Fort Mose Historic State Park sits near St. Augustine, Florida, and marks a crucial piece of American history that many people might not know about. This 40-acre waterfront site preserves the location of the first legally sanctioned free African settlement in what would become the United States, established in 1738. The park features a recreated … Read more
Fort Matanzas National Monument sits on a small island near St. Augustine, Florida. A Spanish watchtower has stood here since 1742. This free national monument lets you explore an 18th-century fort, ride a ferry across the inlet, and wander through 300 acres of coastal Florida landscape. The site protects both history and nature, including salt … Read more
Castillo de San Marcos National Monument is the oldest masonry fort in the continental United States, built by the Spanish between 1672 and 1695 to protect St. Augustine, Florida. sits on the western shore of Matanzas Bay and has seen almost 450 years of cultural change and conflict. The fort changed hands from Spanish to … Read more
Fort Foster State Historic Site sits inside Hillsborough River State Park in central Florida, about 20 miles northeast of Tampa. This reconstructed fort from the Second Seminole War lets you step back into 1836 and imagine what life was like for soldiers guarding the Hillsborough River bridge. Colonel William S. Foster and his 430 men … Read more
Fort Christmas Historical Park sits in Christmas, Florida, about 20 miles east of Orlando. It’s an open-air museum with a full-scale replica of a fort from the Second Seminole War, plus historic homes and buildings from Florida’s past. The park is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., including most holidays. Admission is free, … Read more
Fort King National Historic Landmark sits on 40 acres in Ocala, Florida, where a U.S. Army fort once stood during one of America’s most significant conflicts with native peoples. This site marks the location of Fort King, built in 1827, which played a central role during the Second Seminole War from 1835 to 1842. The … Read more
Fort Loudoun State Historic Park sits beside Tellico Lake in eastern Tennessee, about 30 miles south of Knoxville. This 1,200-acre park preserves the site of one of the earliest British forts on the western frontier, first built in 1756 during the French and Indian War. The park features a reconstructed 18th-century fort and a museum … Read more
Fort Ligonier sits in western Pennsylvania as a restored British fort from the French and Indian War. Built in 1758, it served as a key military post during the era when European powers fought over North America. Today, you can walk through an accurate reconstruction on the original site, with a museum full of artifacts … Read more
Fort Necessity National Battlefield sits about 60 miles south of Pittsburgh in southwestern Pennsylvania. This small fort marks the site of a young George Washington’s first major battle and his only military surrender. The site played a key role in starting the French and Indian War in 1754. The Battle of Fort Necessity took place … Read more
Fort Bridger is one of Wyoming’s most significant historic landmarks. It gives visitors a genuine glimpse into the American West’s frontier past. This 37-acre site preserves 27 historic structures and tells the story of five distinct eras, from its founding as a fur trading post in 1843 through its time as a military outpost until … Read more