Fort Pickens is one of those massive masonry fortresses built for coastal defense prior to our Civil War. Most of the fortress and its 21,500,000 bricks have survived a war, a massive accidental explosion and numerous hurricanes. My visit extended over three days when the weather was less than ideal, punctuated by periods of rain and heavy fog. Because of these conditions, I spent most of my time photographing the gun casements and bastions. They were in most cases dark, damp and cold, but fascinating. The brickwork with the interlocking massive arches is fantastic!