A Legacy in Brick and Stone

Book excerpt: The definitive history of the American Third System of Fortifications that defended our coastline for more than half of century, these architectural wonders were built from 1816 through 1867 from Maine through the Florida Keys to New Orleans, with two forts in San Francisco Bay. Almost all of these 42 masonry forts still stand along our shores, and most are open to the public. A Legacy in Brick and Stone provides the background of these famous Civil War forts - why they were built where they are, who built them, and how they functioned - as well as descriptions of each fort. This revised and expanded edition has grown by over 100 pages, and over 400 new photographs and drawings have been included.