Fortress sights in North America
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Convento de Sisal
About 700m southwest of the plaza. It and the Templo de San Bernardino were constructed between 1552 and 1560 to serve the dual functions of fortress and church.
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Fort Sewall
Walking east on Front St, you will reach Fort Sewall, perched on a rocky rise at the mouth of the harbor. The 17th-century fort expanded during the American Revolution and is now a pleasant park.
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Fort Madison
The American Fort Madison (earlier called Fort Porter and dating to 1808) is further west along Perkins St, opposite Madockawando St. Like Castine's other two forts, these are now low earthworks, park-like and grass-covered.
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Fort Barrancas & Advanced Redoubt
On a dramatic bluff overlooking Pensacola Bay, 19th-century Fort Barrancas was built by slaves atop an abandoned 18th-century Spanish fort. The fort, now part of the National Park Service, has endless dark passageways to explore, but not much in the way of displays. A half mile away via a walking trail lie the ruins of Advanced Redoubt, a Civil War–era fort. Wander around on your own, or wait for one of the regularly scheduled ranger tours (2pm daily at Barrancas and 11am Saturday at Advanced Redoubt).
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Fort George
Close to the Maine Maritime Academy campus, Fort George is near the upper (northern) end of Main St where it meets Battle Ave and Wadsworth Cove Rd. Like Castine's other two forts, these are now low earthworks, park-like and grass-covered.
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San Juan de Ulúa
This fortress protecting Veracruz harbor was originally an island, but it’s now connected to the mainland by a causeway. Cortés arrived here in 1519, and the island subsequently became the main entry point for Spanish newcomers to Mexico.
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Fort Lesley J McNair
Located just south of Waterside Park, this was an army post established in 1791; it was burned by the British in 1814. The Lincoln-assassination conspirators were hung at McNair in 1865; it now houses the National Defense University and National War College (closed to the public).
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Fort William Henry
A quarter-mile south of Pemaquid Beach lies the remains of Fort William Henry. A replica of a 17th century fort, this circular stone structure boasts commanding views, old foundations from the 1600s, a burial ground with interesting tombstones, an archaeological dig and a small museum.
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Fort Caroline National Memorial
This memorial is the administrative headquarters of the Timucuan Ecological and Historical Preserve, a confederation of federal, state and local parks – some located on Talbot and Fort George Islands. The confederation works with private landowners to maintain the St John’s River ecosystem.
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Fort Amherst
Across the Narrows from Signal Hill, and dwarfed by its massive cliffs, are the remains of centuries-old Fort Amherst. You can almost touch the icebergs and whales from here, and the views along the rugged coast are incredible. You'll discover remnants of WWII gun batteries and a lighthouse (1810), the first in Newfoundland.
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Fort Egbert
To the north of town is Fort Egbert, which can be reached from the Taylor Hwy via 4th Ave. The BLM has restored the old army fort, which once contained 37 buildings; among the structures are the restored mule barn, carriage house, doghouse and officers' quarters, which are clustered together in one section of the fort. You can wander past it on your own but the Eagle Historical Society tour is the only way to go inside.
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Fuerte Museo San José del Alto
San Miguel's northern counterpart, built in the late 18th century, sits atop the Cerro de Bellavista. From the parapets you can see where the town ends and the mangroves begin. Cross a drawbridge over a moat to enter the neatly restored fortress. Inside, the Fuerte Museo San José del Alto illustrates the port's maritime history through ship models, weaponry and other paraphernalia, including a beautiful ebony rudder carved in the shape of a hound.
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Baluarte de San Pedro
Directly behind Iglesia de San Juan de Dios, the Baluarte de San Pedro served a postpiracy defensive function when it repelled a punitive raid from Mérida in 1824. Carved in stone above the entry is the symbol of San Pedro: two keys to heaven and the papal tiara. Climb the steep ramp to the roof and look between the battlements to see San Juan’s cupola. Downstairs, the Galería y Museo de Arte Popular displays beautiful indigenous handicrafts.
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Fortress
The Fortress above the lagoon was built to protect citizens from raids by pirates and the local indigenous population. It also served as an important outpost for the Spanish in the War of the Castes. In 1859 it was seized by Maya rebels, who held the fort until Quintana Roo was finally conquered by Mexican troops in 1901. Today, with formidable cannons still on its ramparts, the fortress remains an imposing sight.
It houses a museum exhibiting colonial armaments and uniforms from the 17th and 18th centuries.
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Fort Pentagöet
While Castine lacks a great stone citadel like Fort Knox, it did have some important fortifications, though these are low earthworks, now park-like and grass-covered. Close to the Maine Maritime Academy campus, Fort George is near the upper (northern) end of Main St where it meets Battle Ave and Wadsworth Cove Rd. Look for Fort Pentagöet. The American Fort Madison (earlier called Fort Porter and dating to 1808) is further west along Perkins St, opposite Madockawando St.
