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Key West’s best beach is also a Civil War fort packed with cannons

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Fort Zachary Taylor Park, Key West. State Park in Florida, USA.
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Fort Zach packs more into one park than you’d expect

At the far southwest tip of Key West, less than two miles from downtown, a Civil War brick fort shares a stretch of shoreline with the island’s most popular beach. Locals have called it Fort Zach for generations.

You can swim in clear water, walk through centuries-old corridors packed with cannons, and watch the sun drop into the Gulf, all without leaving the park.

The real surprise is how much history is buried in the walls.

Fort Zachary Taylor , west side of Fort Zachary Taylor, Key West, Florida, USA
Wikimedia Commons/Acroterion

Construction took two decades and cost more than bricks

Work on the fort started in 1845 and didn’t finish until 1866, more than 20 years later. Yellow fever kept thinning the workforce.

Hurricanes knocked out progress. Shortages of men and materials stretched the timeline year after year.

The fort got its name in 1850, when President Zachary Taylor died in office while construction was still underway.

By the time it was done, it had already seen the Civil War through, and would go on to serve again in the Spanish-American War.

Elevated View of Civil War Era Battery, Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, Key West Florida, USA
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Union soldiers held this fort through the entire Civil War

When Southern states began seceding, Union forces moved in and held Fort Zachary Taylor without interruption through the entire war.

Some historians argue the fort’s presence helped cut the conflict short by keeping Confederate ships from using Key West as a base, though that debate hasn’t fully settled. What’s not in dispute is that the fort stood firm.

It controlled the shipping lanes, and no Confederate force ever took it. That position, at the mouth of the Florida Straits, made it worth holding.

Fort Zachary
Wikimedia Commons/CedarBendDrive

The biggest Civil War cannon collection in the country was buried in these walls

Decades after the war ended, workers filled in the fort’s interior with sand and sealed the old gun ports behind new brick.

Everything inside, cannons and ammunition alike, went underground and stayed there for nearly a century. In 1968, a man named Howard England led a team of volunteers who started digging.

What they pulled out became the largest collection of Civil War cannons in the United States. The discovery mattered enough that the fort earned National Historic Landmark status in 1973.

Arches and American Civil War era cannons at Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, Key West Florida.
Wikimedia Commons/Moon lake airs

Walk the brick corridors and get close to the cannons

You can walk through nearly every part of the fort, from the thick brick hallways to the arched casemates where soldiers once slept and worked.

Rangers lead guided tours daily that connect the spaces to the people who lived inside them. If you’d rather go at your own pace, informational panels guide you through the history room by room.

The restored cannons sit right in their original gun ports, facing west over the water, the same direction they pointed 150 years ago.

The Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, better known simply as Fort Taylor (or Fort Zach to locals) is a Florida State Park and National Historic Landmark centered on a Civil War-era fort located near the southern tip of Key West, Florida. 1845–1900 Construction of the fort began in 1845 as part of a mid-19th century plan to defend the southeast coast through a series of forts after the War of 1812. Thompson Island, at the southwest tip of Key West, was selected as the site for the fort in 1822 and plans for the fort, drawn up by Simon Bernard and Joseph G. Totten, were approved in 1836. Two supporting batteries, Martello Towers, provided additional coverage, one of which exists today as the Martello Gallery-Key West Art and Historical Museum. The fort was named for United States President Zachary Taylor in November 1850, a few months after President Taylor's sudden death in office. The fort's foundation consists of oolitic limestone and New England granite. Its five-foot thick walls rose 50 feet above mean low water, and included two tiers of casemates plus a terreplein or barbette at the top. Three seaward curtains 495 feet between bastions, each containing 42 guns on three levels, were augmented by a land facing gorge. Troop barracks were built into this gorge with a capacity for 800 men. At either end of the barracks was a large gunpowder magazine while a Sally port was located in the center, connected to land by a 1200-foot causeway. Rainwater was collected in underground cisterns along the perimeter of the fort. Yellow fever epidemics and material shortages slowed construction of the fort, which continued throughout the 1850s. The Pensacola, Florida firm of Raiford and Abercrombie provided the bricks for Fort Zachary Taylor and Fort Jefferson, which was also under construction at the same time. At the outset of the U.S. Civil War on 13 Jan. 1861, Union Captain John Milton Brannan, moved his 44 men of the First U.S. Artillery from Key West Barracks to Fort Taylor. His orders were to prevent the fort from falling into Confederate hands. The fort then became a key outpost to threaten blockade runners. Major William H. French arrived in April with his artillery unit. In 1898, the fort was reduced down to the second floor and Battery Osceola was added to the south casemate. The battery consisted of two 12 inch artillery pieces. The Civil War-era pieces were used as fill, being buried within the new battery to save on materials. Battery Adair was added to the west casemate and included four 3-inch, 15-pounder Rapid Fire rifles. The fort was heavily used again during the 1898 Spanish–American War, World Wars I and II, and the Cuban Missile Crisis. In 1947, the fort, no longer of use to the U.S. Army, was turned over to the U.S. Navy for maintenance. In 1968, volunteers led by Howard S. England excavated Civil War guns and ammunition buried in long-abandoned parts of the fort, which was soon discovered to house the nation's largest collection of Civil War cannons. Fort Taylor was therefore placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1973. Due to the filling in of land around the fort, including the creation of an attractive stretch of beach, the park now occupies 87 acres (352,000 m²). Source: Wikipedia
Wikimedia Commons/RuggyBearLA

