The Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, also known simply as Fort Taylor, is a Florida State Park and National Historic Landmark centered on a Civil War-era fort located near the southern tip of Key West, Florida.

The Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park foundation consists of zoolitic limestone and New England granite. Its 5-foot (1.5 m) thick walls rose 50 feet (15 m) above mean low water and included two tiers of casemates with a terreplein or barbette at the top. Three seaward curtains 495 feet (151 m) between bastions, each containing 42 guns on three levels, were augmented by a land-facing gorge. Troop barracks were built into this gorge with a capacity for 800 men.

At either end of the barracks was a large gunpowder magazine while a sally port was located in the center, connected to land by a 1,200-foot (366 m) causeway. Rainwater was collected in underground cisterns along the perimeter of the fort. Yellow fever epidemics and material shortages slowed construction of the fort, which continued throughout the 1850s. The Pensacola, Florida, firm of Raiford and Abercrombie provided bricks for Fort Zachary Taylor and Fort Jefferson, which was under construction at the same time.

Even before the onset of the American Civil War in April 1861, the United States government recognized the importance of holding Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park if the Southern states seceded. An official report to the United States Secretary of War on December 28, 1860, stated that: “Lieutenant-General Scott will further ask the attention of the Secretary to Forts Jefferson and Taylor, which are wholly national, being of far greater value even to the most distant points of the Atlantic coast…than to the State of Florida. There is only a feeble company at Key West for the defense of Fort Taylor.”

At midnight on January 13, 1861, Union Captain John Milton Brannan moved his 44 men of the 1st U.S. Artillery Regiment from Key West Barracks to Fort Taylor. Despite having no orders to do so, Captain Brannan took the initiative in manning the fort to prevent it from falling into Confederate hands. It became a key outpost for threatening blockade runners during the Union blockade. Major William H. French arrived in April 1861 with his artillery unit.

In 1898, the fort was reduced to two stories and Battery Osceola was added to the south casemate. The battery consisted of two 12-inch M1895 guns. The Civil War-era guns were used as fill, being buried within the new battery to save on materials. Battery Adair was added to the west casemate and included four 3-inch M1898 15-pounder rapid-fire rifles.

The fort zachary taylor historic state park was heavily used again during the Spanish–American War (1898), World War I (1917–1918), World War II (1941–1945), and the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962).

No longer of use to the U.S. Army, the fort was turned over to the United States Navy in 1947 for maintenance. In 1968, volunteers led by Howard S. England excavated Civil War guns and ammunition buried in long-abandoned parts of the fort to form what would be considered the nation’s largest collection of Civil War cannons.

Fort Taylor was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1973. Due to the filling in of land around the fort, including the creation of an attractive stretch of beach, the park now occupies 87 acres (35 ha).

Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park: Some Things to Do…

Admire Butterflies At The Key West Butterfly And Nature Conservatory

Found along Duval Street, The Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory is a great spot where kids can have fun interacting with nature. And since women love butterflies too, the whole family can have a fabulous adventure exploring more than 50 different species of butterflies. While strolling through the garden, visitors will be able to spot exotic birds as well as two beautiful flamingoes in the natural habitat.

Climb The Key West Lighthouse

For tourists coming to the island, one of the must-visit places is the Key West Lighthouse. Located along Whitehead Street, this 65-foot (19.8-m) tower is an iconic landmark where visitors come to feast their eyes on breathtaking views of the island. It is fitted with 15 lamps that illuminate it at night, creating a romantic atmosphere, as well as 15-inch reflectors that help sailors navigate. To reach the top, there’s a spiral staircase that is just as fun to climb.

Catch Beautiful Sunsets At The Sunset Celebration At Mallory Square

Honeymooners and revelers visiting the island of Key West always find their way to Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square just for a chance to witness as the sun disappears in the Gulf of Mexico and much more. Here, tourists come to have light moments while admiring magicians, acrobats, and even clowns entertaining the crowds. Local musicians come here to bless the fun-seekers with some sweet melodies and lively performances. Contemporary artists also come here to display their amazing works of art.

Learn About Marine Life At The Key West Aquarium

Animal lovers and undersea explorers vacationing in Key West always spend their leisure time learning about marine life at the Key West Aquarium. This is the only public aquarium on the island, no wonder tourists, as well as locals, love visiting here. Visitors can learn about sharks, get up close, and see how they are fed. The aquarium is home to species such as jellyfish, starfish, crabs, sea lions, conchs, and turtles, among others.

Relax And Unwind At Smathers Beach

When vacationing in Key West, tourists can spend their weekends interacting with the locals and frolicking at Smathers Beach. Lined with beautiful palm trees, this is one of the most popular beaches on the island, where sun-seekers come to enjoy suntans. Visitors can have fun playing volleyball on the beach. They can also rent a jet ski and enjoy a thrilling ride on the turquoise waters. After playing on the beach, people can wash off the sand in the showers.

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