Fort Gaines, Dauphin Island

This was definitely worth the trip! Very interesting. So much history here. Tickets are 9$ for adults and 5$ for kids. Kids up to 4 years of age enter free. Make sure you have comfortable shoes and clothes on because you’ll do some climbing on steep stairs. The whole process took us about an hour and a half and you could easily spend longer (it was very hot day). The whole fort is build very interesting. Divided in to sections and very well planned. You see how the soldiers lived (beds made out of wood and ropes, just hand built wood chairs and tables, they even had on site welding area) the original officers quarters was 3 stories tall but only first floor standing due to upper floors were destroyed during Battle of Mobile bay. You can also see a copy of original written letters from soldiers to their family’s (heartbreaking because some never made it home).. If you have kids definitely take them on this tour! They need to see and learn the history while this is still standing.. Thank you for keeping it maintained and open to public!

Surprisingly cool little fort, definitely takes you back in time to what it was like to serve there during the 1800s. Overall it was very clean those showing some age (wood) and some rust, it had just rained, so it was pretty soggy with puddles all over the place. The ladies that worked up front were very nice, and it cost nine dollars for adults to enter. The little museum was really neat and I got to see Coast Guard helicopters do operations on the water while I was there. Definitely worth the visit 😊

Cool, Civil War era fort overlooking the gulf and Mobile Bay. Updated over the years until it became completely obsolete. You enter through the gift shop where you also purchase tickets. I'm spoiled where I come from cause most stuff like this is free or $5 or less to get in. So $9 felt steep. I did a pretty a pretty quick tour over about an hour, but if you stopped and read everything you could probably triple that time. Nice views over the ocean and you get a surreal feeling as you walk some of the tunnels knowing men garrisoned this place for over a 100 years. Part of that time during the Civil War. A cool experience. The museum isn't huge, but they pack a lot of stuff in. Minimal shade once you get inside the fort, so if it's a bright, hot day, plan accordingly. The museum is air conditioner if you need a respite.

We came down to explore Dauphin Island and thought this would be a fun place to check out. Really interesting history and you get some amazing views of the water. You can also see the Sand Island Lighthouse.

Fort Gains was an absolutely good time. The fort is still in good shape considering how old it is but do the recent hurricanes is in need of some restoration work. The money made here at the fort used to upkeep is provided by ticket sales and items sold in the gift shop. So please be sure to purchase something at the gift shop before you leave as your purchase helps secure history for many more years to come. Fort Gaines was an absolutely good time spent with family as we walked from location to location reading about what happened here in history and educating my children on why it's important to know your history Should you need a charitable donation to contribute to this year I highly encourage you to put Fort Gains on the top of your list. The staff here would be absolutely ecstatic to see funds rolling in to help restore the fort. Go have your picture taken with the cannons look out and see what was being protected put your hands on the pieces of a shipwreck for the mid 1800s . You can stand or cannonball struck the ground they were trying to destroy the fort. At Fort Gaines you help history to come alive for future generations to enjoy.