From the beginning Savannah has been fortified to protect its inhabitants and its strategic port. In the early years the whole city was walled against the Spanish. Later artillery fortification protected Savannah from the British and the Northerners. Today the forts stand as fascinating memorials to U.S. History.
FORTJACKSON: Three miles from downtown Savannah is the oldest remaining brickwork fort in Savannah. It was constructed from 1809 to 1842 and saw service in the War of 1812 and the War Between the States. It is situated on the south bank of the Savannah River occupying a site fortified since colonial days guarding Five Fathom Hole, the 18th century deepwater port in the Savannah River. The fort has numerous displays and artifacts. Seasonal demonstrations and exhibits depict camp life, woodworking and weaponry. Scuttled Rebel ironclad CSS Georgia lies off the fort’s north face. The fort is open from 9AM to 5PM daily. Located at 1 Fort Jackson Road (912) 232-3945
FORTMcALLISTER: It is coastal Georgia life at its finest. The broad, winding OgeecheeRiver wraps around narrow islets of land jutting off randomly from either bank. This is FortMcAllister, on a peninsula of land known as Genesis Point.
The flat, coastal plain on which FortMcAllister lies is a haven for wildlife. Pelican, seagulls and terns, the land is rich with waterfowl. The land is sandy with occasional patches of thick black loam woven throughout the sand.
At the entrance a Civil War era cannon greets the guests, a fitting welcome for the centerpiece of this state park is the fort. Inside the visitors’ center is a small museum, gift shop, and a 17 minute video about the naval and land attacks on the fort. Pay a small admission and you are welcome to walk to the fort, a short hike along a broad, flat plain that was probably constructed as a road.
Along the side of this road, the remains of the CSS Nashville, which also served duty as a blockade runner and privateer. This boat sank on February 28, 1863, during one of the 8 naval battles which occurred here on the OgeecheeRiver. The rusted parts of this steamship lie to the right of the path, with an interpretive marker nearby.
The fort is surrounded by pickets, foreboding pieces of pointed wood leaning out at an angle. Follow the path around to the entrance and you are walking along a parapet with the river on one side and formidable cannon on the other. The path has informative signs along the way, with information about both the sea and land battles and life in the fort.
At the center of the fort is a bombproof, a sand and mud covered living quarters for the troops. Deep within the mound were the barracks for the men stationed at the low-tech fort. You may enter the mound and walk through, an exceptionally interesting part of the tour. Unlike its neighbor, FortPulaski, FortMcAllister was built with earthen walls, yet it withstood repeated Federal bombardments.
In addition to the museum, fort, and the hike involved in visiting the fort, there is a 3.1 mile trail through a typical low-land marsh. The culmination of this trek is a viewing tower over a small creek that runs near the park. If you are intending to hike this trail, bring repellant. There is a nature trail in the campground. A fishing pier offers excellent opportunities to watch the abundant wildlife and to fish if you desire.
Lodging
The park is a combination historic site/camping area, containing 65 campsites with water and electricity. There is an on-site dump station. Richmond Hill has lodging, restaurants, full grocery stores, a modest downtown shopping area and history museum. Open 9AM to 5PM daily (912-727-2339). The fort is located just east of Richmond Hill and follow these directions: Take I-95 to Georgia exit 90 (south of Savannah). Go east through Richmond Hill, for just over 6 miles. Turn left at the state park sign onto Fort McAllister Rd. The park is ahead 4 miles.
Just a few miles out of town, take the time to visit these stops:
SKIDAWAY INSTITUTE OF OCEANOGRAPHY. Located 10 miles southeast of Savannah on Skidaway Island, you can visit the Aquarium exhibit of marine life found in Georgia waters, tours of institute which is conducting studies on area sea creatures and their potential uses. The Aquarium is open to the public. Call 912-598-2300 for more information.
NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE. Located just across the Savannah River on SC Highway 170, the entrance to this intriguing to-be-driven tour is just past the Houlihan Bridge in Pt. Wentworth, GA. Get your camera ready because you will see alligators half-asleep in the waterways, eagles tending their young in the trees and an amazing variety of birds who rest and shelter in this, their federal safe-haven. The drive-through is free. Take a picnic lunch and just enjoy the raw beauty of this refuge. Please do NOT feed the alligators.
HISTORIC SAVANNAH-OGEECHEE BARGE CANAL. One of the prime relics in the history of Southern canals. Beginning at the tidal lock on the Savannah River, the waterway continues through four lift locks as it traverses 16.5 miles before reaching another tidal lock at the Ogeechee River. Along the way, the canal passed through Savannah's 19th century industrial corridor, former rice fields, timber tracts and a lush tidal swamp. Local citizens in the 1990s began to restore and interpret the waterway and turn it into a park. Most of the effort is centered at the Ogeechee River terminus, where a small museum and nature center is open to the public near Lock 5. For more information contact Nature Center at 912-748-8068. The Center is located off GA 204 a short distance west of I-95. Open daily from 9AM to 5PM.
I am retired from the US Army after 34 years service. I saw the world and enjoyed my time in service. Since retirement, I have been an active member of the community own an Internet company. I also teach marketing at a local university.
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