Fort Jefferson
Historic Fort Jefferson, on Garden Key, is an ideal spot for an easy hike or watching the sun rise or set.
Plan Around Fort Jefferson
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Fort Jefferson Details
Historic Fort Jefferson, on Garden Key, is an ideal spot for an easy stroll or for watching the sun rise or set. Built over nearly 30 years (1846-1875) to protect vital shipping lanes in the Gulf of Mexico and serve as a strategic harbor stronghold, this massive masonry fort was never fully completed or fully armed. During the Civil War, the fort was used as a military prison for Union deserters. Its most famous prisoner was Dr. Samuel Mudd, the physician convicted of conspiring in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. In later years, the structure also served as a quarantine station and a coaling station. Interested in a deeper dive into its past? Join a one-hour guided tour or explore at your own pace using the interpretive signage throughout the sprawling three-story brick structure. After exiting the fort, follow the Moat Wall Trail, a gravel path that leads to a six-foot-wide seawall that seems to float on turquoise water. Behind the fort, you will find a peaceful place to pause, perfect for birdwatching, listening to waves lap against the moat wall, or soaking in a luminous sunrise or sunset.
Difficulty
Low
Distance
N/A
Estimated time
60 min
Region
N/A
Nearby Parks Around Fort Jefferson
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Nearby Points of Interest Around Fort Jefferson
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Fort Jefferson while the map context is still fresh.
0.0 mi away
Parade Ground
Eight open acres in the middle of Fort Jefferson.
0.1 mi away
Dry Tortugas National Park
Nearly everything is wet about Dry Tortugas: apart from a historic fort and seven small islands, this 100-square-mile park is open water.
0.1 mi away
Dr. Mudd's Cell
Dr. Samuel Mudd is the the most famous prisoner to be held at Fort Jefferson. Mudd was found guilty of conspiring with John Wilkes Booth in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln
0.1 mi away
Harbor Light
NPS still operates the beacon of this 1876 iron lighthouse.
0.1 mi away
Sallyport
The original entrance (and main defense) of Fort Jefferson.
