By: Thomas Dean, Contributing Writer
Photo from Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce

Just across the bay, Fort Blakeley offers well-preserved history from the Civil War. The site is home to the bloodiest battle in Alabama and one of the deciding factors in the war. Today, Fort Blakeley is a beautiful state park.

Park director and Civil War historian, Mike Bunn, describes the significance of the site, “The Battle of Blakeley was crucial for the war. When the Confederates lost this, they really lost the state as a whole, and the war too.” 

Due to its location on the bay, Fort Blakeley played a key role in Confederate transportation during the war, utilizing canal routes and facilitating trade through one of the busiest cities in the South. 

“Fort Blakeley was the culminating battle in the campaign for Mobile, one of the last major operations of the war, involving fifty-thousand troops and over forty warships,” said Bunn. “It led directly to the capture of Mobile.” 

On April 9, 1865, the Union army took Fort Blakeley. Confederate forces were overwhelmed in under thirty minutes due to the size of Union forces. Much of the Union dominance arose with a great number of United States Colored Troops (USCT).  

Now, Blakeley is a Historic State Park.

In 1981, under the leadership of local educator Mary Grice, Fort Blakeley was officially recognized as a state park. Now encompassing approximately 2,000 acres, this park offers visitors a unique blend of natural beauty and historical artifacts. The park contains the majority of both the Confederate and Union lines that figured in the Battle of Fort Blakeley, making it one of the best-preserved Civil War battlefields in the nation. Additionally, the park features a designated United States Colored Troops (USCT) Heritage Trail, highlighting the significant role African American soldiers played during the battle.

Beyond its Civil War heritage, the park also preserves remnants of the original town of Blakeley, including historical markers indicating locations such as a brick kiln and an old oak tree used as a hanging tree for local courts. With over 20 miles of hiking trails, camping facilities, and guided tours of the delta region, the park serves as both a recreational haven and an educational resource, ensuring that the legacy of Blakeley continues to resonate with visitors from around the world.

For more information and updates on events, visit www.BlakeleyPark.com.