Forts are military structures that have played an important role in the history of the United States, and many national and state parks commemorate and preserve sites and stories related to these historic forts. These sites often include reconstructed or preserved fortifications, museum exhibits, and educational programs that provide visitors with an understanding of the history and significance of the forts and the military campaigns they were a part of.
Some examples of national and state parks that have forts include:
- Fort Sumter National Monument in South Carolina, which preserves the site of the first shots of the Civil War.
- Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine in Maryland, which preserves the site of the Battle of Baltimore during the War of 1812, and the inspiration for the Star-Spangled Banner
- Fort Necessity National Battlefield in Pennsylvania, which preserves the site of the Battle of Fort Necessity, the first battle of the French and Indian War.
- Fort Scott National Historic Site in Kansas, which preserves the site of a frontier fort that was used during the Indian Wars.
- Castillo de San Marcos National Monument in Florida, which preserves the site of the oldest masonry fort in the continental United States, and a symbol of Spanish colonial history.
- Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site in North Dakota, which preserves the site of one of the most important fur trade posts in the American West.
These are just a few examples, but there are many other national and state parks throughout the United States that have forts. These sites provide an important opportunity to understand the history of the military campaigns and conflicts that shaped the nation as it is today, and also the role of forts in the development of the nation, and also offer a glimpse into the military life of soldiers, and the architectural and engineering methods of the time.