Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, Civil War fort and beach park in Key West, United States.
Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park is a fortification complex in Key West built on 35 hectares near the southern tip of the island. Brick corridors lead through casemates where heavy cannons were once mounted.
Construction began in 1845 as part of a coastal defense system against enemy fleets protecting the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. Work on the interior continued for several decades and proceeded during the Civil War when Union troops held the fort.
The name honors Zachary Taylor, a 19th-century American president who began his military career in Florida. Visitors today walk through vaults and along ramparts that once housed hundreds of soldiers.
Access to the fort and beach is possible daily from 8 AM until sunset, and guided tours show the military structures and defense systems. The site can become hot in warm weather, so water and sun protection are recommended.
Volunteer helpers discovered a large collection of Civil War artillery pieces buried in sand beneath the fort during excavations in 1968. These finds now form the largest such collection in North America.
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