The fortifications at West Point where designed by Polish/American revolutionary war hero Tadeusz Kościuszko, he also greatly improved the fortifications at fort Ticonderoga which were pivotal in the battle that took place there.
2:10 The five pointed star design was not new in when the fort was uppgarded. Swedens capital Stockholm had almost the same wall design, but in the 13th centery!
Star forts go back at least as far as the Roman Empire but possibly much further. It's a fairly obvious design for someone planning a defense. They didn't really reach their peak, though, until gunpowder weapons were common.
@@itsapittieno Roman star forts would exist, in fact I highly doubt almost any star forts existed before the advent of gunpowder artillery saying they are optimized for the use and counter of such weapons. Without gun powder artillery star forts would just look like laughably over engineered and expensive to not achieve much more than a basic curtain wall and keep design.
Do you get to dress in the period appropriate clothing, like the dudes who do the cannon demonstration? I live in Oviedo, and visit St. Augustine at least once a year. Thanks to you and your colleagues for preserving and presenting the city for our enjoyment! There isn't a city anywhere in the US that compares to the beauty and history of St. Augustine.
I sometimes dress in period wear while I play classical guitar in the barracks. An 18 feet thick, arched cavern. The acoustics are fabulous. Music is a medium that transforms time and culture,\.
Only 1 and 3 belong on this list and the idiot making the video didn’t even bother to research which guns were used at ft mcHenry during which period 🙄
@@sallyintucson You clearly did not see the people of Puerto Rico marching a Guiatine to the governors mantion after it was reveiled that it was local curruption and mishandelling of federal aid that lead to the 4000+ deaths after Maria. They were trying to blame it on Trump when 1 year old untouched fedal food stuffs were discovered in an abandoned wearhouse and some one leaked a private chat. PR went throu something like 6 govnors in a week.
Another of the most impressive Civil War fortifications are the casemates at Fort Monroe, Va. It overlooked the Chesapeake Bay at Hampton Rhodes and had President Jefferson Davis as one of its prisoners' of war. Fort Monroe was the headquarters for the Continental Army Command until recently.
Might have been called Fortress Monroe. Dad was stationed there in the late 1950s and early 1960's when I went to Hampton High School. Conarc, Continental Army Command.
You are aware that Castillo de San Marco in St. Augustine is far older, right? St. Augustine is also the olders continually occupied city in North America. Sure Ft. Jeff is cool, but it's on Dry Tortuga, and there is a year long waiting list to even see the place. It's also been "abandoned" for longer than it was active. Not to sound like a jerk, but the video would be several hours long if they would have included every fort in America.
@@SkunkApe407 "year long waiting lost"? No there isnt. Im frim Ireland. I visited it July 2019 booked my floatplane ticket 8-10 weeks before travelling.
I'm was born in Baltimore and my family is from Fort Ave. We still own he house less than a mile from the Fort. And I worked for years in he warehouse next door to the fort.
My family goes on a vacation just south of St Augustine every year, and over the years I've visited every fort in the area that still stands. Great to see Matanzas on this list (figured it would be based on the title card lol). The history of that area is fascinating, would love to see a geographics on it some day!
It’s the only one that belongs on this list as “impressive”. It’s been besieged multiple times but never taken. Sumpter is terrible, no one wants to be on an island fort with no geographic advantage and can be attacked by surrounding land batteries and navy ships
It's going to s*** because of all the Developers the people who were born and raised in this city can't afford to live here anymore. It's honestly kind of sad and it's killing this small town
All very cool forts to visit, esp. Pulaski, though my favorite American fort by far is the fort at Dry Tortuga at the end of the keys. Massive place, and it's where they sent Dr. Mudd to serve his sentence for treating John Wilkes Booth after he shot Lincoln.
It's not the Continental United States, but Fort Castillo San Felipe del Morro in San Juan, Puerto Rico is an AMAZING fort right on the ocean that was extremely strategic to multiple militaries throughout it's history.
Could you do 4 most impressive Canadian fortifications 1: Ft. Prince of Wales, Manitoba 2: Ft Chambly, Quebec 3: Halifax Citadel, Nova Scotia 4: Fortifications of Quebec City
Puerto Rico isn't a state, it's an unincorporated overseas territory. Therefore it BELONGS to the US, but is NOT a part of the US. Sorry, but they aren't the same thing. That would be a different video altogether.
@@prlinding yet all four forts listed here fall within the contiguous lower 48. Why is that? Maybe because overseas territories are NOT a part of our Sovereign Nation? Here's a link you obviously need to read, as you clearly can't distinguish between an unincorporated territory and a state. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_status_of_Puerto_Rico
Look troll, its specifically says American Forts. Let someone attack El Morro or San Cristobal and see who comes to defend it moron. I can see how Cuba's fort El Castillo de Los Tres Reyes is not on this list but the ones in Puerto Rico absolutely deserved to be in this video. Its on American soil. Your exclusion denotes possibly some contempt for that fact but your opinion does not change the FACTS.
Castillo De San Marco is about 30 minutes from where I live, and I have visited many times over the years. It is located in St. Augustine, Florida, the nation's oldest city.
@@vonPunkipuerto Rico isn’t a country, it’s a territory of the United states of America controlled as such. Your logic on Germany is so insanely idiotic saying that not how anything works at all. If there is a fort on a U.S. military base then maybe, but a country happening to have a U.S. military base doesn’t suddenly mean the U.S. controls all forts in the country
In the background at 1:11 is the US Coast Guard cutter USCGC Eagle. It’s an active duty three mast sailing ship used as part of the coast guard officer training.
“Americans think that 100 years is old, and the British thing that 100 miles is far.” The more I get to know these two countries, the more I find this axiom to be true.
Castillo de San Marco may the oldest masonry fortification in the continental United States but San Felipe de el Morro in Puerto Rico handily beats it in time (1533) and size.
@@jabato9779a Isla Borriqueña is indeed US territory, and all ‘Ricans are by birth US citizens with US passports. They just happen to hablar Español as their first language.
Sam Marcos while smaller is militarily and construction a more defensible fort. The actual material it’s built of compresses on itself and doesn’t crack and break like besieger need to storm a breach. It’s also situated on a river that more narrow than the sea and forces attacking ships into limited operations where they must be careful of sandbars and changing depths
The Rodman guns at Ft. McHenry date to the Civil War period and later, they were not present during the War of 1812. The forst Rodmans were the Model of 1861. Also, you might have mentioned the Endicott Period (1895 and later) 12" concrete battery which takes up much of the middle of Ft. Sumter.
