Forts Jackson and St. Philip

Forts Jackson and St. Philip are historic coastal defenses built in the early 19th century to protect New Orleans from foreign invasion. Fort Jackson, located near the Mississippi River, has a star-shaped design and played a key role during the Battle of New Orleans in 1815. Fort St. Philip, further down the river, was a smaller fortification designed to control river traffic and defend against enemy ships. Both forts contributed to the area's military strategy by preventing enemy ships from advancing upriver and safeguarding New Orleans during conflicts with Britain and other threats.