Hallo liebe Community,
die Seven Mile Bridge hatten wir also besichtigt und befuhren diese nun weiter Richtung Süden. Nach herrlichen Ausblicken auf das türkise Meer rechts und links der Fahrbahn erreichten wir alsbald unser Ziel des Tages: Key West, die südlichste Stadt der USA.
Wir parkten ein kurzes Stück außerhalb der Innenstadt an unserem ersten Tagesordnungspunkt, Fort Taylor, das wir besichtigen wollten. Das imposante Fort Zachary Taylor liegt direkt am Strand von Key West. Der Bau des Forts begann im Jahr 1845 mit dem Ziel, den wichtigen Hafen von Key West zu schützen. Es spielte eine bedeutende Rolle im Amerikanischen Bürgerkrieg und diente bis 1947 als Küstenbefestigung. Heute beherbergt das Fort die größte Sammlung von Geschützen aus der Zeit des US-Bürgerkriegs.
Der Namensgeber Zachary Taylor war der zwölfte Präsident der Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika. Vor seiner Präsidentschaft war Taylor eine berühmte Figur im US-Militär. Er diente von 1808 bis 1849 in der United States Army und stieg bis zum Major General auf. Er wurde als Held des Mexikanisch-Amerikanischen Krieges (1846–1848) bekannt. Aufgrund seiner militärischen Erfolge und seines unkonventionellen Auftretens erhielt er den Spitznamen "Old Rough and Ready".
Das Fort ist in recht gutem Zustand, wie wir uns selbst im Inneren überzeugen konnten. Wir konnten uns alles aus nächster Nähe anschauen und sogar über Treppen auf die Brüstungsmauer steigen, um von hier aus den herrlichen Blick über das Fort und aufs Meer zu genießen. In einiger Entfernung sahen wir im hafen von Key West sogar ein vor Anker liegendes großes Kreuzfahrtschiff. Auf vielen Tafeln konnten wir uns die Geschichte des Forts erschließen, das insbesondere im amerikanischen Bürgerkrieg von strategischer Bedeutung war.
In den Katakomben der Außenmauer waren sehr schön restauriert Mannschaftsunterkünfte, Lagerräume, eine kleine Kapelle und diverse Kanonen in allen Größen ausgestellt. Ein wirklich beeindruckender Anblick. Man konnte den Pulverdampf regelrecht riechen und die Geschichte in sich aufsaugen. Hier in den Katakomben war es auch schön kühl, denn die Sonne stand nun schon hoch am Himmel und die Temperaturen stiegen. Wir beschlossen also unsere Tour fortzusetzen, bevor die Mittagshitze so richtig einsetzen würde.
Vom Fort aus machten wir uns auf den Weg zur Innenstadt von key West mit ihren Geschäften und Restaurants, wo das pure Leben tobte. Mehr davon aber in meinem nächsten Post.
Viele Grüße und bis bald Euer
Al
Hello dear community,
So we had inspected the Seven Mile Bridge and were now continuing south. After enjoying magnificent views of the turquoise sea on both sides of the road, we soon reached our destination for the day: Key West, the southernmost city in the USA.
We parked a short distance outside of downtown at our first stop on the agenda, Fort Taylor, which we wanted to visit. The imposing Fort Zachary Taylor is located directly on the beach in Key West. Construction of the fort began in 1845 with the goal of protecting the important port of Key West. It played a significant role in the American Civil War and served as a coastal fortification until 1947. Today, the fort houses the largest collection of artillery from the US Civil War era.
Its namesake, Zachary Taylor, was the twelfth President of the United States of America. Before his presidency, Taylor was a famous figure in the US military. He served in the United States Army from 1808 to 1849 and rose to the rank of Major General. He became known as a hero of the Mexican-American War (1846–1848). Due to his military successes and unconventional demeanor, he was nicknamed "Old Rough and Ready."
The fort is in fairly good condition, as we were able to see for ourselves inside. We were able to examine everything up close and even climb the stairs onto the parapet wall to enjoy the magnificent view of the fort and the sea. In the distance, we even saw a large cruise ship anchored in Key West harbor. Many panels explained the history of the fort, which was of particular strategic importance during the American Civil War.
In the catacombs of the outer wall, beautifully restored crew quarters, storage rooms, a small chapel, and various cannons of all sizes were on display. A truly impressive sight. You could practically smell the gunpowder smoke and absorb the history. It was also nice and cool here in the catacombs, as the sun was already high in the sky and the temperature was rising. So we decided to continue our tour before the midday heat really set in.
From the fort, we headed to downtown Key West, with its shops and restaurants, where life was bustling. More about that in my next post.
Best wishes and see you soon, Yours,
Al
Hey @lxsxl.. I haven’t visited Fort Zachary Taylor, but your post totally reminded me of a similar fort I visited here in my country.. It was also right by the water, and the views from the walls were just breathtaking.. The mix of history and scenery made it unforgettable.. I can imagine how cool it must’ve been to explore the catacombs and see the cannons up close..
It sounds like you had great timing, avoiding the heat in the catacombs.. When I went to a place like that, I stayed too long in the sun and almost melted.. 😅 Next time, I’l grab some cold water beforehand, or maybe a cool hat.. Can’t wait to hear about downtown Key West.. sounds like you’re having a blast.. Safe travels..
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Hello, excellent photos. They show the beautiful sea of Key West and how well maintained Fort Taylor is. Regards.