Fort De Soto Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fort De Soto |
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| Part of Endicott Period Coastal Defense | |
| Mullet Key, Pinellas County, Florida | |
One of the beaches of Fort De Soto Park (2012)
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| Coordinates | 27°36′56″N 82°44′09″W / 27.615499°N 82.735902°W |
| Type | Seacoast defense |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Pinellas County |
| Open to the public |
Yes |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1898–1906 |
| Built by | United States Army Corps of Engineers |
| In use | 1898–1910 |
| Materials | Reinforced concrete |
| Events | Spanish–American War |
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Fort De Soto Batteries
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| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Location | 8 miles (13 km) South of St. Petersburg, Mullet Key, Pinellas County, Florida |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000407 |
| Added to NRHP | December 2, 1977 |
South of St. Petersburg, Florida, Fort De Soto Park is a large park run by Pinellas County. It covers five islands, or "keys": Madelaine Key, St. Jean Key, St. Christopher Key, Bonne Fortune Key, and the main island, Mullet Key. These islands are connected by bridges and roads. You can reach them from the mainland by a toll road. The islands have a rich military past, and you can still see old fort parts and a museum. The park also offers two piers, beaches, picnic spots, and trails for hiking, biking, and kayaking. You can even take a ferry to Egmont Key State Park.
This park is also an important stop on the Great Florida Birding Trail.
Contents
History of Fort De Soto Park
Early Island Life and Explorers
The area where Fort De Soto Park is today was first home to the Tocobaga Native Americans. They lived on Mullet Key and other islands from about 1000 to 1500 ACE. They ate fish, clams, and other seafood from the Gulf of Mexico. They also gathered plants and hunted some animals.
In 1529, Spanish explorer Pánfilo de Narváez explored these islands. Ten years later, Hernando De Soto landed near Tampa Bay. This began Spain's control over Florida.
Military Use of the Islands
In 1849, US Army engineers, including Robert E. Lee (who later became a famous Confederate General), looked at the area. They suggested fortifying Egmont Key and saving other islands, like Mullet Key, for military use. Mullet Key was officially set aside for the military that same year. However, no forts were built before the American Civil War.
During the Civil War, Confederate soldiers briefly took over Egmont and Mullet keys. They soon left for Tampa. The Union Army then took control of the islands by mid-1861. Being close to the main channel into Tampa Bay helped the Union Navy stop ships from entering or leaving. This was part of their naval blockade. The lighthouse on Egmont Key was not lit during the war. It was used as a lookout tower for the blockade. The United States Navy also set up a camp on Egmont Key for people who supported the Union.
After the Civil War, military leaders said Mullet Key should remain a military area. In 1885, people in St. Petersburg wanted to extend a railway to Mullet Key. They hoped to use it for ocean-going ships. But the Secretary of War, William Crowninshield Endicott, refused. He said the island was needed for military purposes.
Forts were not built on the islands until the Spanish–American War began.
In 1889, Hillsborough County opened a quarantine station on Mullet Key. It was called Mullet Key Quarantine Station. Its job was to check people arriving on ships from other countries. By 1925, the station had fifteen buildings. It operated until 1937.
The main military base on Mullet Key was named Fort De Soto in 1900. It honored Hernando de Soto. This Army post was a smaller part of Fort Dade, which was on Egmont Key. These forts were built to protect Tampa Bay from enemy ships. Construction of Fort De Soto started in 1898 and finished in 1906. The fort was built with a special concrete mix that included seashells. It had artillery and 12-inch coast defense mortar batteries, called Batteries Laidley and Bigelow. The post had 29 buildings, including a large barracks, a hospital, and a mess hall. It also had brick roads and a small railroad to move supplies.
Fort De Soto was active from 1898 to 1910. Soldiers were always stationed there. Mosquitoes were a big problem, and summers were very hot. In 1910, most soldiers moved to Fort Morgan, Alabama. Only a small group of caretakers stayed behind. By 1914, only an ordnance sergeant and a game warden remained. During World War I, a larger caretaker force was present. In 1917, four of Fort De Soto's mortars were taken apart and sent to Fort Rosecrans in San Diego, California.
In November 1922, the Army announced it would close both Forts De Soto and Dade. By 1926, most of the forts' guns were removed. Only four 12-inch mortars at Fort De Soto remained. These forts were supposed to be used again if there was a war, but that never happened. Several tropical storms and hurricanes badly damaged the buildings. Battery Bigelow was destroyed in 1932. The Army tried to sell the post, but no one was interested. In September 1938, Pinellas County bought parts of Mullet Key for $12,500.
From Military Base to Public Park
Shortly after Pinellas County bought Mullet Key, they leased some land and buildings to Percy L. Roberts. He planned to run a boat service to the island. This would help fishermen and sightseers visit the isolated island. Fishermen could enjoy the good fishing waters. Sightseers could explore the old Fort De Soto ruins and the beautiful beaches. Roberts also planned to open a hotel and restaurant on the island.
