Named after General Zebulon Pike Fort Pike stands as a sentinel of history. It guards the Rigolets pass in Louisiana. This is a strait from the Gulf of Mexico to Lake Pontchartrain.
Fort Pike State Historic Site is a decommissioned 19th-century United States fort. It is located near New Orleans. It was built after the War of 1812. Its purpose was to defend against attacks from land or sea.
Did you know Fort Pike has a smaller twin nearby? It is Fort Macomb. Both forts played a key role in the area’s history.
Construction of Fort Pike began in 1819. It finished in 1826. Fort Pike is the first of the Third System fortifications. These are brick and masonry structures built between 1816 and 1867. President James Monroe ordered an extensive coastal defense system after the War of 1812. Fort Pike was a crucial part of this system.
The original Fort Pike had 32-pounder and 24-pounder cannons. The exact number of each is unknown. The wartime garrison held about 400 men. In peacetime, it varied between 1 and 80 soldiers.
During the Seminole Wars in the 1830s Fort Pike served as a staging area for troops en route to Florida. It also held Seminole prisoners. Cannons were removed to convert casemates to cells. Once 66 soldiers guarded 253 Indian and black prisoners.
Fort Pike was a stopover for soldiers during the Mexican War in the 1840s. At other times it was left in the care of a single ordnance sergeant.
In 1861 the Louisiana militia captured Fort Pike. Confederates held it until Union forces took New Orleans in 1862. The Union then reoccupied the fort. It was used as a base for raids. The fort also became a training center for former slaves. These troops joined the United States Colored Troops.
Surprisingly no cannonball was ever fired in battle from Fort Pike. The United States Army abandoned Fort Pike in 1890. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. It became the Fort Pike State Historic Site.
Hurricane Katrina in 2005 damaged Fort Pike. The storm surge submerged the entire fort. Adjacent state park buildings were destroyed. The site reopened on May 2 2008. Hurricanes Gustav and Isaac later caused more closures for repairs. The fort was closed again in February 2015 due to state budget cuts.
Fort Pike’s story includes military history and natural disasters. It also features the struggle for freedom. Fort Pike stands as a reminder of the past.