Fort Morgan Historic Site

Situated on the west end of Mobile Point, Fort Morgan State Historic Site is right off Alabama Highway 180. It is about 23 miles west of Gulf Shores, a popular tourist and beach city. Within the Fort Morgan Historic Site, there are multiple batteries, beach access, a public boat ramp, as well as a museum and gift shop. On the site, there are three historical batteries: Battery Bowyer, Battery Thomas, and Battery Duportail. The Historical Mobile Point Lighthouse is also within the site.

Fort Morgan’s construction was completed in 1834, and the fort was built largely by enslaved people. In early 1861, Fort Morgan was seized by Confederate troops. Its situation on Mobile Point was optimal for the defense of Mobile Bay during the war. However, on August 5, 1864, Union naval forces advanced beyond the Fort and defeated Confederate naval forces in the famous Battle of Mobile Bay, which had one of the most dangerous ironclads constructed during the war in its fleet: the CSS Tennessee. 

As Union Admiral David Farragut was faced with the decision of pressing on towards Confederate forces through Mobile Bay, even though there were torpedoes and underwater mines and an ironclad from his fleet sank earlier that morning, he famously uttered the words, “Damn the torpedoes…full speed ahead,” just off the shores of Fort Morgan State Historic Site.

Four days later, the Union army began a siege on Fort Morgan that lasted for 14 days. Confederate troops surrendered the Fort to the Union on August 23, 1864. Of course, the Union was victorious in the Civil War, arguably as a result of the victory at the Battle of Mobile Bay. Thus, the famous Fort Morgan played a major role in determining the unity of the modern United States of America.