Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park is located in Key West, Florida, and is a popular destination for history buffs, nature lovers, and beachgoers.


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Summary

The park covers over 54 acres and features a 19th-century fort, a beach, and nature trails.

The park's main attraction is Fort Zachary Taylor, which was constructed in the mid-1800s to defend the United States during the Civil War. Visitors can take guided tours of the fort and learn about its history, including its use as a military prison during the Spanish-American War.

Aside from the fort, the park also offers a beautiful beach with crystal-clear waters and great snorkeling opportunities. Visitors can rent snorkeling gear and explore the coral reefs just offshore.

For nature lovers, the park also features several nature trails that wind through the mangrove forests and offer a chance to see native wildlife, including birds, butterflies, and sea turtles.

Interesting facts about the park include that it was named after President Zachary Taylor, who died in office in 1850, and that the fort played a significant role in the Civil War.

The best time to visit Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park is in the winter months when temperatures are milder, and there is less chance of rain. However, the park is open year-round and offers activities for visitors during every season.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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