The upper levels look out over open water in almost every direction

Climb to the fort’s upper levels and the Florida Keys open up around you.

The water runs blue and green in every direction, and from the highest point, you get close to a full 360-degree view. Sailboats drift through the channel below.

On a clear day, a cruise ship might be anchored in the harbor to the east. Most people stop here to take photos, and it’s easy to see why.

There’s nothing between you and the horizon but sky and sea.

The aerial view of Fort Zachary Taylor Beach on Key West island (Florida).
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The beach sits where the Gulf meets the Atlantic

Fort Zach’s beach draws more regulars than any other spot in Key West, and it earns that reputation.

The shore runs along the point where the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic meet, and the currents from the nearby shipping channel keep the water clean and clear.

Tall Australian pines shade the sand, so you’re not baking in full sun all day. The entry into the water is rocky, so bring water shoes.

Once you’re past the rocks, the swimming is easy.

The Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, better known simply as Fort Taylor (or Fort Zach to locals) is a Florida State Park and National Historic Landmark centered on a Civil War-era fort located near the southern tip of Key West, Florida. 1845–1900 Construction of the fort began in 1845 as part of a mid-19th century plan to defend the southeast coast through a series of forts after the War of 1812. Thompson Island, at the southwest tip of Key West, was selected as the site for the fort in 1822 and plans for the fort, drawn up by Simon Bernard and Joseph G. Totten, were approved in 1836. Two supporting batteries, Martello Towers, provided additional coverage, one of which exists today as the Martello Gallery-Key West Art and Historical Museum. The fort was named for United States President Zachary Taylor in November 1850, a few months after President Taylor's sudden death in office. The fort's foundation consists of oolitic limestone and New England granite. Its five-foot thick walls rose 50 feet above mean low water, and included two tiers of casemates plus a terreplein or barbette at the top. Three seaward curtains 495 feet between bastions, each containing 42 guns on three levels, were augmented by a land facing gorge. Troop barracks were built into this gorge with a capacity for 800 men. At either end of the barracks was a large gunpowder magazine while a Sally port was located in the center, connected to land by a 1200-foot causeway. Rainwater was collected in underground cisterns along the perimeter of the fort. Yellow fever epidemics and material shortages slowed construction of the fort, which continued throughout the 1850s. The Pensacola, Florida firm of Raiford and Abercrombie provided the bricks for Fort Zachary Taylor and Fort Jefferson, which was also under construction at the same time. At the outset of the U.S. Civil War on 13 Jan. 1861, Union Captain John Milton Brannan, moved his 44 men of the First U.S. Artillery from Key West Barracks to Fort Taylor. His orders were to prevent the fort from falling into Confederate hands. The fort then became a key outpost to threaten blockade runners. Major William H. French arrived in April with his artillery unit. In 1898, the fort was reduced down to the second floor and Battery Osceola was added to the south casemate. The battery consisted of two 12 inch artillery pieces. The Civil War-era pieces were used as fill, being buried within the new battery to save on materials. Battery Adair was added to the west casemate and included four 3-inch, 15-pounder Rapid Fire rifles. The fort was heavily used again during the 1898 Spanish–American War, World Wars I and II, and the Cuban Missile Crisis. In 1947, the fort, no longer of use to the U.S. Army, was turned over to the U.S. Navy for maintenance. In 1968, volunteers led by Howard S. England excavated Civil War guns and ammunition buried in long-abandoned parts of the fort, which was soon discovered to house the nation's largest collection of Civil War cannons. Fort Taylor was therefore placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1973. Due to the filling in of land around the fort, including the creation of an attractive stretch of beach, the park now occupies 87 acres (352,000 m²). Source: Wikipedia
Wikimedia Commons/RuggyBearLA

