Fort Pike facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Fort Pike
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Cracks can be seen in the brick structure of Fort Pike after Hurricane Katrina.
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 Location in New Orleans
Location in Louisiana
Location in the United States
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| Location | Orleans Parish, Louisiana |
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| Nearest city | New Orleans and Slidell |
| Area | 9.6 acres (3.9 ha) |
| Built | 1819 |
| NRHP reference No. | 72000557 |
| Added to NRHP | August 14, 1972 |
Fort Pike State Historic Site is an old fort from the 1800s in Louisiana. It was named after a brave soldier, Brigadier General Zebulon Pike. The fort was built after the War of 1812 to protect a special water passage called the Rigolets. This passage connects the Gulf of Mexico to Lake Pontchartrain, which is near New Orleans.
The fort's old stone walls have been a popular place for visitors for a long time. However, it has also been left empty at different times. Strong storms like Hurricane Katrina in 2005 caused a lot of damage. The fort also had to close after Hurricanes Gustav in 2008 and Isaac in 2012.
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Building Fort Pike
Before Fort Pike, there was a smaller fort built in 1793. After the War of 1812, leaders decided they needed better defenses. So, construction on Fort Pike began in 1819. It was one of the first three new forts built in Louisiana at that time. The other two were Fort Jackson, Louisiana and Fort Livingston, Louisiana.
Holding Prisoners at the Fort
During the Seminole Wars in Florida in the 1820s, the United States Army used Fort Pike for a short time. They held Seminole Native Americans there as prisoners. These prisoners were later moved to a special area called the Seminole Reservation. This reservation was in what is now Oklahoma.
Fort Pike During the Civil War
In 1861, the Louisiana Continental Guard took control of Fort Pike. This happened just weeks before Louisiana joined the Confederacy. The American Civil War then began.
When Union soldiers captured New Orleans in 1862, the Confederate forces left Fort Pike. The Union Army then took over the fort. They used it as a base for their attacks. Fort Pike also became a training ground for United States Colored Troops starting in 1864. Many of these soldiers were formerly enslaved people.
Fort Pike Becomes a Historic Site
The United States Army stopped using Fort Pike in 1890. An interesting fact is that no cannons were ever fired in battle from Fort Pike. In 1972, the fort was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It became known as the Fort Pike State Historic Site.
Storm Damage and Closures
Over the years, the fort's brick walls started to wear down. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina caused even more problems. The entire fort was underwater for a while, and nearby park buildings were destroyed. The site reopened in May 2008.
However, it closed again in September 2008 because of damage from Hurricane Gustav. By June 2009, the fort was open again, and workers started making big repairs. After Hurricane Isaac in 2012, the fort closed once more for cleanup and repairs. It reopened to visitors after Hurricane Isaac. But in February 2015, it closed again because of state budget cuts.
See also
