- Please support our journalism through affiliate links. Affiliate Disclosure
Review:
Fort Gaines stands on Dauphin Island and offers great vistas and panoramic views for visitors to marvel at. For more than 150 years, the remarkably preserved ramparts of the fort have guarded the entrance to Mobile Bay, but due to continuous shoreline erosion, the fort itself has been designated one of the country’s eleven most endangered historic sites.
Today, the fort still has a blacksmith’s shop, its original cannons and kitchens, a gift shop, museum, and tunnels. Guided tours are offered by staff wearing period dress – a touch that truly brings history to life. Visitors can witness blacksmithing and a cannon firing demonstration. The fort was a key site in the Battle of Mobile Bay and it is indeed here that Admiral Farragut made his famous pronouncement: “Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!”
Plan Your Trip
Get Ready to Go!
- Search flights and stays nearby.
- Book your tour or local activity.
- Book your car rental.
Need some more help?
Read our Reservations & Travel Planning Tips guide.