Near Pensacola in Escambia County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Barrancas in Coastal Defenses

— Gulf Islands National Seashore —

Photographed by Connor Olson, July 28, 2024

1. Barrancas in Coastal Defenses Marker

Inscription. The US Army built Fort Barrancas in the 1840s as one of four fortifications to protect Pensacola Bay and the navy yard from attack. Fort Pickens on Santa Rosa Island and Fort McRee on Perdido Key guarded the channel. Fort Barrancas and its water battery, situated on a bluff, could support their crossfire and fire shots at ships that entered the bay. Advanced Redoubt was built to protect the Navy Yard and Fort Barrancas from a land-based attack. During the Civil War the Confederates briefly held Fort Barrancas and exchanged gunfire with Federal forces at Fort Pickens.

Third System Forts
Americans built harbor forts during the Revolutionary War (first system) and another series between 1789 and 1812 (second system). Forts Barrancas, Pickens, McRee, and Advanced Redoubt were part of the Third System of coastal fortifications built between 1816 and 1870.

(caption) Fort Barrancas, 1861

Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • War of 1812 • War, US Civil • War, US Revolutionary. A significant historical year for this entry is 1840.

Location. 30° 20.882′ N,

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87° 17.815′ W. Marker is near Pensacola, Florida, in Escambia County. It can be reached from Taylor Road 0.3 miles north of Radford Boulevard, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3182 Taylor Rd, Pensacola FL 32508, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on the Florida Panhandle.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep 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 McRee (here, next to this marker); Spanish Water Battery (here, next to this marker); Restoring a Fort (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Fort Barrancas Area (about 500 feet away); Spain to Pensacola (approx. 0.3 miles away);

Photographed by Connor Olson, July 28, 2024

2. Barrancas in Coastal Defenses Marker

First Pensacola (approx. 0.3 miles away); Pathway to Early America (approx. 0.3 miles away); Barrancas Trench (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Pensacola.

Also see . . . Gulf Islands National Seashore - Fort Barrancas. National Park Service (Submitted on July 29, 2024.)

Photographed by Connor Olson, July 28, 2024

3. Barrancas in Coastal Defenses Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on July 29, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 28, 2024, by Connor Olson of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 302 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 28, 2024, by Connor Olson of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.