Organized September 11, 1976
 

This first fort built to protect the mainland was on this site in 1693 by the Spanish.  Plans to build Fort Pickens on the tip of Santa Rosa Island were begun soon after Florida became a U.S. Territory in 1821.  The fort was built of native brick and earth.  When completed, it was part of a system of U.S. coastal forts extending from Maine to Louisiana.  Fort Pickens was a working military fort until just after World War II.

Since 1973, it has been part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, where park rangers wear 1860 uniforms and fly the 34 star American flag, commemorating the only time the fort actually experienced fighting.