Fort Pike

Fort Pike is a military fortification near New Orleans built with brick walls and strategic cannon openings along the Rigolets pass connecting Lake Pontchartrain to the Gulf of Mexico. The site includes a surrounding moat, barracks, and multiple cannon positions accessible to visitors.

Construction of Fort Pike began in 1819 as part of the Third System of coastal fortifications designed to strengthen defenses following the War of 1812. The fort played a key role in early American coastal defense strategy against maritime threats.

The fort served as a temporary holding facility for Seminole Indians during their forced relocation in the 1820s and later became a training site for troops. Visitors can observe how the structure functioned as a military installation across different periods of occupation.

The fort is located north of New Orleans off U.S. Route 90 and is easily accessible by car. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes as exploring the casemates, ramparts, and surrounding grounds requires walking across uneven terrain.

The fort contains casemates originally built as gun positions that were later modified into holding cells and repurposed for different uses throughout its occupation. These architectural adaptations remain visible today as visitors explore the structure's interior.