![]() Troop barracks were cast into a gorge with space for 800 men. The fort’s tech’ wonders were the pride of the state and the envy of other citadels. The walls contain 42 guns on three levels cannons that back then were state of the art, instead of round balls they had explosive aerodynamic projectiles that closely resembled modern-day bullets. The fort’s framework consists of oolitic limestone and New England granite. ![]() Zachery didn’t make the premier so the place was named in his honor. One of his biographers, due to his 16 months in office, labeled him as: “more a forgettable president than a failed one.” If you had to name all the presidents, Taylor would probably be one of the final ones… the half dozen of so at the tip of your tongue.Īnyway, back to the fort. Zachery died of intestinal distress on July 9th. My motives have been misconstrued, and my feelings most grossly outraged.” God knows I have endeavored to fulfill what I conceived to be an honest duty. I did not expect to encounter what has beset me since my elevation to the Presidency. “I should not be surprised if this were to terminate in my death. It was the 4th Of July and the man was tipsy with holiday cheer. On July 4, 1850, the POTUS gorged himself in abundant quantities of raw fruit and iced milk – nowadays called Ice-Cream. Old Zachery, a couple of months before, had keeled over. The man that was supposed to break the proverbial champagne bottle and cut the red-ribbon was President Zachary Taylor … The POTUS didn’t make the affair. The Fort Taylor was finally inaugurated in November 1850. The area was remote, full of pitfalls, natural catastrophes, hurricanes that would pummel the tip of Key West, and through the archipelagos roaming bands of criminals, miscreants, and misplaced natives. It took them, the army, and all the King’s Men to put this Humpty Dumpty together a total of almost fifteen years. Totten, were ratified by the Commander in Chief in 1836. Thompson Island, at the southwest tip of Key West, was elected as the place for the fort in 1822, and designs for the garrison, drawn up by Simon Bernard and Joseph G. The US, to stem this tide of villainy, began constructing a series of forts across the south right after the War of 1812. The Gulf was being plagued not only by outside aggression but by scoundrels and pirates. Plans for the fort began in 1822 as part of a mid-19th century scheme to secure the southeast coast of the US. It’s worth it just for its wide panoramic views and its own personal, more intimate, depiction of the legendary sunset celebration. If you’re in the Keys, and last night’s hangover hasn’t beaten you black and blue, you should check it out. Aside from one of the best beaches in the Florida Keys, or at least in Key West, the place is also known for it’s rather impressive Civil War -era fort. Down south, past Duvall and all its bar, you’ll discover the Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park. A jogger can circumvent the whole island in an 1 hour. Nothing more than a 10-mile island and the juicy spots are on its southern tip. Grab a map of Key West, it’s really small. Today we’re going to talk trash and wag our chins as we dive deep into Fort Taylor and more importantly its macabre and morbid history… and the ghosts haunting its parapets. So much so that it has haunted dolls, thousands of ghosts, great pirate tales, CIA missions, invasion forces, and not one but a total of 4 – If you count the one in the Dry- Tortugas – forts. For an island that has only 250 years of actual recorded history, up until the late 18th century the place was a wigwam of folklore and maybes, the spot sure managed to do a lot. Why? Because everyone likes the beach even Presidents, Banana Republic Dictators, Army Men, Artistic Types, and the CIA. BUT, Key West is also one of the most historically rich places in the US. ![]() There’s all of that, plus great beaches, and a night-life that just won’t quit. Sure there’s the Sunset Celebration sure there’s Fantasy Fest, sure there’s the inherent wackiness of an archipelago that defected from the United States for 5 seconds thanks to stale Cuban Bread. It’s not all tiki-bars, scantily clad people and parties in Key West… well, it’s mostly that, with a pinch of Hemingway and a whole lot of Jimmy Buffet.
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