Fort Massachusetts Poster
by Kathy K McClellan
Title
Fort Massachusetts Poster
Artist
Kathy K McClellan
Medium
Photograph - Photographs
Description
Fort Massachusetts sits on West Ship Island, twelve miles off the coast of Mississippi and is part of The Gulf Islands National Seashore. It is only accessible by private boat and commercial passenger ferry.
Although the island was declared a United States military reservation in 1847, it was nine years before Congress authorized construction of a fort. Construction began in June of 1859. The Army Corps of Engineers supervised the construction but the workers were almost all civilians.
The fort was occupied by Mississippi militia, Confederate troops and then Union forces. As many as 18,000 US troops were stationed on the island in the spring of 1862 and was instrumental in helping the Union capture New Orleans.
Nearly 40 buildings were constructed on the island during the Civil War including a mess hall, barracks, bakery and a hospital. Almost 230 Union soldiers were buried on Ship Island during the war. The remains of many of the casualties were later reburied at Chalmette National Cemetery, near New Orleans.
From 1859-61 the Army obtained its bricks from Louisiana.
From 1861-62 bricks were shipped from New England.
After the war ended in 1865, the bricks were again obtained from Louisiana. Distinct color changes can still be seen on the walls of the fort where different types of bricks were used. Work continued on the fort until the fall of 1866.
The fort remained in use until 1903 and restoration began in the 1960s. Restoration efforts also followed Hurricane Camille (1969) and Hurricane Katrina (2005).
This image has been featured in the FAA/Pixels groups:
Images That Excite 04/12/2015
Text Art 09/14/2021
Uploaded
March 21st, 2015
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Viewed 329 Times - Last Visitor from New York, NY on 04/21/2024 at 9:35 AM
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Comments (8)
Kathy K McClellan
Thank you Bukunolami Ola for featuring this image in the FAA/Pixels group Text Art (09/14/2021).
John Bailey
Congratulations on being featured in the Fine Art America Group "Images That Excite You!"
DUG Harpster
Have you talked to anyone at Fort Massachusetts? Looks as if it could be used in a tourist pamphlet. You are a great emissary for your areas scenic attractions. Way to add the history as well. GOOD JOB KATHY!~DUG
Kathy K McClellan replied:
Thanks, DUG! I am hoping to get some of these in a local shop this summer.
Roberta Byram
This is stunning!
Kathy K McClellan replied:
Thanks, Roberta! Come in the summer and we will take the ferry out there!