Explore historic Fort Massachusetts 11 miles off the coast. Located on Ship Island which is part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore. Check out the National Park Service website about Fort Massachusetts and Ship Island
The fort was built in 1858 to counter any potential threat to the Gulf Coast by the U. S. Army. A few years after the fort was constructed it passed to the Confederate States of America than after the Civil War back to the U.S. Army.
There are fascinating stories about the island and the fort. Read more on the website by clicking here
So, how do I get there? Easy, take a large boat. Ship Island Excursions will take you and your group to the Island. The round-trip ferry offers excursions from their dock in the port of Gulfport or Biloxi at the Margaritaville dock. Check out their website for times ad fare information.
Take a picnic lunch and make a day of it. You can walk to the beach and enjoy the water. There are waves on the Southside of the island. The National Park Service provides restrooms, fresh water showers, and covered picnic areas. They even have a shack bar at the end of the boardwalk.