylor (within shouting distance of this marker); Zachary Taylor (within shouting distance of this marker); Sally Port (within shouting distance of this marker); Hidden Treasure (within shouting distance of this marker); Battery Osceola (within shouting distance of this marker); Life in the Barrack (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Key West.
Also see . . .
1. Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park. Florida State Parks (Submitted on February 1, 2024.)
2. Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park.
Wikipedia(Submitted on February 1, 2024.)
Photographed by James Hulse, January 13, 2026
2. To Guard the Harbor Marker
The view of the marker at the entrance to the fort.
Photographed by James Hulse, January 13, 2026
3. To Guard the Harbor Marker
The view of the moat outside the forts wall.
Photographed by James Hulse, January 13, 2026
4. To Guard the Harbor Marker
The view of the interior of the fort from the top of the gun mounts.
Photographed by James Hulse, January 13, 2026
5. To Guard the Harbor Marker
One of big guns to guard the harbor.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 14, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 29, 2024, by Pete Skillman of Townsend, Delaware. This page has been viewed 242 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on January 29, 2024, by Pete Skillman of Townsend, Delaware. 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on January 14, 2026, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
