Fort Macon

Originally constructed in 1826 to protect the Beaufort Inlet after a string of successful British assaults during the War of 1812, Fort Macon is one of a series of fortifications located along the Atlantic seaboard. Named after Nathaniel Macon, the U.S. Senator who helped secure the funds for its construction, the fort’s only attack occurred during the Civil War in 1862 - when Union troops led by General Ambrose E. Burnside defeated Colonel Moses J. White and the confederate soldiers under his command.

Later in 1936, thanks to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the establishment of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), Fort Macon State Park was created and opened for public use.

Covering over 400 acres and located beyond Atlantic Beach, visitors can swim, hike, fish, or tour the historic structure itself. The visitor center has a museum, bookstore, and theater - where you can watch a short film about the history of the fort and the area.

I visited during a warm afternoon in March, hiked the Elliott Coues Nature Trail, explored the fort, and took the photo above. It was a bright sunny day with fewer clouds in the sky than I would have liked, but the fort itself is visually interesting and has its own unique archeological appeal - depicting layers of history and the complexity of our country’s past.