Fort Livingston was a 19th-century coastal defense fort located on Grand Terre Island in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. The fort was named after Edward Livingston who had held positions as Mayor of New York City, U.S. Senator from Louisiana, and U.S. Secretary of State under President Andrew Jackson.[2] The structure was listed on the National Register of Historic Places[3] on August 30, 1974.[1] Original plans for the fort were prepared by Lieutenant H. G. Wright. These plans called for the fortress to be a trapeziform stronghold surrounded by a wet ditch and by outworks on the land side. The walls were constructed of cemented shell, faced with brick, and trimmed with granite.[4][5]
Fort Livingston is one of the largest coastal forts in Louisiana, and is the only fort on the Gulf of Mexico in the state. It is a classic example of American coastal forts of the first half of the 19th century. Today it is in ruins.
The second Barataria Bay Lighthouse adjacent to Fort Livingston, shown here, was completed in 1903.
In the early 19th century, Grand Terre Island was the home to pirates under the command of Captain Jean Lafitte. These pirates were forced to leave the island in 1814 so the U.S. government could build a coastal defense fort. This fort was also designed to control the entrance to Barataria Pass, and thereby guard New Orleans against naval attacks from the south of the city. The U.S. Government bought a tract of land, where the fort now stands, from Etienne De Gruy on the west end of Grand Terre Island. Construction at the site began in 1834, but was suspended in July 1834. Construction resumed in 1840, and construction on the fort itself began in 1841[6] under the direction of Major P.G.T. Beauregard. A lighthouse was added near the fort in 1856.[7] Construction of the fort was halted with the start of the Civil War, and was never resumed. The fort was never fully completed. The fort was briefly occupied by Confederate forces during the American Civil War, but never saw combat. It was used by the Confederates to protect blockade runners coming into and out of Barataria Pass while en route to New Orleans[8] The Confederate garrison of Fort Livingston was under the command of General Lovell. The garrison consisted of four companies, totaling 300 men. The fort was equipped with 15 guns, including a 32-pounder, an 8-inch columbiad, seven 24-pounders, four 12-pounders, and two howitzers.[4][5] Confederate forces abandoned the fort after the fall of New Orleans.[9] Following the Civil War, the fort was occupied by a single Ordnance Sergeant, beginning in 1866. The fort was permanently abandoned after a hurricane destroyed most of the structure in 1872. Most of the guns were removed in 1889.[10] The fort's last Ordnance Sergeant removed all of the fort's remaining ammunition on February 16, 1889[11] A commercial shrimp cannery which produced the first canning of shrimp was opened adjacent to the fort in 1867.[12] In 1923, the U.S. Government gave control of the fort and the island to the State of Louisiana.
Present dayedit
Aerial view of Fort Livingston ruins, 1995Aerial view of Fort Livingston ruins, 2002
In 1955, Grand Terre was designated as a state Wildlife and Fisheries reservation. In 1979, the Louisiana state legislature created the Fort Livingston State Commemorative Area. The remains of the fort are somewhat of a tourist attraction, although it is only accessible by boat and is closely monitored by the U.S. Coast Guard. The fort is located directly east across Barataria Bay from the Coast Guard Station on Grand Isle, Louisiana. Grand Terre Island was home to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries' Marine Laboratory until its destruction by Hurricane Gustav in 2008.[13] The fort itself is also part of a wave-protection project being conducted by the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources.[14] The project consists of a rock dike built to conserve the Gulf shoreline of West Grand Terre Island and protect Fort Livingston. As a result of tropical storm systems in 2002, the erosion rates along West Grand Terre Island greatly accelerated, requiring some type of protective barrier to be built.[15]
^"Fort Livingston Abandoned", The New York Times, February 17, 1889, p. 5.
^"Department of Natural Resources | State of Louisiana" (PDF).
^ ab"Fort Livingston" (PDF). State of Louisiana's Division of Historic Preservation. Retrieved June 27, 2018. with three photos 2018-06-27 at the Wayback Machine
^ abJ. Richard Sherikel, Bethlyn McCloskey, Betsy Swanson (March 28, 1974). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination Form: Fort Livingston". National Park Service. Retrieved June 28, 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) With 11 photos from 1974.
^. Archived from the original on 2009-09-27. Retrieved 2009-06-26.
^A Days Excursion With Ricky, Ricky's Motel & RV Park
^"The Blockade", The New York Times, June 23, 1862, p. 8.
^Forts Massachusetts, Livingston and Proctor: three other forts built to defend New Orleans. These are Fort Massachusetts on Ship Island, Fort Livingston on Barataria Island, a...
^. Archived from the original on 2007-02-19. Retrieved 2008-05-30.
^"Fort Livingston Abandoned" (PDF). The New York Times. February 17, 1889.
^Marine Fisheries Review: the fiftieth anniversary. | Environment & Natural Resources > Natural Resources Management from AllBusiness.com
^Chin, Carol; Church, Jason (2010-10-18). . National Center for Preservation Technology & Training. Archived from the original on 2011-01-27. Retrieved 2024-03-13.
^(PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-21. Retrieved 2008-05-30.
^FTL-01 Fisheries Habitat Restoration on West Grand Terre Island at Fort Livingston
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fort Livingston, Louisiana.
