Fort Macon State Park

             Over spring break I got the chance to visit Fort Macon in Carteret County. Living only ten minutes from the fort, I used to visit it all the time growing up. What I find most interesting about this site its purpose during different periods of history. During the early 18th century, Blackbeard and other well-known pirates easily passed through Beaufort Inlet at will. This area was also vulnerable to the threat of coastal raids. The War of 1812 demonstrated this weakness and the construction of the fort began in 1826. The fort was just one of the forts created during this period as the United States began to build up coastal defenses.

Main Entrance into the fort

The fort was named after North Carolina Senator Nathaniel Macon. Construction lasted for 8 years and was completed in 1834. What I found most interesting during my visit was that during the 1840s, Robert E. Lee, who was a Captain in the US Army Engineers at the time, inspected the fort and developed permanent jetties to halt shore erosion on the beach outside the fort.

Parrott Rifle

Central Courtyard

At the beginning of the Civil War, Fort Macon was taken by local Confederate militia forces. It remained in Confederate hands until September of 1862. Brigadier General John G. Parke, under the command of Ambrose Burnside, was sent to capture the fort. The Confederate forces

were able to hold out a month until surrendering the fort to Union forces. Fort Macon would remain under Union control for the rest of the war. Until 1876, Fort Macon would serve as a military prison and, at one point, as a federal penitentiary. After the fort was deactivated in 1877, it would only be occupied by state troops during the Spanish-American War in 1898 before being abandoned in 1903.

Moat surrounding the fort

View of Fort Macon from one of the seaward sides

            The fort would be sold to the state of North Carolina in 1923 and would become the states first functioning state park in 1936. At the outbreak of World War II, the fort was leased by the US Army to protect the coast from German U-Boat attacks. The fort would be occupied by from December 1941 until November 1944. It would be returned to the state in 1946. From pirates to U-boats, Fort Macon provided protection to the Beaufort Inlet and North Carolina coast for nearly a century.

Philosophy of History

One of the challenges a historian faces is how history should be studied. The biggest obstacle someone faces when looking at the past is avoiding a biased interpretation. Different historians have different interpretations of the past. This does not necessarily mean that only one of the historian’s interpretations is correct, it only means that they each see the past in different ways.  For someone hoping to become a historian, one of their first mistakes is believing that they need to have some sort of historical philosophy before they begin their research. By having a preset agenda, a historian is more likely to provide a biased interpretation. In order to study history, all historians must leave any of their personal biases out of their interpretation. History is the study of the past and not the study of the past through the filter of the present. A historian needs to acknowledge that they have certain biases in order to prevent skewing history. 

As a Christian, I believe that in order to provide an unbiased interpretation of history, I need to look at history with a Biblical worldview. Every part of the past is history. As a believer, the creation of the world is a historical act as well as the creation of man. Unlike man, God’s laws are absolute. Different historians have different views on different historical figures. By using God’s law, I can study history without using my own views of right or wrong. Whether a person’s acts are right or wrong is not based on my personal views of right or wrong, but rather through God’s view of right or wrong. By doing this, I avoid creating skewed views of historical figures, and do what all historians should do, study the past with an unbiased interpretation.

Why I Chose History

It's finally here, my final semester as an undergrad. With only one semester separating me from starting my Master's, I'm feeling both anxious and excited. Looking back, it's hard to think that coming into Liberty as a freshman I was a biology major with no interest in having a career in history. In just three years,  my career plan changed completely. History has always been an interest to me but I never considered it as a profession until the beginning of my Senior year. Ever since middle school, I always enjoyed reading any book on American history. I have often been asked why military history has been my main interest. What sparked my interest was the people I have been lucky to meet.

World War II has always been my favorite period in history. My great-great uncle was killed during the Battle of the Bulge fighting with the 2^nd Armored Division. I have also had the privilege of meeting two World War II veterans. My next door neighbor growing up served in the Navy during the war and hearing about his experience really grabbed my interest. I also was able to meet a veteran who had survived the Pearl Harbor attack. Meeting these two veterans sparked my interest in military history and looking back are the reason why I want to teach history. Many people think that studying the history of wars and military are not important. However, what I hope to show in my career is how wars affected history itself. I hope that by teaching I can help others appreciate what our veterans have done to protect the United States and work with students who share my passion for history.