Fort Niagara should be on the list. Important in French & Indian War, Revolutionary War, and War of 1812. Also housed German POWs during WW2. Also add Fort Ticonderoga.
The July 4th fireworks at the Bridge of Lions next to Castillo de San Marcos is one of my favorite places to watch from in the country. The full history of the fort is worth it's own Geographics episode and we'll worth the full guided tour.
The 15 inch Rodman guns at Fort McHenry that you depict were added during the Civil War, and definitely not present in 1812. The heaviest guns back then were 32 and 42 pounders. As for Fort Pulaski, there is a very good account of the siege written by Quincy Gilmore, the Chief Engineer of the attacking force in Volume Two of Battles and Leaders of the Civil War. Gen. Gilmore gives the exact number and size of the guns used. The rifle pieces that did the most damage were five 30-pounder Parrot Rifles and five James rifles made from older smoothbore guns. The James Rifles were one 48 pounder, two 64 pounder, and two 84 pounder guns, the rifle projectiles being twice the weight of the smoothbore spherical shot. The gun ranges of these pieces were 1670 yards and 1650 yards. It is well worth the read.
Some minor details... Fort Sumter was not abandoned in 1861; it was re-garrisoned by the Confederacy. The pictures that you show of the damaged fort were not from the 1861 bombradment but from the August 1863 bombardment when Union forced recaptured the fort.
It's absolutely impossible that some of these forts were built by 19th century Americans. Most of these forts would be prohibitively expensive to built even today with modern technology. Fort Pulaski, built on an island where all construction materials had to be transported by boat, 25 million bricks, 11 foot thick walls, so massive it needed to be supported by 70 foot long thick wood timbers sunk 75 feet into the ground. How exactly did they sink these timbers? Did the pioneers dig a 75 foot deep trench, 11 feet wide, around the perimeter, with hand shovels? Who knows, it apparently wasn't important enough to mention. There's absolutely no mention anywhere of how these feats were accomplished. We're only given the names of the men in charge, for example Robert E Lee. I guess he learned how to build massive forts in military school.
You are quite correct. The guns at the time of the 1814 bombardment were much smaller. The clown who does these videos is no historian. He makes a lot of errors in his videos.
Worth noting, I think, that the Castillo de San Marcos is North America’s oldest masonry fort and that although it’s been ceded several times, it has never been conquered. During the two occasions when the English burned the town, the people sheltered inside the fort and lived to rebuild. Also, just across Matanzas Bay on Anastasia Island (in what is now the Davis Shores neighborhood) are a couple pieces of artillery brought by founder of the Georgia colony James Oglethorpe to harass the Spanish city, but he had his ass handed to him so utterly that he had to abandon them there when he turned tail.
Your title is misleading. I was excited to hear you talk about El Morro and/or San Cristobal forts in San Juan Puerto Rico. Womp Womp. You really should do an episode on just these 2 forts. I enjoy your videos!!👍🏻
Ft Pulaski was an interesting choice. Personally I'd have thought Ft Zachory Taylor (in Key West Fl) or Ft Jefferson (Dry Tortugas) should have taken that last spot. However they are all interesting places to visit.
Fort Pulaski was fitted with more modern turret guns and was a coastal defense during WW2. It was decommissioned and returned to historical status after WW2 but the last time I was there, the WW2 cannons were still in place. Take Care and nice Video! Be Safe, John
Puerto Rico has two forts which are great, they started out belonging to Spain of course but were used by the US during WW2 and what is significant about them is that they are the largest masonry forts outside of Europe.
St Augustine be my waters mate where I pillage and plunder as a Pirate. A very important fact you left out about Castillo de San Marcos is that it never fell to enemy forces. It is also the oldest masonry fort in the United States.
Other interesting forts to consider are Fort Knox in Maine which is in pristine condition and never fired upon; Fort Ticonderoga in New York which fell to British troops in the French and Indian War and remained in commission through 1931; and Fort Jefferson on the Dry Tortugas off of the coast of Florida
I was happy when you name Fort Ticonderoga in N y as a kid my parents took me to the fort Funny thing he didn't name Fort Sumter I don't remember who had the fort never went down
Fort Meigs outside of Perrysburg, Ohio was an impressive fort in its day, built to be a supply depot and staging area for military operations in Canada during the War of 1812, it was the largest wooden walled fortification in North America. British and Native American forces bombarded the fort for nine days in 1813, but failed to do much damage. It was later reduced in size after the British left the area, and was reduced in size again to a small, square stockade after the war before being permanently abandoned after the signing of the Treaty of Fort Meigs in 1817. The local historical society has rebuilt the fort to its original 1813 configuration and it is open for tours.
If you get to St Augustine FL, the fort is really well preserved. The city is pretty nice as well. Ft Desoto is pretty impressive as well. That is in St Petersburg FL.
Good video! Good forts! I notice those are all in the South and the East- Northern California has some beautiful forts, too. Have you looked into Forts Point, Cronkite and Ross? Fort Point- brick Civil War fort under the Golden Gate Bridge. Fort Cronkite- a series of gun placements set into the hills north of San Francisco to defend against a WW2 Japanese assault that never came. Fort Ross- a wooden fort of Russian origin in Jenner, California. Good work, Simon!
A big advantage San Marcos had was it's position along the Matanzas Inlet. There is a natural harbor the Spanish used as a stopping off point between South America and Spain. But to get to it you must use a narrow channel. This led to attackers following a very predictable route. If they attempted to evade they would likely run aground and become even more predictably motionless.
It is the only militarily impressive fort on this list and that is demonstrated by it being besieged multiple times but never taken San Marcos is an military engineering work of genius. The location itself guarantees attacking ships must be limited in draft and attack in a narrow defile and most likely will get set ablaze by hot shot especially if they run aground
Y’all. This is the first Simon Whistler I’ve ever seen where I can say I’ve actually been where he’s talking about. I live is Savannah, so I’ve been to Pulaski. And St. Augustine and Charleston are both only a few hours drive! So I’ve been to all of these forts except the one in Baltimore!
I was also thinking Ticonderoga would be on here and was saddened when I saw your post. As a native of the Utica/Rome area of NY I would have loved to see Ft Stanwix on here, but it is not very impressive beyond never surrendering.
Interesting fact about Coquina used in Castillo de San Marcus is that once the stone was exposed to air in the quarry it hardened in under a day and was nearly impossible to cut and shape. Therefore the specs for each stone was pre-engineered so they would be removed and shaped to exact specs within an hour of being cut from the quarry.
