 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
Fort Macon
Would you like to explore a fort that
was built in 1846 and was used for the Civil War? Come see our fort
at Atlantic Beach! Fort Macon is located across from Shackleford
Banks on the eastern tip of Bogue Banks. The fort was named after
North Carolina's famous statesman of the period, Nathaniel Macon.
It was designed by Brigadier General Simmons Bernard and built by the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers. The construction started in 1826 and continued
for 8 years. The fort was finished being built in 1834, and was improved
with modifications costing $436,790 during 1841-1846. The pentagon
shaped fort was built to protect invaders from the Atlantic Ocean and beach
side, Bogue Sound on another side, both the Beaufort Inlet and Maritime
Forest from the front and rear sides. The outer wall of the fort
is 24 feet high and is called a scrap wall. About 9 million bricks
made locally were used in construction of the fort. The magazine
walls are a solid 5 feet thick. In the three magazines gunpowder
and ammunition were stored. Most of the walls in the fort are four
and a half feet thick! The fort contained 26 rooms or casements.
In each room was a fireplace and 2 holes in the ceiling for ventilation,
and outer windows which are really gun ports. The fort contains a covert
way and inner citadel. Between the two is a "Ditch."
"The Ditch" is filled with water coming up the sound through a canal that
passed under the outer wall by way of a culvert.
Behind these walls lays many stories
about the men who stayed there. The fort was held by both Confederate
and Union soldiers during the Civil War.
This State Park has been visited by
over a half a million visitors each year! Fort Macon is North Carolina's
most visited State Park! Come on to Fort Macon State Park and enjoy
all this park has to offer!
M. Salter
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Return to County Clips |
 |
 |
|
Carteret County Clip |
Elementary's Lesson Plan |
Elementary's Lesson Plan |
|
Public Schools |