These plans called for the fortress to be a trapeziform stronghold surrounded by a wet ditch and by outworks on the land side.

In the early 19th century, Grand Terre Island was the home to pirates under the command of Captain Jean Lafitte.

This fort was also designed to control the entrance to Barataria Pass, and thereby guard New Orleans against naval attacks from the south of the city.

[6] The U.S. Government bought a tract of land, where the fort now stands, from Moussier's creditor Etienne De Gruy on the west end of Grand Terre Island.

The fort is located directly east across Barataria Bay from the Coast Guard Station on Grand Isle, Louisiana.

Grand Terre Island was home to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries' Marine Laboratory until its destruction by Hurricane Gustav in 2008.

[15] The project consists of a rock dike built to conserve the Gulf shoreline of West Grand Terre Island and protect Fort Livingston.

As a result of tropical storm systems in 2002, the erosion rates along West Grand Terre Island greatly accelerated, requiring some type of protective barrier to be built.