Fort Jackson, Louisiana facts for kids
|
Fort Jackson
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Louisiana
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, USA |
|---|---|
| Nearest city | Triumph, Louisiana |
| Built | 1822–32 |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000379 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | December 19, 1960 |
Fort Jackson is an old, important fort in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana. It sits about 40 miles (64 km) up the Mississippi River from where it meets the ocean. This fort was built between 1822 and 1832 to protect New Orleans from attacks by sea. It was also a key battle spot during the American Civil War. Today, Fort Jackson is a National Historic Landmark, which means it's a very special historical place. Sadly, it was damaged by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Fort Jackson is located about 70 miles (110 km) south of New Orleans. It is on the west side of the Mississippi River. Another old fort, Fort St. Philip, is on the opposite side of the river. Fort Jackson was built after the War of 1812. It was named after Andrew Jackson, a famous general who suggested building it.
The fort was used by the military off and on until after World War I. It even served as a training place for soldiers. Now, it is a National Historic Landmark and a museum. Plaquemines Parish owns and runs it.
Civil War Battle
Fort Jackson was the site of a big battle during the American Civil War. This battle, called the Battle of Forts Jackson and St. Philip, happened from April 16 to April 28, 1862. The fort was controlled by the Confederate army.
A fleet of ships from the U.S. Navy, led by Flag Officer David Farragut, attacked the fort for 12 days. On April 28, the Union fleet sailed past the fort's guns. After this, some Confederate soldiers at the fort refused to fight anymore. They were tired of the conditions and the constant attack. Because of this, the fort fell to the Union forces. After taking Fort Jackson, Union forces went on to capture New Orleans.
After the battle, the Union army used Fort Jackson as a prison. A French businessman named Charles Heidsieck, who made champagne, was held there for seven months. He was accused of being a spy.
Modern Times
In 1927, the state of Louisiana sold Fort Jackson to Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Harvey. They later gave the property to Plaquemines Parish in 1960. They hoped the fort and its 82 acres of land would be fixed up.
The fort was named a National Historic Landmark in 1960. It was also added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1967. Plaquemines Parish started fixing up the fort in 1961. The National Park Service said that the fort area had become like a "jungle" with "mud-filled tunnels" and "snakes."
Today, the outside grounds of Fort Jackson are open as a park for visitors. Sometimes, the inside of the fort is open to the public. The Fort Jackson Museum is open to the public, but it is not at the fort itself. It is about 1 mile (1.6 km) away in Buras, Louisiana.
Storm Damage
Because of where Fort Jackson is located, it often gets hit by strong winds and heavy rain from storms and hurricanes. The fort was flooded with 20 feet (6.1 m) of water from Hurricane Betsy in 1965. This was a very strong Category 4 storm. It was also flooded by Hurricane Camille, a Category 5 storm, in 1969.
The fort was badly damaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. After Katrina and Hurricane Rita the next month, much of the fort was underwater for up to six weeks. Many of the historical displays inside the fort were ruined. The fort itself also suffered damage to its structure.
Other Uses
Since 1970, the grounds of Fort Jackson have been used for the Plaquemines Parish Fair and Orange Festival. This is a fun event for the community.
In 2010, the fort was used to help birds that were covered in oil from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The facility for treating the birds was later moved to Hammond, Louisiana. This was done to keep it safer from hurricanes.
See also
In Spanish: Fort Jackson (Luisiana) para niños