Snorkelers see parrot fish, snapper, lobster and coral right from shore

The rock jetties and offshore piles along the beach act like a reef, and the water life that gathers there makes it one of the better shore snorkel spots in Key West.

Parrot fish, schools of yellowtail snapper, lobster, and coral are all regular sightings. The water stays shallow and calm enough that it works for first-timers and kids.

You don’t need to bring your own gear, since rentals are available at the park. Get in early if you want the clearest water of the day.

500px provided description: Just a very quick 5xp lightroom HDR. Hope you like it. [#sky ,#hdr ,#sea ,#sunset ,#water ,#sun ,#outdoor ,#shore ,#dawn ,#cloud ,#florida ,#seaside ,#key ,#west ,#key west ,#5xp ,#caribean ,#caribic]
Wikimedia Commons/Carsten Tolkmit

Sunset here is a quieter version of the Mallory Square scene

Every evening in Key West, crowds pack Mallory Square to watch the sunset. Fort Zach’s western shoreline gives you the same view with a fraction of the people.

The rock-lined edge of the park faces open water, and as the sun drops, sailboats pass with their sails full. You can sit at a picnic table or find a spot on the rocks.

Rangers close the park once the sun goes down, so it’s a natural end to the day rather than a crowd you have to fight your way out of.

Tropical hardwood hammock on Everglades National Park Mahogany Hammock Trail
Wikimedia Commons/Miguel.v

Short trails cut through tropical shade and circle the old moat

A few short nature trails wind through the park, and none of them take long.

The Fort View Trail climbs a man-made berm where you can look down into the moat that circles the fort.

The Tropical Hammock Trail drops into deep shade under gumbo-limbo trees and native shrubs, where the temperature drops noticeably even on a hot afternoon. Most of the trails are wheelchair accessible.

A seawall path runs from the fort toward the beach, with passing ships in the channel the whole way.

Northern Gannets
Flickr/dfaulder

Bring a rod, a bike, or a pair of binoculars

Fort Zach is part of the Great Florida Birding Trail, and the spring and fall migrations push a wide variety of birds through the trees.

Bird lists are available at the ranger station if you want to know what to look for. Biking is easy here, with a dedicated entry lane and racks throughout the park.

If fishing is more your speed, the west side along the shipping channel is open to anglers, and the rock jetty is a reliable spot for snapper.

Direction Sign at Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, Key West, Florida
Shutterstock

Pack lunch and stay the whole day

The park has grills and picnic tables near the beach, so you can cook out in the shade instead of driving back into town for lunch.

The on-site cafe and gear shop keep you covered if you arrive without everything you need.

Beach wheelchairs are available at no charge, and the shaded pine groves give families a cool place to settle in between swims.

Whether you came for the fort or the water, the park has enough variety that most people end up staying longer than they planned.

Fort Zachary Taylor , Fort Zachary Taylor and cruise ship, Key West, Florida, USA
Wikimedia Commons/Acroterion

Visit Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park in Key West

Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park sits at 601 Howard England Way at the end of Southard Street through Truman Annex.

The park is open daily, and ranger-led fort tours typically run around 11 a.m. The fort closes earlier than the beach, so check the current schedule before you go. An entrance fee applies, and gear rentals cost extra.

Water shoes are worth bringing for the rocky entry into the water. Confirm current hours, fees and any reenactment events on the official website before your visit.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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John Ghost is a professional writer and SEO director. He graduated from Arizona State University with a BA in English (Writing, Rhetorics, and Literacies). As he prepares for graduate school to become an English professor, he writes weird fiction, plays his guitars, and enjoys spending time with his wife and daughters. He lives in the Valley of the Sun. Learn more about John on Muck Rack.

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