FORT JEFFERSON MOAT WALL REPAIRS DRY
TORTUGAS NATIONAL PARK, FL

After assessing damage caused by Hurricanes Irma and Ian, the National Park Service hired Stone & Lime to oversee a
variety of repairs to Fort Jefferson. The first phase of the project included dredging additional sand from the moat on the north and south beaches, while the second phase involves stabilizing the moat wall with repairs to address various defects underwater. The moat wall repairs will be executed in phases enclosing one front at a time to minimize impacts on tourists visiting the fort. Project logistics have been carefully planned with regards to material and equipment delivery, storage, and usage. Underwater repairs have been implemented using a technical approach and with frequent updates provided to the National Park Service. Above water masonry repairs on the moat wall will match existing materials to maintain heritage of structure.

HISTORIC CONTEXT

Fort Jefferson is a former U.S. military coastal fortress in the Dry Tortugas National Park of Florida. In late December 1824 and early January 1825, about five years after Florida joined the United States, U.S. Navy Commodore David Porter inspected the Dry Tortugas islands. It is the largest brick masonry structure in the America covering 16 acres and made with over 16 million bricks. Among United States forts, only Fort Monroe in Virginia and Fort Adams in Rhode Island are larger. The fort is located on Garden Key in the lower Florida Keys within the Dry Tortugas, 68 miles west of the island of Key West.