Fort Pulaski National Monument

History of Fort Pulaski

Beginning in 1829 under the direction of Major General Babcock and later under then Lieutenant Robert E. Lee, the construction of Fort Pulaski took 18 years, over 1 million dollars in funds, and an estimated 25 million "Savannah Grey" bricks. It was named after Casimir Pulaski, as he was a Revolutionary War soldier who served under George Washington’s command. The walls of Fort Pulaski were eleven feet thick and were thought to be impenetrable. The fort was tasked with the mission of defending Savannah and the United States as a whole at the time of its initial staffing.

After the start of the Civil War, the fort was taken over by the state of Georgia's Confederate troops. However, they mostly abandoned the fort later that year due to its isolated location. Noticing that the fort was mostly unprotected, Union forces under the command of Quincy A. Gillmore took a gamble and built batteries on the nearby beaches of Tybee Island over the next few months. Then on April 10th, 1862 Gillmore ordered the garrison commander, Colonel Charles H. Olmstead to surrender. He refused, and this led to the bombardment of the fort. This also allowed the Union troops to test state-of-the-art guns, the new James Rifled Cannon and the Parrott Rifle. Within hours, they had breached the southeast wall of the fort and continued to use it to their advantage. After continued firing and a realization that the fort might explode due to the damage caused by the union shelling along the traverse shielding the magazine of the northwest bastion, Olmstead surrendered the fort to Union troops on April 11th.

Enjoy Nature at Fort Pulaski

The area surrounding Fort Pulaski is tidal marshes and mud flats that equal up to 5,365 acres. This area boasts rich vegetation and has maintained trails of different lengths to get a unique view of history and nature as you hike, bike, or walk. See the remains of Fort Pulaski's original construction village and the historic north pier or go on the McQueens Island Rails to Trails. This packed gravel road is a six-mile stretch that follows the rail line that used to connect Savannah to the Tybee beaches.

Admission Costs & Hours Of Operation

All fort visitors are required to purchase a recreational use pass/entrance pass. The park no longer accepts cash but does take credit and debit cards. For Adults 16 and older, it is $10.00, and for 15 or younger, it is free! All tickets are valid for seven consecutive days. The area is open seven days a week, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m, but the fort closes at 4:30 p.m. They are closed on New Year's Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.