Could you do a side project on the Sydney Opera House? I remember there were problems with the original designer of it and the costs.. might be worth looking at.
I got to say that I was lucky enough to visit all four forts in the First Coast region of Florida from Fort Clinch on Amelia Island, Ft. Caroline, Castillo de San Marcos, and Fort Matanzas. So much history in that area.
Suggest that you do a review of the forts around Portsmouth UK. There are examples of some of the earliest(A Roman Fort), to some of the last forts designed when the advance of artillery meant that an attack from the north could be devastating to the fleet. These forts were named as Palmerston's follies, because they were never needed. However, perhaps they weren't needed because of the presence of the Palmerston forts around the hills overlooking Portsmouth. A canal was cut through the peninsular that has Portsmouth on it, and thus it is really on an island! There are some minor fort remains, which would have protected that canal. On Gosport side, there is a ring of forts from many different eras, all designed to protect Portsmouth from the west, and linking up with the Palmerston forts. There is probably enough material for several videos,, especially as one of the Palmerston forts, HMS Nelson, is now a Royal Armouries museum.
Unrelated to forts, but I really wish you would do some stories on the former Naval Weapons Range, and current Idaho National Laboratory. There is a lot of cool history in that place. From testing of naval cannons used in WW2 to the first nuclear power plant (EBR-1), first city to be powered by nuclear energy, and the deadliest nuclear accident in the US (SL-1). I am especially interested in the story of SL-1. There are a lot of rumors about it, from possible love triangle murder suicide, to a ghost ambulance contaminated by radiation ending up in Vegas.
As an individual who is interested in military history and has done videos on western forts, I am always impressed with the masonry forts on the east coast from New England to New Orleans. These forts are so different from the western forts and are still whaat people image when they hear the word "fort." I enjoyed the video, but could see argument on which forts are the most impressive.
I'm thinking it might be more appropriate for Geographics, Simon should do a video on Valletta, Malta. The whole city was a fort in styles that clearly influence these.
If they existed before the invention of the cannon why do we not have any evidence of star forts from ancient and mediaeval times? City walls and castles were very different shapes and structures
The southeast wall of the eastern tip of Castillo de San Marco (@8:02) looks like a block of Swiss cheese despite the fact it wasn't the wall facing the harbor that would've received fire from incoming naval attacks. This intrigued me as I could clearly tell it wasn't formed by erosion of the Coquina rock. When I asked one of the historians about it his grim answer immediately made sense - That wall was used as the firing line for executions & a lot of times the unlucky souls were often former colleagues of the firing squad so they would fire with their eyes closed, causing some of the rounds to strike the wall nearly 10ft off the ground. The moral to the story here is be kind to thyne neighbor...
Isn't that by the old customs house, near the cruise ship terminal? Been to Puerto Rico a few times with family but never heard this. Thanks for the info.
I grew up with a Revolutionary era 5-point Star fort down the street from my house. It was actually an active military post until the 1960s. It was the site of several battles during the War of 1812, and it was also the only place in the US to house Jewish war refugees from Europe during WW2. Now it’s a historic site owned by the state.
I went to visit Fort Pulaski one hot summer day, as the sun went down I was thankful for bug spray and the sounds of the Summer Pops from the Savannah Symphony Orchestra, loved the fort and the music, of all the Forts listed, Fort Sumter was the most underwhelming and Castillo de San Marcos my favorite, even though I grew up in Baltimore not far from Fort McHenry
Very good and informative video. There are many other great forts to see around the country. Fort Jefferson, at the end of the Florida Keys, is a very interesting and unique fort. The French Fort Duquesne and British Fort Pitt at the confluence of rivers in Pittsburgh. And 4 forts in my home state of NY: Fort Stanwix, in Rome and Fort William Henry (Last of the Mohicans), in Lake George, prominent in the French and Indian War, and Fort Ticonderoga and West Point, prominent in the American Revolution.
In the same vein, you should make a video about the fortifications and the Citadel of Quebec city. To my knowledge, it is the only fortified city in North America and it has a lot of history, being the battleground of the XVIIIe century's war between France and Britain.
Forgot Ft Monroe. Active from 1823 to 2011. Largest fort by area built in the US. Even though it Virginia was a part of the confederacy during the Civil War, it remained in Union control. Called Freedom’s Fortress because slaves escaping to the fort would be freed. Also housed Jefferson Davis for a short time after his capture in GA. It remained a coastal defense fort through both WW1 and WW 2. Finally it was used for training until it was decommissioned in 2011. And that’s just a little of it’s history. You could easily do a piece on it alone.
No it did not. The fort saw no action. It was never besieged. The fort while impressive looking is basically indefensible against siege. Every commander knew that and thus chose to fight the battle on the ramparts a mile outside the fort
Although the famous battle in the French and Indian War was in fact fought a distance from the fort, it was captured by Continental forces and its cannon were taken to Boston, so the fort saw action.
Excellent video. I would’ve included New York’s Fort Jay into this list as well. Located on Governors Island in New York harbor, the fort is of a 4-sided star design; erected in the early 19th century. It overlooks Manhattan, and along with Castle Williams and Castle Clinton, shielded the harbor from invasion.
About NYC, you forgot to mention Castle Williams on Governers Island, and Castle Clinton in Battery Park, in Manhattan. Then in Staten Island, just near the Bridge (to Brooklyn), you have Ford Weed, and Fort Wadsworth. Not to mention the Harbor Defense Museum in Brooklyn's Army Garrison Fort Hamilton, which may not have any old fortifications accessable, or left (Fort Lafayette), but in 1776 a battery on the site fired on a Brittish ship.
Two suggestions: Followup, a mega-project on the US Endicott fort building circa 1890-1920s, including the forts in Manila Bay. Old suggestion: cable powered street railways, the way to move your city in the 1880s.
These are all lovely places but my favourite fort of all has to be Fort Stanwix National Monument in Rome, NY. Unfortunately it isn't the original fort but a remade plan of the original. It is indeed a great place to visit.
Please consider doing either a Side Projects or Geographics on Ft. Stanwix and it’s closely related pivotal Revolutionary War conflict, the Battle of Oriskany. Located in Upstate NY’s city of Rome and village of Oriskany, respectively, are at the heart of early America’s quest for independence and soon were the backdrop for its commercial development with the construction of the groundbreaking (pun intended) Erie Canal nearby.
