Fort Morgan

A visit to Fort Morgan is a pleasant way to spend the day. If you can't spare a day, it is so close to the beaches that you can get there, see all of the garrison, and get back to Gulf Shores in a few hours.

The garrison, a National Historic Landmark, is a 500 acre site located at the end of a long narrow peninsula. The Gulf of Mexico is on the south side of the peninsula and Mobile Bay is on the north.

The entrance to the park is just past the Mobile Bay Ferry dock. There is a small entry fee to get to the garrison but it is well worth it, especially if you plan on spending time at the beach area fishing or swimming.

The garrison was finished and began being occupied in 1834. It got its name from Revolutionary War hero Daniel Morgan.

The fortress saw service during four wars — the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, World War I and World War II.

The garrison is most well known for its role in the Battle of Mobile Bay during the Civil War. If you've ever wondered where the saying "Damn the Torpedoes, Full Speed Ahead" originated, it was at Fort Morgan during Civil War's Battle of Mobile Bay.

Artifacts recovered from the garrison and rare photos are on display at the small museum. It only takes about 30 minutes to see the high points and get a glimpse of what life was like back in the days when the grounds were bustling with people actually working, and not just strolling around taking in the sights or pulling flounder out of the Gulf.

You can do a lot of same things here that you can do at other Alabama beaches, but without the crowded beaches at Orange Beach and Gulf Shores during peak of the season. The entrance fee almost insures that the beach areas here will not be overrun with beach lovers like most of us. Fishing is great. There are also picnic areas. Obviously there's swimming, just less people doing it than the there are at the busier beaches.

Another point of interest that you could add to your Fort Morgan visit is a stop at the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge. You should try to visit at least a portion of this beautiful wild area to get an idea of what the rest of the Alabama coast looked like before we began building it out (and up.) Look for the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge signs on Fort Morgan Road.