In the early 19th century, Grand Terre Island was the home to pirates under the command of Captain Jean Lafitte.
  These pirates were forced to leave the island in 1814 so the U.S. government could build a coastal defense fort.
 This fort was also designed to control the entrance to Barataria Pass, and thereby guard New Orleans against naval attacks from the south of the city.
The U.S. Government bought a tract of land, where the fort now stands, from Etienne De Gruy on the west end of Grand Terre Island.
 Construction at the site began in 1834, but was suspended in July 1834.
 Construction resumed in 1840, and construction on the fort itself began in 1841 under the direction of  Major P.G.T. Beauregard.
 A lighthouse was added near the fort in 1856.
 Construction of the fort was halted with the start of the Civil War, and was never resumed.
 The fort was never fully completed.
 The fort was briefly occupied by Confederate forces during the American Civil War, but never saw combat.
 It was used by the Confederates to protect blockade runners coming into and out of Barataria Pass while en route to New Orleans The Confederate garrison of Fort Livingston was under the command of General Lovell.
 The garrison consisted of four companies, totaling 300 men.
 The fort was equipped with 15 guns, including a 32-pounder, an 8-inch columbiad, seven 24-pounders, four 12-pounders, and two howitzers.
 Confederate forces abandoned the fort after the fall of New Orleans.
 Following the Civil War, the fort was occupied by a single Ordnance Sergeant, beginning in 1866.
The fort was permanently abandoned after a hurricane destroyed most of the structure in 1872.
 Most of the guns were removed in 1889.
 The fort's last Ordnance Sergeant removed all of the fort's remaining ammunition on February 16, 1889  A commercial shrimp cannery which produced the first canning of shrimp was opened adjacent to the fort in 1867.
 In 1923, the U.S. Government gave control of the fort and the island to the State of Louisiana.
In the early 19th century, Grand Terre Island was the home to pirates under the command of Captain Jean Lafitte.   These pirates were forced to leave the island in 1814 so the U.S. government could build a coastal defense fort.  This fort was also designed to control the entrance to Barataria Pass, and thereby guard New Orleans against naval attacks from the south of the city. The U.S. Government bought a tract of land, where the fort now stands, from Etienne De Gruy on the west end of Grand Terre Island.  Construction at the site began in 1834, but was suspended in July 1834.  Construction resumed in 1840, and construction on the fort itself began in 1841 under the direction of  Major P.G.T. Beauregard.  A lighthouse was added near the fort in 1856.  Construction of the fort was halted with the start of the Civil War, and was never resumed.  The fort was never fully completed.  The fort was briefly occupied by Confederate forces during the American Civil War, but never saw combat.  It was used by the Confederates to protect blockade runners coming into and out of Barataria Pass while en route to New Orleans The Confederate garrison of Fort Livingston was under the command of General Lovell.  The garrison consisted of four companies, totaling 300 men.  The fort was equipped with 15 guns, including a 32-pounder, an 8-inch columbiad, seven 24-pounders, four 12-pounders, and two howitzers.  Confederate forces abandoned the fort after the fall of New Orleans.  Following the Civil War, the fort was occupied by a single Ordnance Sergeant, beginning in 1866. The fort was permanently abandoned after a hurricane destroyed most of the structure in 1872.  Most of the guns were removed in 1889.  The fort's last Ordnance Sergeant removed all of the fort's remaining ammunition on February 16, 1889  A commercial shrimp cannery which produced the first canning of shrimp was opened adjacent to the fort in 1867.  In 1923, the U.S. Government gave control of the fort and the island to the State of Louisiana.
Fort Livingston, Louisiana