Thought some forts from Puerto Rico would appear due to their size and history, maybe in the future we could see it, also another interesting video would be about the Cathedral of San Juan Bautista since it's the oldest church build I'm the United States. Keep up the fun and educational videos!
Puerto Rico is an overseas territory, not a state. That means PR belongs to the US, but isn't actually a part of the nation. That doesn't mean that PR shouldn't be a state, but the PR government hasn't elected to become a state because that would mean PR would have to pay taxes like the other 50 do.
@@SkunkApe407 Also the Jones acts pretty much acts like a Tax already since everything we being into the Island we have to pay a certain amount amount, we also can only bring stuff from a US port, with a US ship that is crewed by US crew.
@@Hardcase_Kara the title is specifically about forts in the USA, not the various territories under the US's ownership. No amount of opinion or feelings can change that fact. If PR wants to be a part of the USA, rather than an unincorporated territory, they have to vote to do so, and start paying Federal Income Taxes to the US Department of Revenue. Sorry, but there are laws and regulations that have to be followed in order to be counted as a part of the USA.
@@Hardcase_Kara do you pay US Federal Income Tax? Not unless you live in the USA. Puerto Ricans are DUAL CITIZENS, meaning they come from another country. Here's a link to help you better understand that, despite the Jones Act, PR is NOT the USA. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_status_of_Puerto_Rico
Be cool if you did Canadian forts as well. You have the walled city of Quebec, the Citadels in Quebec and Halifax, and older smaller forts like Fort York and Fort Chambly... All have interesting bits of history too!
As a Marylander I do want to thank Simon for his correct pronunciation of our state. Mary Land. Not Merrilan or Mrylin as some say it. That said…the city is properly pronounced Ballmer or Ballmore.
6 forts covering almost 200 years outside Savannah. Fort King George, Fort Pulaski, Fort Jackson, Fort Washington(almost nothing is left of this fort), Fort Macalister, Fort Screven.
Ft Sumpter was in the Charleston harbor. There was a merchant ship trying to enter the port. The Yankees at the fort would not let it land until it paid federal tariffs. South Carolina had succeeded and did not give federal tariffs any credibility. That is why the fired on the fort. This fact is why you sometimes hear the civil war was about tariffs. The battle of Ft Sumpter was about tariffs.
The fortifications at West Point where designed by Polish/American revolutionary war hero Tadeusz Kościuszko, he also greatly improved the fortifications at fort Ticonderoga which were pivotal in the battle that took place there.
2:10
The five pointed star design was not new in when the fort was uppgarded. Swedens capital Stockholm had almost the same wall design, but in the 13th centery!
Star forts go back at least as far as the Roman Empire but possibly much further. It's a fairly obvious design for someone planning a defense. They didn't really reach their peak, though, until gunpowder weapons were common.
Agree. A lot of pentagonal and poligonal star fortress date since 15-16th century in Italy.
About 300 years before these buildings
@@itsapittieno Roman star forts would exist, in fact I highly doubt almost any star forts existed before the advent of gunpowder artillery saying they are optimized for the use and counter of such weapons. Without gun powder artillery star forts would just look like laughably over engineered and expensive to not achieve much more than a basic curtain wall and keep design.
Hey Simon, I am a volunteer at the Castilo de San Marcos. Yours is a very accurate description. Thanks
Do you get to dress in the period appropriate clothing, like the dudes who do the cannon demonstration? I live in Oviedo, and visit St. Augustine at least once a year. Thanks to you and your colleagues for preserving and presenting the city for our enjoyment! There isn't a city anywhere in the US that compares to the beauty and history of St. Augustine.
I sometimes dress in period wear while I play classical guitar in the barracks. An 18 feet thick, arched cavern. The acoustics are fabulous. Music is a medium that transforms time and culture,\.
@@rickmannoia5659 I think I've seen you there a time or two. That's awesome!
I went there two summers ago. It's very beautiful.
That’s awesome!
I'd just caught up... refreshed the page and there's two more Simon Whistler videos because of course there are.
Story of my life...
He’s like the mythical hydra. You watch one video and two more pop up in its place haha
@@gavindy_Sv2 Allegedly
0:55 - Chapter 1 - Fort mchenry
4:05 - Chapter 2 - Fort sumter
7:05 - Chapter 3 - Castillo de san marcos
10:00 - Chapter 4 - Fort pulaski
Only 1 and 3 belong on this list and the idiot making the video didn’t even bother to research which guns were used at ft mcHenry during which period 🙄
EL Morro & El Fuerte San Cristobal, both on Puerto Rico, part of America's forts and federally protected
Was going to respond with the same thing. I thought one or both would be on this list.
Were they trashed by hurricanes? I still remember the orange one tossing paper towels over there. 🤦♀️
@@sallyintucson nothing happened to the fortifications.
@@sallyintucson You clearly did not see the people of Puerto Rico marching a Guiatine to the governors mantion after it was reveiled that it was local curruption and mishandelling of federal aid that lead to the 4000+ deaths after Maria. They were trying to blame it on Trump when 1 year old untouched fedal food stuffs were discovered in an abandoned wearhouse and some one leaked a private chat. PR went throu something like 6 govnors in a week.
@@meechewv2point0 Sally is factually correct. Trump is orange and he did toss paper towels.
Another of the most impressive Civil War fortifications are the casemates at Fort Monroe, Va. It overlooked the Chesapeake Bay at Hampton Rhodes and had President Jefferson Davis as one of its prisoners' of war. Fort Monroe was the headquarters for the Continental Army Command until recently.
Might have been called Fortress Monroe. Dad was stationed there in the late 1950s and early 1960's when I went to Hampton High School. Conarc, Continental Army Command.
From the 1970’s until it’s closure in 2011 it was the HQ of TRADOC.
Fortress Monroe was so formable during the Civil War the rebels never even attempted to take it
Amazed that you didn’t mention Fort Jefferson. The largest red brick building in the US and located 70 miles from nearest land in Florida Keys...
I have been there. The Union was able keep the Fort by bluffing to the Confederates that was Fully armed and operational
I've been there by floatplane from Key West. Incarceration site of Samuel Mudd.
Blame whoever wrote it.
You are aware that Castillo de San Marco in St. Augustine is far older, right? St. Augustine is also the olders continually occupied city in North America. Sure Ft. Jeff is cool, but it's on Dry Tortuga, and there is a year long waiting list to even see the place. It's also been "abandoned" for longer than it was active. Not to sound like a jerk, but the video would be several hours long if they would have included every fort in America.
