Fort Macon State Park

Located on the east end of a barrier island named Bogue Banks, Fort Macon was built between 1826 and 1834, to protect the town of Beaufort and the adjacent area from hostile naval forces.  Occupied by North Carolina Confederate troops at the start of the Civil War, it eventually surrendered to Union forces in 1862.  After the war, Fort Macon served as a federal prison, but was manned during the Spanish-American War.  The federal government sold the fort to North Carolina, which made it into one of its first state parks, with the proviso that the federal military could again use the fort if it were needed.  This would eventually happen during World War II, during which the U.S. military again manned the fort.  Although enemy ships were reportedly seen from Fort Macon, it never saw any action during that war.  Afterwards, the fort reverted to being a state park, which it still is today.

This cannon is located along the walk from the park's visitors center to the fort.

The fort consists of inner and outer rings with a floodable lower area between them.  The outer ring includes this gun, which can be swiveled on a central pivot and wheels running along a curved rail.

Inside the inner ring is an inner courtyard, where these two mortars sit in front of the inner wall.

I believe that this structure is a shot furnace, used to heat cannon balls.  The idea was to hit wooden ships with hot projectiles, which would set them on fire.

On top of the inner ring was this row of guns, each on its own pivot and rail.

This photo shows part of the lower area between the inner and outer rings.

The guns in this part of the outer ring have been removed, but their pivots remain.

The interior of the inner ring included numerous vaulted rooms such as this one.

Across the parking lot from the visitors center is the beach.  That might be part of Beaufort in the background.

For more on Fort Macon, go to Friends Of Fort Macon, NCPedia, Crystal Coast Visitors Guide and The Crystal Coast.