Fort Gaines on Dauphin Island, Alabama

Today we took our favorite ferry from Gulf Shores, Alabama to Dauphin Island, where we spent most of the day at historic Fort Gaines.

The well-preserved ramparts of Fort Gaines have guarded the entrance to Mobile Bay, Alabama for more than 150 years. It's where the Battle of Mobile Bay (August 5-23, 1864) occurred, and where Union Admiral David Farragut shouted his now-famous order, “Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!”. Farragut not only secured a Union victory, but successfully closed the last Confederate fort on the Gulf Coast. This was one of several events that helped secure U.S. President Abraham Lincoln's election later that year.

Forts like these are complete gems that I can't recommend enough. Fort Gaines has a small museum & a decent size gift shop, but the main attraction is how accessible the fort is. It's great for the person who likes a little adventure and doesn't mind walking into some very dark, old spaces on occasion. There are beautiful views, fresh breezes...who could ask for more? And if you want to see Fort Morgan while you're down here, which is just across Mobile Bay from Fort Gaines, both are very different and I'd recommend seeing them both. We spent a few hours at Fort Gaines, left for lunch, and then closed out the day here. You can spend thirty minutes here, or you can spend practically a day. It really just depends how much you want to take in. For us, it was a great way to be outdoors while learning about the fort's history and taking in its architecture and construction.

Due to ongoing shoreline erosion, Fort Gaines has been designated as one of the Eleven Most Endangered Historic Sites in America. So if you want to experience it in its entirety, please put it high on your list.

Side note: My parents came here last year, and they are not huge Civil War buffs; yet they almost spent the whole day here, too. So it's appeal is not just limited to us Civil War people. I think it's impressive to many once they see it.