Gulf Shores Attraction: Fort Morgan Historic Site - Things to Do in Gulf Shores, Alabama

Fort Morgan is a State Historic Site in Gulf Shores, Alabama, and is also registered as a National Historic Landmark due to it's significance during the American Civil War. Located 22 miles West of Gulf Shores, historic Fort Morgan leads visitors away from the more popular tourist traps, and puts one on an inspirational path through a historic era that is rich with action, excitement, and notable personalities.

Original construction on Fort Morgan, as we know it today, began in 1819. Construction on Fort Morgan was completed in 1834, and the Fort received it's first garrisons that same year. However, the history of Fort Morgan as a strategic defensive position dates back prior to the construction of the Fort that exists on the site today. The Spanish used the Fort Morgan site as early as the 16^th century, and built the present Fort Morgan location in the early 19^th century as protection from hostile Native Americans.

Fort Morgan gained it's name in honor of a hero from the American Revolutionary War, Daniel Morgan. Since the time that Fort Morgan was first opened and used by military troops, it has survived four wars. The Civil War, Spanish-American War, World War I and World War II all saw troops from Fort Morgan called into action in service of their country.

It was during the American Civil War that Fort Morgan was involved in the greatest amount of conflict, particularly in 1864 when Fort Morgan was a central point in the Battle of Mobile Bay. As Confederate and Union forces fought for control of this strategic harbor, Fort Morgan, as well as Fort Gaines on Dauphin Island, were instrumental to the Confederate troops who wished to control the shipping harbor and to protect the inland communities that existed upstream on the Mobile River.