Fort Dade

Established in 1899 on Egmont Key in St. Petersburg Florida. Fort Dade was an Endicott coastal fortification for the defense of Tampa Bay. Over 75 buildings were located on the island and five gun batteries were built. Battery McIntosh, Battery Howard, Battery Burchsted, Battery Page and Battery Mellon. A large fire control tower was located on the island built in 1908 along with two mine casements and mine wharf. The fort was severely damaged in a 1921 hurricane and damages were to expensive so the fort was closed in 1923. Battery McIntosh remained in caretaker status at this time. In 1925 the Federal Bureau of Investigation was looking into illegal immigrants finding shelter in the forts abandon buildings. Because of this the FBI lit a fire ablaze on the island which destroyed all post buildings aside from a few made of cement and brick. The fire burned for days until it went out. The coast guard used the fort in the 1930s and the fort was used for observation during WW2. The island became a refuge in 1974.