Pic of the Day: Gaines Bastion E Pit

Here we're looking down into half of the pit behind Ft. Gaines' southwest bastion.

To the right is a gracefully-curved retaining wall; to the right is the back wall--the gorge--of the bastion.

Below is a short tunnel that spans the space between the two, giving a covered passage from the bastion to a tunnel running to the parade ground.

Above, the pit floor becomes a ramp that narrows toward the top and ends at a walkway spanning the length of the fort wall to the next bastion.

As built, the gorge pits and tunnels gave the only access to each of the five bastions. Each has a spiral stairway inside for getting to the gun emplacements on top.