United States Coast Defense 1775 1950

Defending America's Coasts, 1775-1950

Guardian at Angels Gate

An executive order-issued September 14, 1888-set aside a strip of land adjacent to the boundary of the newly incorporated city of San Pedro, California. Signed by President Grover Cleveland, the order designated the area of "the old government reservation" to be used as a military reservation. It is from this point in time that Fort MacArthur traces its military career. As a part of the US Air Force's Los Angeles Air Force Base, the post continues in its purpose of public service to the citizens of the United States of America. The Fort MacArthur Museum is charged with preserving its military past. Towards that goal this history has been compiled to preserve the history of this important post. Much of this work was derived from materials prepared by Col. Gustafson for distribution to the Army personnel and visitors of Fort MacArthur in the late 1970s.

American Civil War Fortifications (1)

The 50 years before the American Civil War saw a boom in the construction of coastal forts in the United States of America. These stone and brick forts stretched from New England to the Florida Keys, and as far as the Mississippi River. At the start of the war some were located in the secessionist states, and many fell into Confederate hands. Although a handful of key sites stayed in Union hands throughout the war, the remainder had to be won back through bombardment or assault. This book examines the design, construction and operational history of those fortifications, such as Fort Sumter, Fort Morgan and Fort Pulaski, which played a crucial part in the course of the Civil War.