National Historic Landmark

Fort Gadsden Historic Memorial

Sumatra, Franklin County, Florida
Listed
February 23, 1972
Type
Site
Period
Early Republic
Ref No.
72000318

About this property

Prospect Bluff Historic Sites (until 2016 known as Fort Gadsden Historic Site, and sometimes written as Fort Gadsden Historic Memorial) is located in Franklin County, Florida, on the Apalachicola River, 6 miles (9.7 km) SW of Sumatra, Florida. The site contains the ruins of two forts. The earlier and larger one was built by the British in 1814, during the War of 1812. They allowed the members of the disbanded Corps of Colonial Marines, made up largely of fugitive slaves, and Creek tribesmen to occupy it after the British evacuated Florida in 1815, deliberately leaving their munitions behind. At that point, since the British had not named it, Americans started referring to it as Negro Fort. It was destroyed in a river attack from U.S. forces in 1816. Fort Gadsden was built in 1818 within the former walls of the former Negro Fort. The site has been known by several other names at various times, including Prospect Bluff, British post, Nicholls' Fort, Blount's Fort, Fort Blount, African Fort, and Fort Apalachicola. The local natives called the land Achackwheithle. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places and named a National Historic Landmark in 1972, the Prospect Bluff Historic Sites was acquired by the Apalachicola National Forest in 1940 and is managed by the U.S. Forest Service. The process of memorializing the site began in 1961, when the Apalachicola National Forest issued the State of Florida a term special use permit for an area of approximately 78 acres (32 ha) including the site to be run as a state park. Administration of the site reverted to the federal government in the 1990s. The site contains interpretive signage, picnic area with pavilion, and rest rooms.

Location

Sumatra, Franklin County, Florida
29.94159, -85.01242

Categories

NATIVE AMERICANMILITARYPOLITICS/GOVERNMENT
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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The Civil War
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The Soldiers
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Native Heritage
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Settlement
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The Community
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Rivers & Rail
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Nearby Historic Sites

Apalachicola Historic District
Listed
14.8 mi
Raney, David G., House
Industrial
14.8 mi
Trinity Episcopal Church
Industrial
15 mi
GOVERNOR STONE (schooner)
Industrial
15.2 mi
Port Theatre
Industrial
19.5 mi

Questions about this property

When was Fort Gadsden Historic Memorial listed on the National Register?

Fort Gadsden Historic Memorial was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 23, 1972.

What type of historic resource is Fort Gadsden Historic Memorial?

Fort Gadsden Historic Memorial is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Fort Gadsden Historic Memorial a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Fort Gadsden Historic Memorial has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Fort Gadsden Historic Memorial?

The period of significance for Fort Gadsden Historic Memorial is recorded as the early_republic era.

Can I research the history near Fort Gadsden Historic Memorial?

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