@@SkunkApe407 "year long waiting lost"? No there isnt.
Im frim Ireland. I visited it July 2019 booked my floatplane ticket 8-10 weeks before travelling.
St. Augustine my hometown finally gets a mention in a Simon video!! Finally!!
Fort McHenry. My hometown of Baltimore. 🇺🇸🇺🇸
Dude I loved how the list opened with it, gave me a chuckle
I'm was born in Baltimore and my family is from Fort Ave. We still own he house less than a mile from the Fort. And I worked for years in he warehouse next door to the fort.
Dems have made Baltimore a total shithole.
I've been to the St Augustine fort so many times. It's a beautiful city and totally worth visiting if you have the chance
Good luck finding parking lol
@@nrm8831 lol true. That city was not designed for parking 😂
Been there. Plenty of ghosts.
I Love the Alligator Farm!
@@gobeklipepe At the Ripley's Castle!
My family goes on a vacation just south of St Augustine every year, and over the years I've visited every fort in the area that still stands. Great to see Matanzas on this list (figured it would be based on the title card lol). The history of that area is fascinating, would love to see a geographics on it some day!
It really is a wonderfully cool area
It’s the only one that belongs on this list as “impressive”. It’s been besieged multiple times but never taken.
Sumpter is terrible, no one wants to be on an island fort with no geographic advantage and can be attacked by surrounding land batteries and navy ships
It's going to s*** because of all the Developers the people who were born and raised in this city can't afford to live here anymore. It's honestly kind of sad and it's killing this small town
All very cool forts to visit, esp. Pulaski, though my favorite American fort by far is the fort at Dry Tortuga at the end of the keys. Massive place, and it's where they sent Dr. Mudd to serve his sentence for treating John Wilkes Booth after he shot Lincoln.
It's not the Continental United States, but Fort Castillo San Felipe del Morro in San Juan, Puerto Rico is an AMAZING fort right on the ocean that was extremely strategic to multiple militaries throughout it's history.
Puerto Rico is not even the US.
@@jabato9779Yes it is. It is US territory. And Puerto Ricans are American citizens by Constitutional law.
@@jabato9779El Morro is part of the San Juan National Historic Site, under the National Park Service. Park Rangers take care of the site.
Marylander here...proud of Fort Mchenry.
Could you do 4 most impressive Canadian fortifications
1: Ft. Prince of Wales, Manitoba
2: Ft Chambly, Quebec
3: Halifax Citadel, Nova Scotia
4: Fortifications of Quebec City
I've been to three out of four of these forts . I hope to get up the Maryland to see the last
Hoping the exclusion of Castillo San Cristobal in Puerto Rico was because there's a Mega Projects video in the works...
Kekekekekke I came for this but ig that's spoilers
Puerto Rico isn't a state, it's an unincorporated overseas territory. Therefore it BELONGS to the US, but is NOT a part of the US. Sorry, but they aren't the same thing. That would be a different video altogether.
@@SkunkApe407 the title is about "American" Forts if you wanna get all technical...
@@prlinding yet all four forts listed here fall within the contiguous lower 48. Why is that? Maybe because overseas territories are NOT a part of our Sovereign Nation? Here's a link you obviously need to read, as you clearly can't distinguish between an unincorporated territory and a state.
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_status_of_Puerto_Rico
Look troll, its specifically says American Forts. Let someone attack El Morro or San Cristobal and see who comes to defend it moron. I can see how Cuba's fort El Castillo de Los Tres Reyes is not on this list but the ones in Puerto Rico absolutely deserved to be in this video. Its on American soil. Your exclusion denotes possibly some contempt for that fact but your opinion does not change the FACTS.
Castillo De San Marco is about 30 minutes from where I live, and I have visited many times over the years. It is located in St. Augustine, Florida, the nation's oldest city.
You should have mentioned Fort SanFelipe del Morro in Puerto Rico which is the Largest and oldest fort on USA soil
--- any country with an American military base, like Puerto Rico or Germany, can be considered USA soil.
@@vonPunki Puerto Rico is part of the USA since 1898
@@vonPunkipuerto Rico isn’t a country, it’s a territory of the United states of America controlled as such.
Your logic on Germany is so insanely idiotic saying that not how anything works at all. If there is a fort on a U.S. military base then maybe, but a country happening to have a U.S. military base doesn’t suddenly mean the U.S. controls all forts in the country
You missed Fort Jefferson, the largest masonry structure in the Western Hemisphere.
My thoughts exactly. Was lucky enough to visit Dry Tortugas in 2019. Amazing location.
Im from Ireland.
Second this, however it didnt play a role in any battle. But stunning structure happy I was able to visit in 2019.
Wrong The largest is San Felipe del Morro
@@fernandocortes540 not wrong.
In the background at 1:11 is the US Coast Guard cutter USCGC Eagle. It’s an active duty three mast sailing ship used as part of the coast guard officer training.
It’s the only active duty sailing ship in the US military and apparently only one of five like it in the world.
“Americans think that 100 years is old, and the British thing that 100 miles is far.” The more I get to know these two countries, the more I find this axiom to be true.
Truth! 100 miles is a long way!
Americans forget how old Europe is, and Europeans forget how big America is. Also 100 miles isn’t far. It’s just a little under a two hour drive.
Truer word were never said. It is not a road trip unless you are going further then 300 miles away and likely to go see a WWII relic.
A National Anthem that is less than a hundred years old (1931) is something I didn't know.
@@trev8591 meh not really
Castillo de San Marco may the oldest masonry fortification in the continental United States but San Felipe de el Morro in Puerto Rico handily beats it in time (1533) and size.
Puerto Rico is not even the US.
@@jabato9779a Isla Borriqueña is indeed US territory, and all ‘Ricans are by birth US citizens with US passports. They just happen to hablar Español as their first language.
Sam Marcos while smaller is militarily and construction a more defensible fort. The actual material it’s built of compresses on itself and doesn’t crack and break like besieger need to storm a breach. It’s also situated on a river that more narrow than the sea and forces attacking ships into limited operations where they must be careful of sandbars and changing depths
"Crabcakes and crime." 🤣 This guy cracks me up!
Baltimore native here... still tying to find the lie
The Rodman guns at Ft. McHenry date to the Civil War period and later, they were not present during the War of 1812. The forst Rodmans were the Model of 1861.
Also, you might have mentioned the Endicott Period (1895 and later) 12" concrete battery which takes up much of the middle of Ft. Sumter.
