(and Professional Travelers)
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Fort Clinch
State Park Fernandina Beach, Florida |
and Amelia Island Lighthouse |
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| The entry to Fort Clinch State Park and the road leading to Fort Clinch. A glimpse of Amelia Island Lighthouse can also be seen from a viewing area along this road. | |
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| Fort Clinch is a 19th century brick fortress
begun in 1847 after the end of the Second Seminole War. It was named in
honor of General Duncan Lamont Clinch, important figure in the First and
Second Seminole Wars. The only battle to occur at Clinch was when Union
troops recaptured the fort in 1862 after Confederate forces seized control
the previous year. Fort Clinch served as the base of Union operations in
the area throughout the Civil War.
In 1935, the State of Florida bought 256 acres that included the then-abandoned fort and the surrounding area. Fort Clinch State Park including the fort, opened to the public in 1938. |
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| Standing on the drawbridge outside the fort, looking left. | Standing on the drawbridge outside the fort, looking right. |
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| After crossing the drawbridge and passing the big doors that would seal off the fort, we go through an amazing brick tunnel with a curved roof and spot the first cannon. | |
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Karen heads to the cannon
and prepares to take a photo of Lee as he enters the fort |
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These are the photos Karen
took of Lee, as he took the above photos of her. |
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First looks around the
courtyard of the fort |
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a closer look at a doorway
and stairs shown in the above photos |
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The two RV Gypsies by cannons
overlooking Cumberland Sound |
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view from the cannons as
they aim out at Cumberland Sound |
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view looking out the porthole
shown above |
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| After descending the stairs shown above, the two RV Gypsies enter this building and go up some stairs for a view of Cumberland Sound | |
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views from the top |
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looking through a porthole at Cumberland Sound |
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Cumberland Sound
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The
Amelia Island Lighthouse |
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 The
Amelia Island Lighthouse is located on the north end of Amelia Island at
the mouth of the St. Mary's River. It was built in 1838 using materials
taken from the former Cumberland Island lighthouse in Georgia. The Cumberland
Island lighthouse had been built in 1820. The lighthouse marks the entrance
to Nassau Sound and the harbor for Fernandina Beach, Florida.
The lighthouse was originally equipped with 14 lamps each with a 14-inch reflector. The reflector size was increased to 15 inches by 1848. This arrangement was replaced by a third-order Fresnel lens in 1903, which is still used in the lighthouse. The original tower, moved from Cumberland Island, Georgia was 50 foot tall, placed on a hill. In 1881 a lantern was installed on the tower, increasing the tower height to 64 feet, with the focal plane of the light 107 feet above see level. The next-to-last civilian keeper of the Amelia Island lighthouse was Thomas J. O'Hagan, who was the son of the previous keeper, Thomas P. O'Hagan, and was married to a direct descendant of the first keeper, Amos Latham. The lighthouse was transferred from the United States Coast Guard to the City of Fernandina Beach in 2001. |
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Sub-menu for the Sea Islands
and surrounding areas You may visit these in any order you choose |
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Fort Clinch & Amelia Island Lighthouse |
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| After you have visited all ten (10) sections above, please continue on to the next adventure of the two RV Gypsies - Okefenokee Swamp |