The Dry Tortugas Islands lie about 70 miles to the west of Key West, Florida. It is the most southerly tip of the United States. Central to the seven islands is Fort Jefferson. You may recall it from your Civil War history. It is where Dr. Samuel Mudd was detained after being tried for treating John Wilks Booth, the man who shot President Lincoln.

While diving the Dry Tortugas in the early part of July 2005, we docked early one morning at Fort Jefferson to view the island fortification. The fort is said to be one of, if not, the most extravagant expenditures the United States has ever taken. Construction ended during the Civil War following the advent of the bored cannon, which made the fort virtually defenseless.

No longer useful as a fortification, the fort became a prison following the Civil War. It's most noteworth prisoner was Dr. Stephen Mudd, the doctor who attended John Wilkes Booth - the man who shot President Lincoln. The following images were taken just after sunrise on July 2, 2005.

The views of the fort were acquired immediately after sunrise.

The fort is a rather huge installation, particularly interesting is there is no ready source of drinking water.

You can search the Internet to learn more of Dr.Mudd. One of the sites I found is:

http://members.aol.com/RVSNorton/Lincoln29.html

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