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Fort Mason Center
San Francisco takes subversive glee in turning military installations into venues for nature, fine dining and out-there experimental art – evidence, Fort Mason. The military mess halls are gone, replaced by vegan-friendly Greens, a restaurant run by a Zen community. Warehouses now host cutting-edge theater at Magic Theatre and improvised comedy workshops at BATS, and the dockside Herbst Pavilion has art fairs and craft fairs in its arsenal – see the website for upcoming performances and events.
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Georges Island
Georges Island is the transportation hub for the islands, as the inter-island shuttle leaves from here. It is also the site of Fort Warren, a 19th-century fort and Civil War prison. While NPS (National Park Service) rangers give guided tours of the fort, it is largely abandoned, with many dark tunnels, creepy corners and magnificent lookouts to discover.
The extensive picnic area attracts large groups of kids, as do the family programs like children's theater (Fri) and family fun days (Sat & Sun). This is one of the only islands with facilities like a snack bar and rest rooms (most other islands have outhouses).
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Fort Seward
Fort Seward, reached by heading uphill (east) at the Front St-Haines Hwy junction, was Alaska's first permanent army post. Built in 1903 and decommissioned after WWII, the fort is now a national historical site with an increasing number of restaurants, lodges and art galleries utilizing the original buildings. A walking-tour map of the fort is available at the visitors center, or you can just read the historical panels that have been erected there.
Within the parade ground is Totem Village. Although not part of the original fort, it includes two tribal houses and totem poles and is the home of the Chilkat Storytellers Theater Show, an hour-long performance of Alaska…
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Fort Knox State Historic Site
The newest attraction in town is the Penobscot Bridge Observatory, an enclosed observation deck offering panoramic views from its 420ft perch above the Penobscot Narrows. The elevators that whisk you up top are on the grounds of the Fort Knox State Historic Site, just out of town and north of the bridge on ME 174. Not to be confused with the US army’s bullion depository in Kentucky, this Fort Knox dates from 1844, and was built as a bulwark against a British invasion. The huge granite fortress dominates the Penobscot River Narrows, which was an important gateway to Bangor, the commercial heart of Maine’s rich timber industry. Bring a flashlight if you plan a close…
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Fuerte de San Diego
This beautifully restored pentagonal fort was built in 1616. Its mission was to protect the Spanish naos (galleons) that conducted trade between the Philippines and Mexico from marauding Dutch and English buccaneers. It must have been effective because this trade route lasted until the early 19th century.
After a 1776 earthquake damaged most of Acapulco, the fort had to be rebuilt. It remains basically unchanged today, having been recently restored to top condition by the Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH). The panorama of Acapulco you'll get from the fort is free and alone worth the trip.
The fort is now home to the Museo Histórico de Acapulco, which…
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Fort Schwatka
Most of the Aleuation WWII National Historic Area preserves Fort Schwatka on Mt Ballyhoo, the highest coastal battery ever constructed in the USA. Looming nearly 1000ft above the storm-tossed waters of the Bering Sea, the US Army fort encompassed more than 100 concrete observation posts, command stations and other structures built to withstand earthquakes and 100mph winds.
The gun mounts here are still among the best preserved in the country and include tunnels that allowed gunners to cart ammunition from one side of the mountain to the other. The 1634ft mountain is behind the airport and can be climbed to look at military artifacts or enjoy excellent views of Unalaska…
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Fort Stevens Park
In a raid on July 11, 1864, Confederate General Jubal Early attacked Fort Stevens, the northernmost of the defensive ramparts ringing the city. A small but fierce battle raged – the only time the Civil War touched District soil – until Early’s men withdrew across the Potomac. Abraham Lincoln himself was drawn into the shooting: the president, observing the battle from Fort Stevens’ parapet, popped his head up so many times that Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr, then a Union captain, yelled ‘Get down, you damn fool, before you get shot!’ The fort has been partially restored, and 41 Union men who died in its defense are buried at tiny Battleground National Cemetery…
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La Citadelle
This massive, star-shaped fort towers above the St Lawrence River on Cap Diamant. French forces started construction here in the late 1750s leaving a gunpowder building and a redoubt, the beginnings of a defensive structure. But the Citadelle we know today was actually built by the British, who feared two things: an American invasion of the colony and a possible revolt by the local French-speaking population (that’s why the cannons point not only at the river, but at Québec City itself). However, by the time the Citadelle was completed (construction began in 1820 and was finished about 30 years later) things were calming down. Twenty years later, in 1871, the Treaty of…
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Baluarte de Santiago
Until 1880 Veracruz was a walled city surrounded by mighty medieval defenses. Baluarte de Santiago, the only surviving fort of nine, was built in 1526 beside what was then the waterfront. A small exhibit of pre-Hispanic gold jewelry is inside. The price covers admission to the fort’s interior, but you can walk around the outside battlements for free.
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