Fort Barrancas
A coastal fort on a cliff inside the naval air station, overlooking the bay, where a Spanish water battery and a US brick fort are connected by tunnels.
Fort Barrancas stands on the cliffs of the bay's north shore and, together with Fort Pickens on the opposite shore, guards the entrance to the bay. The lower level is the San Carlos Water Battery, built by the Spanish in 1797, and the upper level is a brick fort built by the US Army in the 1840s. The two are connected by tunnels, and the interior arcades and moat are well preserved. It is part of Gulf Islands National Seashore and free of charge, but it lies inside a naval base, so visitors must follow base regulations. Check NPS announcements for opening days.
Opening hours
Approx. Thu–Sun 09:30–16:30 (check NPS)
Nearby sights
- National Naval Aviation Museum
- Pensacola Lighthouse
- Fort Pickens
- Joe Patti's Seafood
- Blue Wahoos Stadium
- Plaza Ferdinand VII
- Pensacola Museum of Art
- Saenger Theatre