Fort De Soto: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 07:15, 24 March 2009

Fort De Soto (1898-1948) - Construction of this Endicott Period fort began in fall of 1898 on Mullet Key Island, Florida. Named for Hernando de Soto on 4 Apr 1900. Declared surplus in 1928 but reused during World War II. Finally purchased by Pinellas County, Florida, 11 Aug 1948.

Fort De Soto History

Part of the Harbor Defense of Tampa Bay.

Originally identified by Ltc. Robert E. Lee in 1849 as a strategic location for guarding Tampa Bay. Construction began in 1898 base on plans drawn by Lee.

Endicott Period

Two reinforced concrete Endicott Period gun batteries, Battery Laidley and Battery Bigelow, were completed by 1904. The fort was garrisoned between 1900 and 1922 by Coastal Artillery units. In 1922 the islands were offered for sale but the U.S Government but not actually sold to anyone until it was purchased by Pinellas County, Florida, in 1938 for $12,500.

**Fort De Soto Endicott Period Battery** (edit list)
Battery Click on Battery links below	No.	Caliber	Type Mount	Service Years	Battery Cost	Notes
Battery Laidley	8	12"	Mortar	1898-1900-1900-1931	$ 155,652	4 Mortars to Battery Whistler, Fort Rosecrans, 1917 4 Mortars still in place
Battery Bigelow	2	3"	Masking Parapet	1904-1920	$ 13,980	In the surf
Source: CDSG

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World War II

Pinellas County sold the islands back to the U.S. Government for $18,404 in 1941. On 22 Mar 1941 Fort De Soto was designated a sub-post of MacDill Field, Florida, it became an Army Air Force gunnery and bombing training center during the war.

Current Status

Pinellas County bought the islands back from the U.S. Government in 1948 for $26,500 and they became Fort De Soto Park. Period guns and carriages are displayed including the only remaining installation of 12", 1890M1 Mortars on 1896M1 Carriages in the U.S. and a display of two 6" British Armstrong guns from Battery Burchsted on Fort Dade.

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Location: Mullet Key Island, Florida

Maps & Images

Lat: 27.6127727 Long: -82.7353442

Multi Maps from ACME
Maps from Bing
Maps from Google
Elevation: '

Sources:

Roberts, Robert B., Encyclopedia of Historic Forts: The Military, Pioneer, and Trading Posts of the United States, Macmillan, New York, 1988, 10th printing, ISBN 0-02-926880-X, page 163
Coast Defense Study Group, CDSG Press, CDSG Digital Library
Fort De Soto County Park
another park site
Andy Bennett site
Wikipedia
A history of Fort De Soto

Links:

North American Forts

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Fort De Soto Picture Gallery

Click on the picture to see a larger version. Contribute additional pictures - the more the better!

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 * [http://andy_bennett.home.mindspring.com/desoto.html Andy Bennett site]
 * [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_De_Soto Wikipedia]
+* [http://fortrat.coolfreepages.com/index.html A history of Fort De Soto]
 '''Links: '''
 * [http://www.northamericanforts.com/East/flgulf.html#tampabay North American Forts]
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