Fort Niagara should be on the list. Important in French & Indian War, Revolutionary War, and War of 1812. Also housed German POWs during WW2. Also add Fort Ticonderoga.
My parents told me, that during WW2, they saw the German POWs at a POW camp just outside of historic Fort Niagara.
The July 4th fireworks at the Bridge of Lions next to Castillo de San Marcos is one of my favorite places to watch from in the country. The full history of the fort is worth it's own Geographics episode and we'll worth the full guided tour.
The 15 inch Rodman guns at Fort McHenry that you depict were added during the Civil War, and definitely not present in 1812. The heaviest guns back then were 32 and 42 pounders.
As for Fort Pulaski, there is a very good account of the siege written by Quincy Gilmore, the Chief Engineer of the attacking force in Volume Two of Battles and Leaders of the Civil War. Gen. Gilmore gives the exact number and size of the guns used. The rifle pieces that did the most damage were five 30-pounder Parrot Rifles and five James rifles made from older smoothbore guns. The James Rifles were one 48 pounder, two 64 pounder, and two 84 pounder guns, the rifle projectiles being twice the weight of the smoothbore spherical shot. The gun ranges of these pieces were 1670 yards and 1650 yards. It is well worth the read.
At 1:11... Great shot of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Eagle, the last and only tall-ship still commissioned and serving! 🇺🇸
USS Constitution, Old Iron Sides, is an active serving frigate launched in 1797.
@@meechewv2point0 should have clarified, serving in the USCG... Old Iron Sides is an awesome ship serving the USN! Good catch! 👍🏼
Ft Jefferson in gulf of Mexico was one of the major forts and strategically critical
Some minor details... Fort Sumter was not abandoned in 1861; it was re-garrisoned by the Confederacy. The pictures that you show of the damaged fort were not from the 1861 bombradment but from the August 1863 bombardment when Union forced recaptured the fort.
I've been to fort Sumter twice it's really cool
I’ve been inside the one in St. Augustine a couple of times. It’s very cool. 😊
It's absolutely impossible that some of these forts were built by 19th century Americans. Most of these forts would be prohibitively expensive to built even today with modern technology. Fort Pulaski, built on an island where all construction materials had to be transported by boat, 25 million bricks, 11 foot thick walls, so massive it needed to be supported by 70 foot long thick wood timbers sunk 75 feet into the ground. How exactly did they sink these timbers? Did the pioneers dig a 75 foot deep trench, 11 feet wide, around the perimeter, with hand shovels? Who knows, it apparently wasn't important enough to mention. There's absolutely no mention anywhere of how these feats were accomplished. We're only given the names of the men in charge, for example Robert E Lee. I guess he learned how to build massive forts in military school.
Same reaction, too many outdated star fortresses, no way it's from the 19th century
Here in St Augustine, we say “sharl-mane.”
Ft. McHenry, was not in 1814 armed with Rodman Guns as Thomas Jackson Rodman (1815-1871 was not even born then Rodman Guns were made in the 1860s.
You are quite correct. The guns at the time of the 1814 bombardment were much smaller. The clown who does these videos is no historian. He makes a lot of errors in his videos.
@@jamesjohnston9970 I will point out that there are no photos of Ft. McHenry c 1814.
I know 😂 such lazy research. During 1812 Rodney guns were 50 years from development
@@jamesjohnston9970yup very lazy research. Any armchair historian knows they didn’t have 8” daldrons until the civil war
Worth noting, I think, that the Castillo de San Marcos is North America’s oldest masonry fort and that although it’s been ceded several times, it has never been conquered. During the two occasions when the English burned the town, the people sheltered inside the fort and lived to rebuild. Also, just across Matanzas Bay on Anastasia Island (in what is now the Davis Shores neighborhood) are a couple pieces of artillery brought by founder of the Georgia colony James Oglethorpe to harass the Spanish city, but he had his ass handed to him so utterly that he had to abandon them there when he turned tail.
Your title is misleading. I was excited to hear you talk about El Morro and/or San Cristobal forts in San Juan Puerto Rico. Womp Womp. You really should do an episode on just these 2 forts. I enjoy your videos!!👍🏻
Thank you. 😊
As usual for Simon, great video and excellent commentary! 👍👍
Another fine video Simon, well done! How about America's Intracoastal Waterway for a Side Project or perhaps even a Mega Project?
No this was not a fine video. It contained mistakes and a lack of military understanding of siege warfare and defense
I go fishing regularly by Castillo San Marcos, its pretty good
Where exactly do you go fishing?
Love to see a video on the mulberry harbours, floating concrete docks used for the D-Day assault and logistics!
Ft Pulaski was an interesting choice. Personally I'd have thought Ft Zachory Taylor (in Key West Fl) or Ft Jefferson (Dry Tortugas) should have taken that last spot. However they are all interesting places to visit.
here are 4 more:
Ticonderoga
Fort Jefferson - Dry Tortugas
Fort Macon NC
Fort Pitt - Pittsburgh PA
Fort Pulaski was fitted with more modern turret guns and was a coastal defense during WW2. It was decommissioned and returned to historical status after WW2 but the last time I was there, the WW2 cannons were still in place.
Take Care and nice Video! Be Safe, John
So was fort Sumter
Puerto Rico has two forts which are great, they started out belonging to Spain of course but were used by the US during WW2 and what is significant about them is that they are the largest masonry forts outside of Europe.
St Augustine be my waters mate where I pillage and plunder as a Pirate. A very important fact you left out about Castillo de San Marcos is that it never fell to enemy forces. It is also the oldest masonry fort in the United States.
What is your opinion on all the development recently
Other interesting forts to consider are Fort Knox in Maine which is in pristine condition and never fired upon; Fort Ticonderoga in New York which fell to British troops in the French and Indian War and remained in commission through 1931; and Fort Jefferson on the Dry Tortugas off of the coast of Florida
I was happy when you name Fort Ticonderoga in N y as a kid my parents took me to the fort Funny thing he didn't name Fort Sumter I don't remember who had the fort never went down
Fort Meigs outside of Perrysburg, Ohio was an impressive fort in its day, built to be a supply depot and staging area for military operations in Canada during the War of 1812, it was the largest wooden walled fortification in North America. British and Native American forces bombarded the fort for nine days in 1813, but failed to do much damage. It was later reduced in size after the British left the area, and was reduced in size again to a small, square stockade after the war before being permanently abandoned after the signing of the Treaty of Fort Meigs in 1817.
