The gun battery called Battery Bigelow was destroyed by the hurricane of 1921. Between storms and shifting shorelines, little remains of the 3-inch gun battery.

The Fort De Soto batteries were placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. If you want to learn more about the history of these fortifications that guarded Tampa Bay, inquire at the administration office about the history tours.

Battery Bigelow, the secondary battery for Fort De Soto, was named in honor of 1st Lt. Aaron Bigelow of the 21st U.S. Infantry, who was killed at the battle of Lundy's Lane, Ontario, during the War of 1812.

Seen in the background is one of the two fishing piers found in Fort De Soto Park.