Fort Morgan

Education meets vacation...

We decided to visit a nearby historic location, Fort Morgan. My son (and father) love history, so this should be a fun outing for both of them.

Located in Gulf Shores the area has fishing, beaches, and picnic areas, as well as the ability to visit Fort Morgan. There are a ton of learning opportunities here. And even a few opportunities to just hang out with your family and have fun.

There is a lot to see and there are a lot of stairs, especially if you want to really check everything out. So, some of the trip was harder for my dad. Check out my son helping my dad down the stairs... pretty sweet.

Yet, we have a wonderful sense of adventure which lead to our discovery of a Hobbit Hole - well, it actually wasn't a hobbit hole, it was door that looked a lot like a hobbit hole. Of course, my mom had to investigate which eventually brought my son into the mix of investigating. The rest of us just watched as they tried to open the locked door. It didn't...

Did I mention my kids? My adorable kids... actually getting along. And both are happy... simultaneously...

We all wandered around looking at history and taking in the beautiful day. Education + Vacation = Edvacation! Ok, this is not the normal thing to do for my parents, but has become common for us since we started homeschooling. Plus, it is always good to do something different (well, for us... it's just part of homeschooling way... making adventure and education in fun exciting ways).

Look at this crazy group of people...

 

Also, I got a great picture of my mom and daughter, as well as one of three generations of women in my family!

All-in-all - a good homeschooling, vacation adventure!

Behind the Scenes:

A little history behind our visit to Fort Morgan:

Fort Morgan is a Third System masonry fort built between 1819 and 1833. Standing guard where the bay meets the Gulf of Mexico, the fort played a significant role in the Battle of Mobile Bay in August 1864. Used intermittently through the Spanish American War, World War I and World War II, the site showcases the evolution of seacoast fortifications and adaptations made by the U.S. Army for the defense of the country. Learn more about Fort Morgan.

Interesting history we learned about the fort: The fort was built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers mostly through the use of African-American slaves. They even have pictures inside the main building showing the men that built the fort. And that they used brick and mortar because they were the only materials that could be obtained locally.

Fort Morgan is covered in historical markers and information. Not only do they have a main museum area, there are information signs all over the fort.