Fort Macomb
Encyclopedia
Fort Macomb is a 19th century fortress in Louisiana
, on the western shore of Chef Menteur Pass
. The fort is adjacent to the Venetian Isles
community, now legally within the city limits of New Orleans, Louisiana
, although some miles distant from the city when first built and still a considerable distance from the main developed portion of the city.
to Lake Pontchartrain
and the lakeshore of New Orleans. (The other route is the Rigolets
; both straits connect Pontchartrain to the Gulf via Lake Borgne
.) An earlier fort at the site was called Fort Chef Menteur. The current brick
fort was built in 1822, and renamed Fort Wood in 1827, with its current name being given in 1851.
The fort was occupied by a Confederate States of America
garrison starting on 28 January 1861 early in the American Civil War
, and retaken by the Union the following year.
In 1867 the barracks caught fire, after which the fort was largely abandoned. It was decommissioned in 1871.
The fort and its land are now owned by the State of Louisiana. While some efforts were made to open it to limited tourism in the late 20th century, the decaying condition of the fort was judged too hazardous for public visits. The similar but better preserved Fort Pike
some 10 miles (16.1 km) away at the Rigolets has been the regional example of a coastal fort open to visitors.
A portion of the fort's old moat
has been turned into a canal as part of a small marina
. Unfortunately, the wakes from incoming and outgoing boats is wearing away the outer wall of the fort and accelerating the structural damage.
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, on the western shore of Chef Menteur Pass
Chef Menteur Pass
The Chef Menteur Pass is a narrow natural waterway which, along with the Rigolets, connects Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Borgne in New Orleans, Louisiana...
. The fort is adjacent to the Venetian Isles
Venetian Isles, New Orleans
Venetian Isles is a neighborhood of New Orleans, Louisiana. It is located on the western shore of the Chef Menteur Pass on the northern side of U.S. Highway 90....
community, now legally within the city limits of New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, although some miles distant from the city when first built and still a considerable distance from the main developed portion of the city.
History
Chef Menteur Pass is a water route from the Gulf of MexicoGulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
to Lake Pontchartrain
Lake Pontchartrain
Lake Pontchartrain is a brackish estuary located in southeastern Louisiana. It is the second-largest inland saltwater body of water in the United States, after the Great Salt Lake in Utah, and the largest lake in Louisiana. As an estuary, Pontchartrain is not a true lake.It covers an area of with...
and the lakeshore of New Orleans. (The other route is the Rigolets
Rigolets
The Rigolets is a 12.9 kilometer long strait in Louisiana.It begins at and follows a generally eastward course to Lake Borgne, which is a lagoon in the Gulf of Mexico, where it ends at . Along with nearby Chef Menteur Pass, the Rigolets connects Lake Pontchartrain and Lake St. Catherine to Lake...
; both straits connect Pontchartrain to the Gulf via Lake Borgne
Lake Borgne
Lake Borgne is a lagoon in eastern Louisiana of the Gulf of Mexico. Due to coastal erosion, it is no longer actually a lake but rather an arm of the Gulf of Mexico. Its name comes from the French word borgne, which means "one-eyed".-Geography:...
.) An earlier fort at the site was called Fort Chef Menteur. The current brick
Brick
A brick is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using various kinds of mortar. It has been regarded as one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials used throughout history.-History:...
fort was built in 1822, and renamed Fort Wood in 1827, with its current name being given in 1851.
The fort was occupied by a Confederate States of America
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
garrison starting on 28 January 1861 early in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, and retaken by the Union the following year.
In 1867 the barracks caught fire, after which the fort was largely abandoned. It was decommissioned in 1871.
The fort and its land are now owned by the State of Louisiana. While some efforts were made to open it to limited tourism in the late 20th century, the decaying condition of the fort was judged too hazardous for public visits. The similar but better preserved Fort Pike
Fort Pike
Fort Pike is a decommissioned 19th century fort, named after Brigadier General Zebulon Montgomery Pike, which formerly guarded the Rigolets pass in Louisiana. It was near the community of Petite Coquille, Louisiana, and now within the city limits of New Orleans, and was long a tourist attraction...
some 10 miles (16.1 km) away at the Rigolets has been the regional example of a coastal fort open to visitors.
A portion of the fort's old moat
Moat
A moat is a deep, broad ditch, either dry or filled with water, that surrounds a castle, other building or town, historically to provide it with a preliminary line of defence. In some places moats evolved into more extensive water defences, including natural or artificial lakes, dams and sluices...
has been turned into a canal as part of a small marina
Marina
A marina is a dock or basin with moorings and supplies for yachts and small boats.A marina differs from a port in that a marina does not handle large passenger ships or cargo from freighters....
. Unfortunately, the wakes from incoming and outgoing boats is wearing away the outer wall of the fort and accelerating the structural damage.