Our last day in the Dry Tortugas we spent exploring Fort Jefferson above and below the water. The coral reefs around the fort’s old dock ruins were colorful and lively!

Creeeepy

Inside the fort, however, was a different story. Though surrounded with tropical scenery, the Fort itself had a bit of an eerie feeling. When you learn the history and think about the numerous hardships, death and disease people experienced on this island, you can’t help but feel a little uneasy while walking through the mid-19th century brick structure that remains.

My Feet Hurt

We walked the entire fort, all 16-million bricks and 16-acres of the nation’s largest brick masonry structure. We found Dr. Mudd’s prison cell, which was pretty cool, since both of us grew up about 10 mins from Dr. Mudd’s house in Southern Maryland. We chatted with the park ranger who gave us a few other details about Dr. Mudd’s imprisonment and the Fort in general. By sunset, we were exhausted and feeling satisfied with our history lesson for the day.

You Have To Go

If you’ve never been to the Dry Tortugas, it should be on your list of National Park’s to visit, just like Yosemite and the Grand Canyon. Yes, it’s that good. Where else can you find waters that rival the Caribbean, without needing a passport to get there?! And you don’t have to go on your own boat. There’s a ferry from Key West or seaplanes that can get you there even quicker!

Fort Jefferson Video

But as always, our videos capture the park’s majestic beauty better than our words. Check out the video footage below!