History of Fort de Soto Park

In 1849, Robert E. Lee (the famous American Civil War commander) along with three other US Army Engineers surveyed the area and recommended Mullet and Egmont Keys become fortified. Both keys could only be reached by boat, since they were islands off the mainland. During the civil war Union troops were stationed on the two keys to aid in the Union blockade of Tampa Bay. However after this they were abandoned by the military until 1882 when military reservations were officially created on the two keys.

Hillsborough County established a quarantine station on the eastern side of Mullet Key in 1889. The Marine Hospital Service took over the station in 1901. The station was to inspect aliens aboard ships arriving from foreign ports. The quarantine station operated until 1937, when the Public Health Service transferred its operations there to Gadsden Point, near Tampa.

The operation on Mullet Key became Fort De Soto in 1900, named after Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto. Fort de Soto was a subpost of Fort Dade, which was built on Egmont Key. Fort Dade and Fort de Soto were to contain batteries of artillery and mortars to protect Tampa Bay from any invading forces. The construction of Fort De Soto began in 1898 and was completed in 1906. The post' s features included a large barracks, guardhouse, hospital, blacksmith and carpenter shop, an administration building, storehouse, a mess hall with kitchen and a bakery. The post was active from 1898 to 1910.

In 1910 most troops were moved to Alabama. Only a caretaker force remained. By 1914 only a sergeant and game warden remained at the post and through most of World War I a larger caretaker force was at the post. In 1917 four of the post' s mortars were disassembled.

In 1922 the Army announced it would soon close both Forts De Soto and Dade and in 1923, the forts were officially abandoned and only one caretaker remained at each post. Over the years a few buildings were destroyed. The Army tried to sell the post, but without much luck. In 1938 Pinellas County bought the areas on Mullet Key.

Two years later the War Department decided it wanted Mullet Key back for use as a bombing range. In June 1941 the key was purchased back from Pinellas County. In 1948 Pinellas County again purchased the key and it permanently remained county property.

In 1962 a toll road, the Pinellas Bayway (SR 682), was completed to the mainland, enabling island visitors to arrive by car. On December 21, 1962, Fort De Soto Park opened. On May 11, 1963, Fort De Soto Park was officially dedicated. Its facilities have been expanded over the years. The quartermaster storehouse was reconstructed to become the Quartermaster Storehouse Museum.

In 2005, Fort Desoto' s North Beach was given the honor as top beach in America by Dr Beach. In 2008 and 2009 Fort De Soto Park was named America' s Top Beach by TripAdvisor.