Discover the history of the coastal swamps of 19th century Florida. Prospect Bluff, a fine bluff overlooking the Apalachicola River, is known today as the site of two forts: the earlier and larger, built by the British in 1814 during the War of 1812, and the later Fort Gadsden, built within the walls of the former, larger, and earlier fort in 1818 after its destruction in 1816. British forces occupied the first fort in 1815, giving members of the disbanded Corps of Colonial Marines, mostly made up of fugitive slaves, permission to inhabit it.
Spanish forces in Florida had limited ability to govern their territory, and many slaves found the best route to freedom through Prospect Bluff. The Prospect Bluff Historic Sites has been managed by the U.S. Forest Service since 1940, and is located in Franklin County, Florida. Today, visitors can explore the ruins of the two forts, learn about the history of the site, and perhaps even catch a glimpse of the swamp that still surrounds it.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Friendly Jane
Discuss this with the author and others
No comments yet. Be the first to start the conversation.