Gulf Islands National Seashore (FL1)
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Picture Set [FL1], [FL2], [MS1], [MS2]

This national seashore consists of 12 units. They mostly protect barrier islands along the Gulf Coast states of Mississippi
and Florida; islands in Alabama are not included, and are part of state parks instead. The National Seashore includes many
areas of historical interest. Fort Pickens, Fort Barrancas, Fort Massachusetts and the ruins of Fort McRee are included
and all played a part in the Civil War. The Naval Live Oaks Reservation on the mainland is a forest of curvy live oaks
purchased in 1828 by the U.S. government to ensure a continuous supply of wood that was ideal for navy ship hulls. In
1971 the Gulf Islands National Seashore was authorized to protect the forest and all the government-owned islands nearby.
The Mississippi islands were added in 1978. The Florida Visitors Center and Administration Building.


The Florida visitors center is on the mainland at the Naval Oaks Reservation. A model ship
on display representing the real ships constructed with these oaks.

A display of some tools used in harvesting the trees. Below are enlargements of display's wordage.

Short nature trail through the forest.


Spanish moss draped live oak in the forest. Several years ago I was here and the trail was longer. And along the trail,
signs existed showing what portions of the trees were used for the different ship parts.


A view of Santa Rosa Sound from the nature trail.


Sign on Santa Rosa Island identifying where the national seashore begins on the islands east side.
This section is between Navarre Beach and Gulf Breeze.


At this location the national seashore is basically just that, a seashore.
The gulf on one side, Santa Rosa Sound on the other.


The surf.


Fence around a parking area; the fence helps form sand dunes. The dunes have taken
a major hit in the past 10 years or so by a few major hurricanes.


Fort Pickens Area is on the west end of Santa Rosa Island.


Fort Pickens was completed in 1834 and remained in used until 1947. The entrance.


One wall of Fort Pickens. An explosion in a gunpowder magazine produced the wall damage in 1899.


Another wall.


A double arch design was used in building the fort originally. The lower arch helped distribute the walls weight
and keep it from sinking into the sand. The floor was excavated to expose the lower arch.


View inside one of the walls.


Picture Set [FL1], [FL2], [MS1], [MS2]

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