Posted in Florida May 31, 2018 by Marisa Roman

There’s A Hike In Florida That Leads You Straight To An Abandoned Civil War Fort

Sometimes all you need is a good dose of history to remind you why many parts of Florida are so great. When you’re able to visit spots in your home state that hold so much value and so many stories, it’s hard to pass up an opportunity to explore. This particular short hike will take you through an abandoned Civil War Fort, but when you see the way nature has reclaimed it, you’ll be in awe.

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The history behind the West Martello Tower is one that is quite fascinating, especially to those who visit.

Hiking through the area is an experience that can be enjoyed by the whole family, because there is so much to see.

While this isn’t a traditional "hike" as some may determine, there is still plenty of walking and sightseeing, plus an added history lesson thrown in.

The Martello Towers were intended to be an important place along the ocean where Federal troops were able to maintain their place during the 1800s.

Being so close to the shoreline, these Towers provided a perfect vantage point for incoming ships toward the harbor.

Later on during the Spanish American War, the Towers again were used for quartering troops, signaling, and as an important lookout.

It wasn’t until 1949 that all Army properties in Key West were released and the Two Towers became property of Monroe County and Fort Taylor of the navy.

Many people found the West Martello Tower to be an eyesore along the shoreline, and there was pressure to knock the tower down to put in a beach.

However, The Key West Garden Club took an interest in the area in the early 1950s and eventually West Martello Tower Garden Center was declared a National Historic Site.

To this day, guests can take a hike through the garden grounds and enjoy all the pockets of nature that have reclaimed the abandoned fort.

While still many portions of the crumbling remains of the fort still can be seen around the gardens, the nature that has sprouted up certainly merged the old history with the natural part of the Florida Keys.

The next time you’re in The Florida Keys, make sure to visit the West Martello Tower for one of the oldest pieces of history Florida holds.

The address for West Martello tower in Key West is 1100 Atlantic Blvd, Key West, FL 33040-4883. Guests can visit the tower Sunday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. To find out more information about the tower of the Key West Garden Club, visit the website.

Speaking of, after your stop at the gardens, Key West also has a sunset wine cruise which will absolutely be the most perfect ending to your whole day.