CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KFVS) - As we count down to our nation’s 250th birthday, we will continue to focus on history relevant to the Heartland.

Today, we aim to explore the famous forts that protected Cape Girardeau during the Civil War.

Fort A offers a breathtaking view of the Mississippi River and Cape Girardeau. A cannon still marks the spot where Union troops were stationed during the Civil War. Fort A is interesting because it has a small overlook that provides insight into why it would have been an effective way to protect Cape.

In 1861, four forts were commissioned around Cape. The most uniquely visible are Fort A and Fort D, located south of downtown Cape Girardeau. Fort D is a popular tourist attraction, but people often mistake the building for the fort itself. The fort itself i

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