Behind The Walls At Historic Fort Macon
You won't believe how many bricks were used to build this fort.
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Fort Macon is located on the tip of Bogue Island on the coast of North Carolina. Its original purpose was to protect Beaufort Inlet and Beaufort Harbor from foreign invaders.
Fort Macon History
Constructed between 1826 and 1834, Fort Macon was built to guard against an invasion from England or Spain, both of whom had invaded the port in the eighteenth century.
An invasion from a foreign country never came but the fort was used during the War Between the States, the Spanish American War, and World War II.
It also served as a military prison from 1862-1877.
Fort Macon During The Civil War
During the Civil War Fort Macon was used by Confederate forces, who armed it with 54 heavy cannons.
On April 25, 1862, Union forces under Brig. Gen. John G. Parke’s Union forces bombarded the fort with heavy siege guns for 11 hours, aided by the fire of navy gunboats.
The fort was hit 560 times, causing the Confederates to surrender the next day.
How Many Bricks?
Fort Macon is five-sided and made up of 2,379,546 bricks – more than any other U.S. fort.
Twenty-six vaulted rooms (or casemates) are enclosed by outer walls that are 4.5 feet thick. Other features of the fort include powder magazines, counterfire rooms with cannon emplacements, and a wide moat.
For Macon State Park
Named after Nathaniel Macon, who was a U.S. Senator from the State of North Carolina, the fort is now part of the Fort Macon State Park.
The park has walking trails and a beautiful beach for fishing or just enjoying the view. There is also an air-conditioned visitor center and museum (with a gift shop) where you can cool down after exploring the fort.
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