Located at the east end of Bienville Blvd. on
Dauphin Island, Fort Gaines was a key stronghold guarding
Mobile Bay prior to and during the Battle of Mobile Bay. On August 5, 1864, Rear Admiral David G. Farragut said "Damn the torpedoes," which were early versions of the naval mine, and passed Fort Gaines and Fort Morgan. In the southern part of Mobile Bay, Farragut engaged and defeated the ironclad Tennessee and a small Confederate fleet. Though the port of Mobile was now closed, the city itself didn't surrendered until April 13, 1865. Visitors can explore the battlements, living quarters, tunnels, and bastions of Fort Gaines. Cannons used during the battle are also on display.