The local historical society has rebuilt the fort to its original 1813 configuration and it is open for tours.
If you get to St Augustine FL, the fort is really well preserved. The city is pretty nice as well.
Ft Desoto is pretty impressive as well. That is in St Petersburg FL.
I’m close to ft Sumter. It’s a beautiful beast!!
It is, we go with the kiddos about every summer. We're up closer to Myrtle Beach
Good video! Good forts! I notice those are all in the South and the East- Northern California has some beautiful forts, too. Have you looked into Forts Point, Cronkite and Ross?
Fort Point- brick Civil War fort under the Golden Gate Bridge.
Fort Cronkite- a series of gun placements set into the hills north of San Francisco to defend against a WW2 Japanese assault that never came.
Fort Ross- a wooden fort of Russian origin in Jenner, California.
Good work, Simon!
A big advantage San Marcos had was it's position along the Matanzas Inlet. There is a natural harbor the Spanish used as a stopping off point between South America and Spain. But to get to it you must use a narrow channel. This led to attackers following a very predictable route. If they attempted to evade they would likely run aground and become even more predictably motionless.
It is the only militarily impressive fort on this list and that is demonstrated by it being besieged multiple times but never taken
San Marcos is an military engineering work of genius. The location itself guarantees attacking ships must be limited in draft and attack in a narrow defile and most likely will get set ablaze by hot shot especially if they run aground
Y’all. This is the first Simon Whistler I’ve ever seen where I can say I’ve actually been where he’s talking about. I live is Savannah, so I’ve been to Pulaski. And St. Augustine and Charleston are both only a few hours drive! So I’ve been to all of these forts except the one in Baltimore!
I totally didn't click this video thinking it was gonna be about Impressive Historic Farts... lol
That will be his next Side Projects video.
at over 23,000 acres I would have thought Fort Ticonderoga would be on this list
I was also thinking Ticonderoga would be on here and was saddened when I saw your post. As a native of the Utica/Rome area of NY I would have loved to see Ft Stanwix on here, but it is not very impressive beyond never surrendering.
Interesting fact about Coquina used in Castillo de San Marcus is that once the stone was exposed to air in the quarry it hardened in under a day and was nearly impossible to cut and shape. Therefore the specs for each stone was pre-engineered so they would be removed and shaped to exact specs within an hour of being cut from the quarry.
Like many here I was disappointed not to hear mentioned El Castillo San Cristobal and San Felipe del Morro. But maybe he meant in the continental USA.
I completely thought the title said "America's Most Impressive Farts".
Kinda disappointed now...
That’s coming next week
Search for Eric Swalwell
That'll be on Business Blaze in a few days.
I always liked that there was a "Fort Necessity".
Great place to visit, but not impressive to see.
Could you do a side project on the Sydney Opera House? I remember there were problems with the original designer of it and the costs.. might be worth looking at.
Side Projects Idea -
"How Solo Cups Revolutionized The Way Video Production Occurs In Stories Of Business."
Live Long and Prosper.
You forgot Puerto Rico
These are the videos that's we all love. Thank SW!
I got to say that I was lucky enough to visit all four forts in the First Coast region of Florida from Fort Clinch on Amelia Island, Ft. Caroline, Castillo de San Marcos, and Fort Matanzas. So much history in that area.
Suggest that you do a review of the forts around Portsmouth UK. There are examples of some of the earliest(A Roman Fort), to some of the last forts designed when the advance of artillery meant that an attack from the north could be devastating to the fleet. These forts were named as Palmerston's follies, because they were never needed. However, perhaps they weren't needed because of the presence of the Palmerston forts around the hills overlooking Portsmouth. A canal was cut through the peninsular that has Portsmouth on it, and thus it is really on an island! There are some minor fort remains, which would have protected that canal. On Gosport side, there is a ring of forts from many different eras, all designed to protect Portsmouth from the west, and linking up with the Palmerston forts. There is probably enough material for several videos,, especially as one of the Palmerston forts, HMS Nelson, is now a Royal Armouries museum.
Unrelated to forts, but I really wish you would do some stories on the former Naval Weapons Range, and current Idaho National Laboratory. There is a lot of cool history in that place. From testing of naval cannons used in WW2 to the first nuclear power plant (EBR-1), first city to be powered by nuclear energy, and the deadliest nuclear accident in the US (SL-1). I am especially interested in the story of SL-1. There are a lot of rumors about it, from possible love triangle murder suicide, to a ghost ambulance contaminated by radiation ending up in Vegas.
As an individual who is interested in military history and has done videos on western forts, I am always impressed with the masonry forts on the east coast from New England to New Orleans. These forts are so different from the western forts and are still whaat people image when they hear the word "fort." I enjoyed the video, but could see argument on which forts are the most impressive.
I'm thinking it might be more appropriate for Geographics, Simon should do a video on Valletta, Malta. The whole city was a fort in styles that clearly influence these.
It is a star fort, for energy harnesting and water purification, much older then 1600
Nope... they were extremely effective defensive structures
If they existed before the invention of the cannon why do we not have any evidence of star forts from ancient and mediaeval times? City walls and castles were very different shapes and structures
The southeast wall of the eastern tip of Castillo de San Marco (@8:02) looks like a block of Swiss cheese despite the fact it wasn't the wall facing the harbor that would've received fire from incoming naval attacks. This intrigued me as I could clearly tell it wasn't formed by erosion of the Coquina rock. When I asked one of the historians about it his grim answer immediately made sense - That wall was used as the firing line for executions & a lot of times the unlucky souls were often former colleagues of the firing squad so they would fire with their eyes closed, causing some of the rounds to strike the wall nearly 10ft off the ground.
The moral to the story here is be kind to thyne neighbor...
Isn't that by the old customs house, near the cruise ship terminal? Been to Puerto Rico a few times with family but never heard this. Thanks for the info.
I was expecting Fort Niagara to make the list.
I grew up with a Revolutionary era 5-point Star fort down the street from my house. It was actually an active military post until the 1960s. It was the site of several battles during the War of 1812, and it was also the only place in the US to house Jewish war refugees from Europe during WW2. Now it’s a historic site owned by the state.
