Fort Morgan | Gulf Shores, Alabama
Fort Morgan has guarded the entrance to Mobile Bay since 1834 and is recognized today as both a military site and a National Historic Landmark. Located about 22 miles west of Gulf Shores, its construction began in 1819 but wasn’t finished until 1834 due to the area’s remote location. The massive brick fort—built by skilled masons, which contains more than 46 million cubic yards of bricks.
Before Fort Morgan, the site was home to Fort Bowyer, built by the U.S. Army in 1813 to defend Mobile Point from potential British attacks. During the War of 1812, Fort Bowyer was attacked twice by British forces. The first assault, on September 15, 1814, involved four British warships and troops made up of Royal Marines and Creek allies. The Americans won decisively, sinking the H.M.S. Hermes and forcing the attackers to retreat. In the second engagement, in February 1815, British land and naval forces overpowered the smaller American garrison, leading to the fort’s surrender. However, under the terms of the treaty ending the War of 1812, the British returned Fort Bowyer to the United States.
