building 16 handout
- 1. National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Gulf Islands National Seashore Florida & Mississippi Gulf Islands Historic Mine Storeroom Serving a Mission With the arrival of the Fort Pickens area ferry in the spring of 2017, the old mine storeroom across from the fort will be transformed into a dining and exhibit area. The decision to adapt this historic structure into a new purpose takes extra costs and effort, but is a perfect reflection of the National Park Service fulfilling its mission to “preserve unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations”. It also highlights Pensacola’s local significance in the national advancement and development of coastal warfare and defense. History of Site Men posing with a mine in the loading building. In 1886, a board under the direction of Secretary of War William C. Endicott rethought America’s coastal defense. Their report proposed that twenty-three important ports implement technological advance- ments. Historic map of the engineer’s wharf, offic- es, and the mine support structures History of Building Use The mine storeroom was built to hold mines that would be placed underwater for defense against en- emy warships. Adjacent structures included a mine loading building as well as a concrete cable tank for storing underwater cables in salt water. All of the mine support structures were built in 1898, but were destroyed when the powder magazine in the north- east bastion of Fort Pickens exploded in 1899. The existing mine storeroom was built in 1901. The new Endicott system brought a mine support complex to the Santa Rosa area, including an addi- tional casemate within the northeast bastion of Fort Pickens, rebuilding of the Fort’s wharf, the addition of railroad tracks to maneuver the new weaponry and supplies, and the construction and moderniza- tion of several batteries in the area. After a hurricane in 1926 caused damage to the mine support struc- tures, submarine mine defense was eliminated and the Navy was put in charge of underwater protection of the Pensacola Bay area. After Fort Pickens was retired as an active piece of America’s coastal defense, it became a Florida State Park in 1949 and in 1971 a part of the National Seashore. The mine storeroom has been used for a variety of other purposes such as a carpenter’s shop, maintenance shop, and as storage. Fort Pickens Ferry Project
- 2. Adaptive Reuse Benefits Preservation Act “The spirit and direction of the nation are founded upon and reflected in its historic her- itage; the historical and cultural foundations of the nation should be preserved as a living part of our community life and development in order to give a sense of orientation to the American people... The preservation of this irreplaceable heritage is in the public interest so that its vital legacy of cultural, educational, aesthetic, inspirational, economic, and energy benefits will be maintained and enriched for future generations.” A group of men on the “General J.M. Schof- ield” preparing to plant underwater mines. The Fort Pickens visitor’s center is located at the main entrance of Fort Pickens. The new dining and exhibit area will be located in the mine storeroom, directly south from the new ferry pier. The museum is located on the west side of the map. 1966 National Historic Pictured to the right is the traveling crane which moved the mines onto rail cars and storage racks within the storeroom. The crane has suffered from age and flooding during Hur- ricane Ivan in 2004. The rehabilitation of this building is giving the crane system a chance to be restored and on display for visitors to learn from and understand. will become a part of the story that visitors can experience as they take a trip back in time through Fort Pickens. Now, the relationship of these seacoast fortification systems can be appreciated in a whole new sense. Museum Mine Loading Building Mine Storeroom Ferry Pier Visitor’s Center Opening up the mine support structures to the public also creates a much better understand- ing of the historical context of the Fort Pickens area. Rather than having many of the buildings serve as storage or exclusive use to the Na- tional Park Service employees, the buildings Cable Tank Foundation