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Roberts renovated a building left by the Quarantine Service. This became known as Mullet Key Lodge. It offered basic lodging and meals, like fried mullet dinners. People could also relax on a screened-in porch. A writer for the St. Petersburg Times praised the county for opening up Mullet Key to visitors.
Bombing Range During World War II
Mullet Key Lodge was doing well, but it didn't last long. The US War Department wanted the island back. They planned to use it as a bombing range for the U.S. Army Air Corps. This was to support air bases being built in the Tampa Bay area.
In June 1941, the federal government bought Mullet Key back from Pinellas County for $18,404. It became a sub-post of MacDill Field. It was used as a bombing range throughout World War II.
Fort De Soto Becomes a County Park
After World War II, the U.S. Army Air Forces no longer needed Mullet Key. It was sold back to Pinellas County in 1948 for $26,495.54. This sale also included nearby islands like Sister Key and Hospital Key. County officials immediately made Fort De Soto and Mullet Key a public park. They opened it for everyone to enjoy. Soon, passenger boats started regular trips to the island.
In 1962, a toll road, the Pinellas Bayway, was finished. This allowed people to drive to the island. On December 21, 1962, Fort De Soto Park officially opened. Its facilities have grown over the years. The old quartermaster storehouse was rebuilt into a museum. On December 2, 1977, the Fort De Soto batteries were added to the National Register of Historic Places. The four 12-inch mortars and two 6-inch Armstrong guns at Fort De Soto are the only ones of their kind left in the United States.
Fun Activities and Park Features
Fort De Soto Park is open all year. Here are some things you can do there:
- Fishing: The shallow waters are great for fishing. There are two piers where you can fish. Both piers have bait, tackle, and food.
- Picnics: Many areas are set up for picnics.
- Historic Fort: Explore Fort De Soto, which was built in 1898.
- Museum: Visit the Quartermaster Storehouse Museum to learn about the fort's history.
- Beaches: Enjoy North Beach and East Beach for swimming. North Beach has often been called one of "America's Top 10 Beaches." In 2005, it was named America's Best Beach.
- Boat Ramp: There's an 800-foot boat ramp for launching boats.
- Camping: A camping area with a store, restrooms, and laundry room is available.
- Snack Bar: Grab a snack or a souvenir at the old fort's snack bar and gift shop.
- Trails: Ride bikes on the seven-mile multi-purpose trail. Explore the 2¼-mile canoe trail. There's also a nature trail.
- Paw Playground: A special area for pets to play.
- Ferry to Egmont Key: Take a ferry to Egmont Key, which is home to Egmont Key State Park.
Island Geology
Mullet Key is a barrier island. It's unique because it has two parts that meet at a right angle. One part faces the Gulf of Mexico. This side is shaped mostly by waves. The other part faces the entrance to Tampa Bay. This side is shaped by the tides.
Barrier islands are always changing because of waves, currents, and storms. The shape and size of Mullet Key change over time. In 1970, the five islands of the park covered about 970 acres. By 2014, they had grown to about 1140 acres.
South Bunces Key and Outback Key
A sandbar off the north end of Mullet Key became a new island in the late 1970s. It was called South Bunces Key. It grew quickly and became covered with plants. This new island eventually connected to Mullet Key. However, storms in the early 2000s eroded South Bunces Key, and it merged with Mullet Key. By 2016, South Bunces Key was gone. Now, a new sandbar called Outback Key has formed in a similar spot and recently connected to Mullet Key.
Park Ecology
Fort De Soto Park is full of different plants and animals. It has various natural areas, like mangroves and hammocks. More than 328 types of birds have been seen in the park. Large parts of North Beach are protected for nesting birds and birds that stop during migration. However, some birds, like the mangrove cuckoo, no longer breed here. This is due to habitat loss and other factors.
Like many beaches in the area, endangered loggerhead sea turtles also lay their eggs here.
Australian pines were brought to Florida after 1890 to act as windbreaks. These trees can grow in salty, poor soil. They have spread widely and taken over areas where native plants used to grow. However, Australian pines have shallow roots. This means they can fall easily in storms. Also, they can cause beaches to erode and make it hard for sea turtles to dig their nests. Australian pines are now considered a harmful plant in Florida. Park managers plan to remove about ten percent of these trees each year, starting near the shoreline.
Images for kids
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A walkway
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The main bike path to North Beach
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A "data booth" used to relay elevations and azimuths from observers to mortar crews
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The fortification for Battery Laidley; the data booth is on the left
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A view of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge from Fort De Soto
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Fort De Soto Historic Photograph Gallery
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- Birds of Fort De Soto Park
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Reddish egret
(Egretta rufescens) -
American oystercatcher
(Haematopus palliatus) -
Black skimmer
(Rynchops niger) -
Black-bellied plover
(Pluvialis squatarola) -
Brown pelican
(Pelecanus occidentalis) -
Great egret
(Ardea alba) -
Great horned owl
(Bubo virginianus) -
Black-crowned night heron
(Nycticorax nycticorax) -
Marbled godwit
(Limosa fedoa)
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