Our Self-Guided Tour of Fort Zachary Taylor

Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park

Encroaching upon the Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park entrance, we are not quite sure what to expect from this Key West gem. Surrounded by biker bars, frozen margarita stands, and serendipitous souvenir shops, this state park offers an escape from the “paradise” of Florida’s southernmost point.

The park is dedicated to the 12th President of the United States, Zachary Taylor, and houses one of three Civil War forts constructed in Key West, Florida.

Originally constructed in 1845, the fort has retained a large extent of its glory. By 1861, the fort was three stories high, surrounded by a moat, and taken over by the Union to curtail Confederate blockade runners. At the start of the 20th century, the fort was reduced to one story with advanced weaponry. The fort was also occupied during the 1898 Spanish-American War and World Wars I and II, actively serving America until 1947, making it the longest-serving coastal fortification in the United States. 

Fort Taylor parade

In 1985, Fort Taylor was designated as a Florida State Park, and today, visitors can participate in a guided tour of what remains of the fort (daily at 11am). Approaching the main entrance to the fort, we become surrounded by a thick, black fortress. Just to the left of the fort, there is a restroom area and gazebo with a pioneer exhibit for live demonstrations. The heat of the day is already beating upon us as we engage in a quick geocache quest and then head for the main attraction. Heavy cannonballs lay along the edges of the fort’s exterior brick walls, offering a strength competition for visitors who are up for a challenge.

Reenactment of Civil War period

Key West Harbor

Heading up the left stairs to what once was the second level of the fort, which is now the roof, a sign reads – “Caution: Historic Ruins, Uneven Surfaces.” The floor is uneven beneath our feet due to the embedded, unearthed Civil War cannons, and the present-day sun beats down on the hot, black surface, producing a bright glare. Looking out from the rooftop, there are tremendous views of the Key West Harbor with cruise ships awaiting in the distance. The bright blue waters are picaresque, and the sailboats slide magnificently across the horizon.

Viewing Key West Harbor

Climbing down from the second tier, we venture on to explore the broad display of gun rooms, including excavated cannons, ammunition, cisterns, and latrines on the first level of Fort Taylor. Several rooms feature windows with a view beyond the moldy moat cascading toward the harbor. Extensive signage throughout the gun rooms unveils the copious military history, allowing for a self-guided tour if desired. Cracks and crevices in the structure lend mini adventures that take you into areas otherwise overlooked.

Moat around Fort Taylor

Coming back toward the front of the fort entrance, we mosey through the barracks that are open for viewing. What once served as areas for dining, cisterns, and offices, now contains various exhibits, including weaponry, construction materials, and canon replicas. In the center of the courtyard, a couple reenacts Civil War life, lounging by a tent with a bonfire and a slew of artifacts, dressed in seemingly torturous hot wardrobe for a 95-degree April afternoon. Inside the Sally Port, at one time the fort’s only entrance, you can rest on a bench of your choosing and transport back in time, viewing a short film of Fort Taylor’s history, with the fort jail cells leering at the corners of your eye sockets. We take a small break here to cool down and prepare for our hiking adventure.      

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Join us on our hike around green moats and rocky seascapes at Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park: