| The above graphic
is the last surviving section — the storeroom in the SW gorge — which itself
finally succombed to a hurricane early in the twentieth century. [The almost
buried door in this view is the same one at the far left in the third view
below. In that view, the solid wall to the left of the quarters casemates
is where the storeroom is located.]
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| Fort McRee was built
on a narrow bar of sand (hence it's unique shape and unfortunate demise)
across the channel from Fort Pickens, which remained in Union hands through
out the war. Fort Barrancas on the mainland was the third side of the triangle
that protected the mouth of Pensacola Bay in Florida and the important
Navy Yard there. These forts saw military action in the Civil War before
Fort Sumter was fired upon.
Damage during engagements with Fort Pickens, the purposeful destruction implemented during the eventual Confederate abandonment, the westward moving ocean currents, and the inevitable hurricanes finally did this impressive fort in. Nothing is left of it but piles of weathered bricks in the surf. So, if you wish to see Fort McRee today, you've come to the right place! |
| The following scenes
were rendered several years ago of a computer model created using 3D
Studio r3, a DOS program. I went to the National Archives in Washington
and looked at the original plans for this fort. I hope to dust the model
off before too long and make some better views and animations in Bryce
4.1.
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Bird's eye view looking NE. Sallyport and gorge on the left. Ship channel into Pensacola Bay would be on the right.
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| Parade, looking N. Taken from second level catwalk above powder magazine. Spiral staircase and shot furnace in the distance. | Below previous view at parade level in front of southern magazine, looking NE. Note stairs leading to catwalk above. | Taken from seaward casemate in center of previous view, looking back to the NW towards quarters and gorge. | Same casemate, looking north along the passage connecting the seaward casemates on the second level wooden gun deck. | Barbette level, just south of sallyport. looking SE towards southern powder magazine. Foreground stairs go down to quarters. |
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| Typical 4-gun casemate in the seaward face. |
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Thank you for visiting
Fort McRee!
© Mike McMillan
2001
Last updated May 23, 2001  |