Pensacola Beach in Santa Rosa County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

From the Fort to these Wooden Buildings

Coastal Defense Over Time

— Gulf Islands National Seashore —

From the Fort to these Wooden Buildings Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tom Bosse, July 29, 2018

1. From the Fort to these Wooden Buildings Marker

Inscription. The U.S. military used this end of Santa Rosa Island for over 100 years. Fort Pickens, the first of four forts built to protect Pensacola Bay, has an unusual history. Union forces still held the fort during the Civil War in the 1860s even though Florida was a Confederate state. Because artillery technology changed the U.S. Army later made big changes to Fort Pickens and build reinforced concrete batteries on the island starting in 1894.

(captions)
This building was new when this photo was taken around 1900.

These wooden buildings were built between 1900 and 1910 to support the Coast Artillery Corps whose job was coastal defense. This building was used at different times as a guardhouse with quarters for three sergeants, a mess and kitchen, and lastly as an administration building for the 13th Coast Artillery in 1945.

Sibley tents line the railroad track just to the west of Fort Pickens.

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, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1894.

Location. 30° 19.77′ N,

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87° 17.549′ W. Marker is in Pensacola Beach, Florida, in Santa Rosa County. It can be reached from Fort Pickens Road 9.8 miles west of Pensacola Beach Boulevard (Florida Route 399), on the right when traveling north. Marker is located at the Fort Pickens Visitor Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1400 Fort Pickens Road, Gulf Breeze FL 32561, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Pensacola

and 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: Hurricane Ivan (within shouting distance of this marker); Colonial Power Struggle (within shouting distance of this

Photographed by Tom Bosse, July 29, 2018

2. From the Fort to these Wooden Buildings Marker

marker); Beefing Up Defenses (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Dueling with Confederates (about 700 feet away); Swatting Mosquitoes (about 700 feet away); Massive Smoothbore (approx. 0.2 miles away); Step Back in History (approx. 0.2 miles away); Deadly Explosion (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Pensacola Beach.

Photographed by Tom Bosse, July 29, 2018

3. From the Fort to these Wooden Buildings Marker

Fort Pickens image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tom Bosse, July 29, 2018

4. Fort Pickens

Credits. This page was last revised on August 11, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 10, 2025, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 98 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 10, 2025, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.