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Fort Livingston was a 19th century coastal defense fort located on Grand Terre Island in Jefferson Parish Louisiana The fort was named after Edward Livingston who had held positions as Mayor of New York City U S Senator from Louisiana and U S Secretary of State under President Andrew Jackson 2 The structure was listed on the National Register of Historic Places 3 on August 30 1974 1 Original plans for the fort were prepared by Lieutenant H G Wright These plans called for the fortress to be a trapeziform stronghold surrounded by a wet ditch and by outworks on the land side The walls were constructed of cemented shell faced with brick and trimmed with granite 4 5 Fort LivingstonU S National Register of Historic PlacesFort Livingston s remaining wallsFort LivingstonShow map of LouisianaFort LivingstonShow map of the United StatesLocationWestern end of Grand Terre Island Jefferson Parish Louisiana USANearest cityGrand Isle LouisianaCoordinates29 16 23 N 89 56 43 W 29 27304 N 89 94516 W 29 27304 89 94516Area5 acres 2 0 ha Built1841ArchitectLieut H G Wright Col Joseph Gilbert TottenNRHP reference No 74000925 1 Added to NRHPAugust 30 1974 Fort Livingston is one of the largest coastal forts in Louisiana and is the only fort on the Gulf of Mexico in the state It is a classic example of American coastal forts of the first half of the 19th century Today it is in ruins Contents 1 History 2 Present day 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory edit nbsp The second Barataria Bay Lighthouse adjacent to Fort Livingston shown here was completed in 1903 In the early 19th century Grand Terre Island was the home to pirates under the command of Captain Jean Lafitte These pirates were forced to leave the island in 1814 so the U S government could build a coastal defense fort This fort was also designed to control the entrance to Barataria Pass and thereby guard New Orleans against naval attacks from the south of the city The U S Government bought a tract of land where the fort now stands from Etienne De Gruy on the west end of Grand Terre Island Construction at the site began in 1834 but was suspended in July 1834 Construction resumed in 1840 and construction on the fort itself began in 1841 6 under the direction of Major P G T Beauregard A lighthouse was added near the fort in 1856 7 Construction of the fort was halted with the start of the Civil War and was never resumed The fort was never fully completed The fort was briefly occupied by Confederate forces during the American Civil War but never saw combat It was used by the Confederates to protect blockade runners coming into and out of Barataria Pass while en route to New Orleans 8 The Confederate garrison of Fort Livingston was under the command of General Lovell The garrison consisted of four companies totaling 300 men The fort was equipped with 15 guns including a 32 pounder an 8 inch columbiad seven 24 pounders four 12 pounders and two howitzers 4 5 Confederate forces abandoned the fort after the fall of New Orleans 9 Following the Civil War the fort was occupied by a single Ordnance Sergeant beginning in 1866 The fort was permanently abandoned after a hurricane destroyed most of the structure in 1872 Most of the guns were removed in 1889 10 The fort s last Ordnance Sergeant removed all of the fort s remaining ammunition on February 16 1889 11 A commercial shrimp cannery which produced the first canning of shrimp was opened adjacent to the fort in 1867 12 In 1923 the U S Government gave control of the fort and the island to the State of Louisiana Present day edit nbsp Aerial view of Fort Livingston ruins 1995 nbsp Aerial view of Fort Livingston ruins 2002 In 1955 Grand Terre was designated as a state Wildlife and Fisheries reservation In 1979 the Louisiana state legislature created the Fort Livingston State Commemorative Area The remains of the fort are somewhat of a tourist attraction although it is only accessible by boat and is closely monitored by the U S Coast Guard The fort is located directly east across Barataria Bay from the Coast Guard Station on Grand Isle Louisiana Grand Terre Island was home to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Marine Laboratory until its destruction by Hurricane Gustav in 2008 13 The fort itself is also part of a wave protection project being conducted by the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources 14 The project consists of a rock dike built to conserve the Gulf shoreline of West Grand Terre Island and protect Fort Livingston As a result of tropical storm systems in 2002 the erosion rates along West Grand Terre Island greatly accelerated requiring some type of protective barrier to be built 15 See also editNational Register of Historic Places listings in Jefferson Parish LouisianaReferences edit a b National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service November 2 2013 Fort Livingston Abandoned The New York Times February 17 1889 p 5 Department of Natural Resources State of Louisiana PDF a b Fort Livingston PDF State of Louisiana s Division of Historic Preservation Retrieved June 27 2018 with three photos Archived 2018 06 27 at the Wayback Machine a b J Richard Sherikel Bethlyn McCloskey Betsy Swanson March 28 1974 National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form Fort Livingston National Park Service Retrieved June 28 2018 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link With 11 photos from 1974 History of Grand Isler Archived from the original on 2009 09 27 Retrieved 2009 06 26 A Days Excursion With Ricky Ricky s Motel amp RV Park The Blockade The New York Times June 23 1862 p 8 Forts Massachusetts Livingston and Proctor three other forts built to defend New Orleans These are Fort Massachusetts on Ship Island Fort Livingston on Barataria Island a Fort Livingston Archived from the original on 2007 02 19 Retrieved 2008 05 30 Fort Livingston Abandoned PDF The New York Times February 17 1889 Marine Fisheries Review the fiftieth anniversary Environment amp Natural Resources gt Natural Resources Management from AllBusiness com Chin Carol Church Jason 2010 10 18 Ft Livingston Grand Terre Island Field Report National Center for Preservation Technology amp Training Archived from the original on 2011 01 27 Retrieved 2024 03 13 Microsoft PowerPoint 21 Fort Livingston 2 2006 pps PDF Archived from the original PDF on 2011 07 21 Retrieved 2008 05 30 FTL 01 Fisheries Habitat Restoration on West Grand Terre Island at Fort LivingstonExternal links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fort Livingston Louisiana Fort Livingston Photos April 2002 Fort Livingston Oil Impact study June 2010 Portals nbsp National Register of Historic Places nbsp United States Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Fort Livingston Louisiana amp oldid 1220812211, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