Fort de Chartres in Illinois is an quite the sight as well. Especially for a frontier fort
I went to visit Fort Pulaski one hot summer day, as the sun went down I was thankful for bug spray and the sounds of the Summer Pops from the Savannah Symphony Orchestra, loved the fort and the music, of all the Forts listed, Fort Sumter was the most underwhelming and Castillo de San Marcos my favorite, even though I grew up in Baltimore not far from Fort McHenry
Very good and informative video. There are many other great forts to see around the country. Fort Jefferson, at the end of the Florida Keys, is a very interesting and unique fort. The French Fort Duquesne and British Fort Pitt at the confluence of rivers in Pittsburgh. And 4 forts in my home state of NY: Fort Stanwix, in Rome and Fort William Henry (Last of the Mohicans), in Lake George, prominent in the French and Indian War, and Fort Ticonderoga and West Point, prominent in the American Revolution.
In the same vein, you should make a video about the fortifications and the Citadel of Quebec city. To my knowledge, it is the only fortified city in North America and it has a lot of history, being the battleground of the XVIIIe century's war between France and Britain.
Forgot Ft Monroe. Active from 1823 to 2011. Largest fort by area built in the US.
Even though it Virginia was a part of the confederacy during the Civil War, it remained in Union control.
Called Freedom’s Fortress because slaves escaping to the fort would be freed. Also housed Jefferson Davis for a short time after his capture in GA.
It remained a coastal defense fort through both WW1 and WW 2.
Finally it was used for training until it was decommissioned in 2011.
And that’s just a little of it’s history. You could easily do a piece on it alone.
You should have included Fort Ticonderoga which was built during the French and Indian War and was the site of multiple battles
It’s only impressive in its appearance. It’s a military indefensible fort and poorly constructed to the standards of Vauban engineering
Simon, you need to check out Fort Ticonderoga on Lake George. It saw action in the French and Indian War and the Revolution…..
No it did not. The fort saw no action. It was never besieged. The fort while impressive looking is basically indefensible against siege. Every commander knew that and thus chose to fight the battle on the ramparts a mile outside the fort
Although the famous battle in the French and Indian War was in fact fought a distance from the fort, it was captured by Continental forces and its cannon were taken to Boston, so the fort saw action.
Excellent video. I would’ve included New York’s Fort Jay into this list as well. Located on Governors Island in New York harbor, the fort is of a 4-sided star design; erected in the early 19th century. It overlooks Manhattan, and along with Castle Williams and Castle Clinton, shielded the harbor from invasion.
About NYC, you forgot to mention Castle Williams on Governers Island, and Castle Clinton in Battery Park, in Manhattan. Then in Staten Island, just near the Bridge (to Brooklyn), you have Ford Weed, and Fort Wadsworth. Not to mention the Harbor Defense Museum in Brooklyn's Army Garrison Fort Hamilton, which may not have any old fortifications accessable, or left (Fort Lafayette), but in 1776 a battery on the site fired on a Brittish ship.
Two suggestions: Followup, a mega-project on the US Endicott fort building circa 1890-1920s, including the forts in Manila Bay.
Old suggestion: cable powered street railways, the way to move your city in the 1880s.
These are all lovely places but my favourite fort of all has to be Fort Stanwix National Monument in Rome, NY. Unfortunately it isn't the original fort but a remade plan of the original. It is indeed a great place to visit.
Ticonderoga is pretty impressive as well.
I have been to all 4 plus a couple more less known .
you should do similar with British then European Castles
agreed, but where to start？ so many castles in Europe.
Thanks man your an awesome dude!!!
A British man with a RUclips empire talking about American forts. Kinda sus if you ask me...
So cool! I’ve been to all of them except Ft. McHenry - that’s next on my list!
Seems someone learned. Thank you 🇬🇧
No Fort Mackinac!?!
Please consider doing either a Side Projects or Geographics on Ft. Stanwix and it’s closely related pivotal Revolutionary War conflict, the Battle of Oriskany. Located in Upstate NY’s city of Rome and village of Oriskany, respectively, are at the heart of early America’s quest for independence and soon were the backdrop for its commercial development with the construction of the groundbreaking (pun intended) Erie Canal nearby.
Thought some forts from Puerto Rico would appear due to their size and history, maybe in the future we could see it, also another interesting video would be about the Cathedral of San Juan Bautista since it's the oldest church build I'm the United States.
Keep up the fun and educational videos!
Puerto Rico is an overseas territory, not a state. That means PR belongs to the US, but isn't actually a part of the nation. That doesn't mean that PR shouldn't be a state, but the PR government hasn't elected to become a state because that would mean PR would have to pay taxes like the other 50 do.
@@SkunkApe407 It may not be a State but since it's a territory the forts and church are still part of the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
@@SkunkApe407 Also the Jones acts pretty much acts like a Tax already since everything we being into the Island we have to pay a certain amount amount, we also can only bring stuff from a US port, with a US ship that is crewed by US crew.
@@Hardcase_Kara the title is specifically about forts in the USA, not the various territories under the US's ownership. No amount of opinion or feelings can change that fact. If PR wants to be a part of the USA, rather than an unincorporated territory, they have to vote to do so, and start paying Federal Income Taxes to the US Department of Revenue. Sorry, but there are laws and regulations that have to be followed in order to be counted as a part of the USA.
@@Hardcase_Kara do you pay US Federal Income Tax? Not unless you live in the USA. Puerto Ricans are DUAL CITIZENS, meaning they come from another country. Here's a link to help you better understand that, despite the Jones Act, PR is NOT the USA.
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_status_of_Puerto_Rico
When I clicked on this video, I thought it was about historic Farts. 🤷🏻♂️
Someone else said that too. I guess I could see that being something Simon would do.
Great video👍👍👊
Fort Pulaski is incredible…i highly recommend yall visit
Be cool if you did Canadian forts as well. You have the walled city of Quebec, the Citadels in Quebec and Halifax, and older smaller forts like Fort York and Fort Chambly... All have interesting bits of history too!
As a Marylander I do want to thank Simon for his correct pronunciation of our state. Mary Land. Not Merrilan or Mrylin as some say it. That said…the city is properly pronounced Ballmer or Ballmore.
6 forts covering almost 200 years outside Savannah. Fort King George, Fort Pulaski, Fort Jackson, Fort Washington(almost nothing is left of this fort), Fort Macalister, Fort Screven.
Ft Sumpter was in the Charleston harbor. There was a merchant ship trying to enter the port. The Yankees at the fort would not let it land until it paid federal tariffs. South Carolina had succeeded and did not give federal tariffs any credibility. That is why the fired on the fort. This fact is why you sometimes hear the civil war was about tariffs. The battle of Ft Sumpter was about tariffs.