Jun 02 2011
Muzzle Loading Cannon at Plant Park
These two muzzle loading cannon from the 1800′s are emplaced on the grounds of Plant Park/University of Tampa.
Text follows picture.
The Spanish Fort
In 1891 upon the completion of the Tampa Bay Hotel, Henry B. Plant recovered two Civil war cannon from across the Hillsborough River at the site of Old Fort Brooke. With his landscape architect Anton Fiehe, Mr. Plant placed the cannon over a limestone wall near here as a garden folly called The Spanish Fort.
These 24 pound shot size cannon were part of a battery of three placed in Fort Brooke during the War Between the States. They and two 6 pound shot size rifled cannon successfully defended Tampa until May 5, 1864. On that date, federal troops, composed of elements of the 2nd U.S. Colored Regiment, the 2nd Florida Calvary and the U.S. Navy, captured the town and fort by surprise. The 24 pounders were disabled by breaking off a trunnion and destroying their barbette carriages. The indentation on the barrel of one of the 24 pounders indicates that a 6 pounder was fired point blank at its barrel. The 6 pounders were then taken to Key West.
The cannon’s naval mounts were designed and funded by the Fort Brooke Commission. This historical recreation of the garden folly was a project of the Friends of Plant Park in 2008. This sign was placed on pieces of limestone salvaged from the original wall.
Friends of Plant Part
City of Tampa
Hillsborough County Commission
Fort Brooke Commission
The University of Tampa
How very interesting. I need to walk a little further than Franklin Street. There is a lot of history around this place!