We went out to Ft DeSoto in Pinellas County, Florida this morning. It is an old Fort that was built in 1898 to protect the coast from Spanish warships during the Spanish American War. They still have 4 of the 12" mortars there. They are the last remaining ones in North America. The only other ones in the world are in the Phillipines.
This is the view looking West into the Gulf of Mexico at the waters where the guns were aimed. Almost invisible in the distance is Egmont Key where the lighthouse stood. It was built in 1848 and was the only lighthouse on Florida's West coast.
This miniature Steam Train ran around the park in the late 1950s and early 1960s. I remember riding it as a child when we used to come here almost every weekend during the early 60s.
While we were walking around looking at the gun emplacements I happened to notice this one lone little Oak tree growing entirely out of the face of the concrete wall. I made me think about how precarious and tenacious life is at the same time.
I hope that you enjoyed this post a maybe learned a little about Ft DeSoto.
