The Lure of the Islands in the Gulf of Mexico:

What is it that entices people to the sea?  Poet John Masefield wrote, “I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied.”  Millions of visitors are drawn to the islands in the northern Gulf of Mexico for the white sandy beaches, the aquamarine waters, a boat ride, a camping spot, a tour of an old fort, or a place to fish.

Maintained and operated by the National Park Service (Dept. of Interior), visitors can experience these unspoiled stretches of barrier islands for kayaking, fishing, hiking, primitive camping, shelling or swimming.

Gulf Islands National Seashore is a park rich in natural resources. There are sparkling blue waters, magnificent snowy-white beaches, fertile coastal marshes, and beautiful winding nature trails.  

More than 80 percent of the park is submerged lands teeming with marine life. Marshes collect fresh rainwater and support diverse communities of plants and animals. Live oak forests are home to resident and migrating bird populations.

Millions of visitors enjoy America’s largest National Seashore every year. The National Park Service serves as guardian to these precious natural resources and asks that visitors treat their national park with care. With your support, special places like Gulf Islands National Seashore will continue to delight, educate and inspire future generations.

Gulf Islands National Seashore provides a great habitat for the gopher tortoise. The gopher tortoise's strong forelegs and claws make digging burrows in the sandy soil easy. They are vegetarians who enjoy eating a variety of plants that grow within the park.

The forts of Gulf Islands National Seashore span almost 150 years, from the Spanish colonial Bateria De San Antonio (1797) to the World War Two-era Battery 234. This reflects the historic value of the anchorages at Pensacola Bay, Florida and Ship Island, Mississippi. Most striking among these are the American Third System forts: Fort Pickens, Fort Massachusetts, Fort Barrancas, and the Advanced Redoubt, all of which saw action during the Civil War.

The National Park Service will commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the American Civil War. Special events and programs will be presented at Gulf Islands National Seashore, and other National Park sites.

Explore and learn more, including contact info and directions to the park, at the GINS website: www.nps.gov/guis/index.htm