Hurricane Irma caused extensive damage at Fort Jefferson, a unit of Dry Tortugas National Park, where a 40-foot section of the moat wall collapsed. This island, located west of the Florida Keys, served as a military prison during the Civil War and was the site of the imprisonment of Dr. Samuel Mudd – who set John Wilkes Booth’s broken leg in the aftermath of the Lincoln assassination. A number of trees were also knocked down and significant debris was deposited around the fort. Significant masonry repair work at the fort had been ongoing and conditions are being assessed. The park reopened to the public on September 28, although portions of the moat wall remain off limits.
Weather has started to take its toll on the walls of Fort Jefferson as seen by this image with the moat and moat walls clearly visible.
In Charleston Harbor, Fort Sumter suffered near-record flooding from the storm, with four feet of standing water remaining within the historic area three days after the storm passed. In the aftermath, park staff carefully cleaned the site’s historic cannons to prevent corrosion from prolonged exposure to the salt water. Although there was no lasting damage done to the Civil War portions of the fort, the dock and restroom infrastructure were in need of repair before the park could reopen on September 22.
Ruins of Fort Sumter's Officer's Quarters and powder magazine at the left gorge angle.
Fort Moultrie was also temporarily shuttered due to standing water, but received no lasting damage and reopened on September 14.
The Fort Moultrie timeline goes back to 1809, when this third fort was constructed. Visible is the oldest standing structure remaining inside the fort, the 1809 powder magazine.
Fort Pulaski was heavily damaged and closed for a full month, not reopening until October 7. Even then, water was unavailable with the historic area and portable toilets replaced the damaged visitor comfort station.
Fort Pulaski from the south, war damaged areas visible.