Fort Poinsett and the U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey at Cape Sable

Written in the style of a journal article, this booklet traces the history of both the U. S. Army's Fort Poinsett and the U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey at Cape Sable, Florida. Established in 1838 during the Second Seminole War, Fort Poinsett later served as an important survey point during the Coast and Geodetic Survey's mapping of the Florida Keys. In 2007, the author found a twelve-decade-old survey monument erected by the Coast and Geodetic Survey at or near Fort Poinsett. This discovery provides evidence that at least a portion of Fort Poinsett may still exist on land after a century and a half of widespread beach erosion. The booklet includes six photographs, nine maps, one aerial photograph and an extensive endnotes section.