Barrancas Barracks
Barrancas Barracks (1820-1947) - First established in 1821 as an American post on the site of earlier Spanish buildings. Popularly known as Barrancas Barracks but also known by Post of Barrancas (1821-1847), Camp Barrancas (1840-1870), Post of Fort Barrancas (1870-18??) and finally as a part of Fort Barrancas (18??-1947). Primarily used to garrison troops for fortifications in the vicinity including Fort Pickens, Fort McRee, Fort Barrancas and the Advanced Redoubt. Deactivated in 1947 and turned over to the U.S. Navy.
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Barrancas Barracks History
The post was ceded by Spain to the United States on 24 Oct 1820 and the original Spanish buildings were initially used for quarters for U.S. troops. In 1821 a new large barracks building was started but remained largely unfinished through the 1870s. A new hospital complex was built in the 1830s and the post added new enlisted and officer quarters between 1847-1851.
Although popularly known as Barrancas Barracks the post had a number of official names over the years including:
- Post of Barrancas (1821-1847)
- Camp Barrancas (1840-1870)
- Post of Fort Barrancas (1870-18??)
- Fort Barrancas (18??-1947)
U.S. Civil War (1861-1865)
A description by a visiting surgeon of Barrancas Barracks on 12 Aug 1870 - "Barrancas Barracks is a large three-story fire proof building of brick, unfinished, measuring 196 by 36 feet. The building contains fifteen rooms, 32 by 26 by 16 feet, all well lighted and ventilated, and warmed by open fireplaces." Only seven rooms were occupied and eight rooms are unfinished and vacant.
Officers' quarters are five wooden buildings with verandas in front, and raised from one to two feet above the ground. The commanding officers' quarters contains five rooms and an attic; the dimensions are 47 by 36 feet.
Mean strength in 1868 was 75.25 men and in 1869 it was 58.75 men.
New officer quarters were built during the 1870s. a new hospital was built in 1895
Endicott Period (1890-1910)
A new hospital was built in 1895.
World War I (1917-1918)
In the late 1930s the old 1822 three story Barracks building was removed and a new barracks was built and completed in 1939 on the site of the old barracks.
World War II (1941-1945)
Current Status
Now located on Naval Air Station Pensacola, Escambia County, Florida.
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Location: Naval Air Station Pensacola, Escambia County, Florida. Maps & Images Lat: 30.350083 Long: -87.291698 |
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 147-149
Links:
Visited: 2 Jan 2012
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