Continuing my road trip home from Ocala, Florida, I stayed the night in Historic Blakeley State Park on the way to visit some horse friends in Gulfport, Mississippi.
Historic Blakeley State Park
Historic Blakeley State Park, located in Spanish Fort, Alabama encompasses more the 2,000 acres and affords visitors many things to do. Along with RV camping, primitive camping, improved tent camping and cabin rentals, the park features 30 miles of trails, boat cruises, a Civil War Battlefield, the Townsite of Blakeley, and remnants of American Indian habitation.
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In the limited time I spent at the park, I hiked a handful of trails, wandered around the battlefield, visited the historic townsite, and walked the boardwalk along the Tensaw River. There is such a variety to see, that both history buffs and nature lovers would love a weekend at Historic Blakeley State Park.
The Battlefield
While I am not a Civil War enthusiast and far from a history buff (it was my worst subject in school), I visited the battlefield first. If only we could have taken field trips to learn about historical sites. It is much more interesting!
Little did I know the Battle of Fort Blakeley on April 9, 1865 was the largest battle in Alabama and one of the last of the entire Civil War. Some 16,000 Union troops attacked 3,500 Confederate soldiers after a week-long siege of the fort.
The fall of Spanish Fort led to the capture of the City of Mobile, the last major Southern city protected by the Confederates which led to the end of the war.
The Blakeley battlefield is well preserved and features several miles of earthworks. My dog Annie and I learned about the battle at the interpretive signs as we followed the General Cockrell Trail along the battlefield perimeter.
Town of Blakeley
After hiking around the battlefield, we drove to what was left of the Town of Blakeley. It is hard to believe that Blakeley, chartered in 1814, was once one of the largest cities in Alabama. When it reached it heyday in 1820, it was a commercial rival to Mobile.
Economic factors and recurring epidemics of yellow fever led to its demise. And though it remained the county seat of Baldwin County at the time of the Civil War, it was only home to a few dozen families.
The area included a historic foundation and some rebuilt structures with interpretive signs indicating old trees and the life of the city.
Boat Cruise
Just down the road is the launch for the scenic boat tour along the Tensaw River. The lower Mobile-Tensaw delta is sometimes called the America’s Amazon with its rich and diverse ecosystems. The lower delta is home to Alabama’s largest population of alligators, black bears, the rare red-bellied, turtle, ospreys, bald eagles and countless fish.
Unfortunately, I didn’t get to join one of the 90-minute excursions on the Delta Explorer as they typically run on the weekends. But I did enjoy a tranquil setting while strolling along the boardwalk beneath the cypress trees. Orange spread across the sky as the sun dipped below the wide river.
While the chocolate brown waters reminded me of the Amazon River Cruise I recently took, the cypress knobs poking out of the shallow waters evoked memories of Cypress National Preserve in Florida. The swamp-like habitat always gives me the creeps. I kept my eyes peering on the surface for snakes and alligators, for fear of surprising one. I didn’t think to look up in a tree! Yikes, the black snake curled like a pretzel on a tree branch was eye level!!
Camping and Hiking
With that, I hustled back to the van, and Annie and I bounced along in VANgo to our campsite for the evening. Before continuing on our journey home the following day, we took one more hike along the many trails. This time Annie and I explored the Breastworks Trail which was the Confederate trench line.
The path runs from Redoubt 9 to Redoubt 4, approximately half the length of the defenses at Fort Blakeley. The foggy morning and herd of deer added to the interesting walk beneath canopy and past the historic earthworks.
I’m so glad I visited Historic Blakeley State Park, part of the Last Battle Trail in Alabama, that also includes Fort Morgan State Historic Site and Historic Fort Gaines. In all, Civil War buffs would really like seeing all the Civil War sites in Alabama. And if you’d like to create a poster to remember your trip or showcase the history you’ve explored, this destination provides plenty of inspiration. ETB
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