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Fort Pickens is a 19th century historic fort located in Pensacola Beach , Florida. It is one of the four forts that make up the Gulf Islands National Seashore, and it provides a unique look into American military history. The fort was built between 1829 and 1834 and was used to protect the Pensacola area during multiple wars, including the War of 1812 and the Spanish-American War. Visitors to Fort Pickens can tour the grounds, which include gun batteries, barracks, officers' quarters, storehouses, cisterns, and other military structures.

The original design of Fort Pickens was developed by Major Louis deTrobriand in 1829. He designed it with two bastions at each corner to provide protection from enemy fire from land or sea views. The fort had enough space for over 400 soldiers and included a powder magazine with enough storage for 8 tons of munitions. During its early years, Fort Pickens served as an important military stronghold along this stretch of coastal territory in the United States.

Fort Pickens also played an important role during several key battles in American history. In 1861 it withstood Confederate bombing efforts during the Civil War and remained under Union control until war’s end in 1865. During World War II it served as a training facility for African-American troops who were sent there after being trained at Camp Shelby in Mississippi. After being decommissioned as a military installation in 1947, many of its buildings were removed as part of modernization efforts; however, most of its original structure remains today.

Visitors to Fort Pickens can explore the museum located within its walls where they can learn more about its long history through interactive exhibits highlighting different aspects of life at Fort Pickens throughout time periods such as Civil War and World War II eras. There are also guided tours offered on weekends that provide a more immersive experience into life here through interpretive talks about topics such as military operations that took place inside these walls or about daily life for soldiers stationed here throughout time periods like World War II era when African-American troops were stationed here for training exercises prior to deployment overseas. Visitors can also explore outdoor trails around Fort Pickens which offer stunning views of Pensacola Beach while winding through trees planted by William Bartram almost 200 years ago when he visited Fort Pickens while exploring nature across America's Gulf Coast region during his famous naturalist journeys between 1791 and 1792