“Invincible” Fort Pulaski surrendered after one of the most memorable bombardments in America’s history. On April 11, 1862 Union troops struck from Tybee and McQueens Islands. The damage was so deep it will take 1,000 Union troops 6 weeks to repair it. The fort remained a critical Union post deep into the South especially useful with the blockade.

The Immortal 600 story
The Confederate officers’ suffering started on Morris Island when they became human shields against the Confederates guns shooting at the Charleston harbor (retaliation for supposedly a similar treatment received by Union soldiers). When brought to Fort Pulaski they were promised a prisoners exchange. It never happened. Instead they’ve endured extreme hardship, starvation, scurvy, dysentery and some of them death.

The prisoners lived mostly on cornmeal and pickles. During winter they didn’t have blankets and were not allowed to make fire. Some desperate souls tried to escape through the narrow chimney passage (that’s how skinny they had become!). Legend has it when General Sherman visited the Fort almost a year later and saw their deplorable health condition he sent them to another fort to “fattened them up”.

Things to know before you go

1. Fort Pulaski is open daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day).
All vehicles must be across the Cockspur Island Bridge by closing time. Admission fee is $3 (free for 15 years old and under) and the receipt is valid for additional 6 days of visitation. Make sure to enjoy the great events put on display for FREE at the Fort.

Here is the calendar summary:
• Guided Fort tour - Monday through Friday at 11 and 3 PM, Saturday at 10 and 2:30 PM and Sunday at 12:30 and 4 PM
• Cannon firing - Saturday at 11, 12, 2 and 3:30 PM and Sunday at 12, 1:30 and 3:30 PM.
• Immortal 600 - Sunday only at 2 PM
• Musket firing - Monday through Friday at 12, 2 and 4 PM, Saturday at 1 and 3 PM and Sunday at 11 and 3:30 PM.

Get a sneak peak at the incredibly fun live cannon firing demos. Make sure to cover your ears it gets very loud. Young kids may be startled by all the commotion so you may want to stay further back.

2. Become a Junior Ranger! Make the most of your visit and earn an official Junior Ranger Badge (recommended for children age 6-12). The program takes about an hour to complete and booklets are located inside the Visitor Center. See more details about the Fort’s Programs.

3. “Soldiers and guests may go on top but stay off outer walls and damaged sections.” - Officer of the Day. Climbing the walls and even the cannons it’s fun but always be careful and keep an eye on the little ones.

4. Watch out for “Charlotte’s Web”! This is the biggest spider I ever saw outside a museum. For a while it really stole the whole Fort Tour show…

5. Stop by the gift shop. It has some very nice exhibits (have a laugh reading the Civil War propaganda and the Wanted! posters), you can get snacks, cool off waiting for the next event and kids love playing with the old toys (like an antique chess board).

6. Walk the scenic and easygoing 0.75 mile Overloook Trail to the Cockspur Island Lighthouse first built in 1837. The lighthouse escaped untouched during the 30 hours attack on the Fort despite the fact it was positioned straight in the line of fire.

7. The moat surrounding Fort Pulaski it’s up to 48 feet wide and about 8 feet deep and it’s currently inhabited by alligators, turtles, and crabs. Built by accident, proved to be very useful not just as a defense mechanism but as natural latrine flushing. The earthen mounds in a shape of a demilune were added in 1872 to protect the Fort’s entrance.

8. Learn about The Waving Girl legend and visit the John Wesley Memorial
For almost half a century no ship arrived or departed Savannah without getting a signal from Florence Martus, the lighthouse keeper sister, who religiously waved a handkerchief by day and a lantern by night. She became a legend all over the world’s ports and in 1943 a ship was named after her.

On February 6, 1736 John Wesley (founder of Methodism) held its first sermon on American soil on what’s now known as Cockspur Island. He returned to England a year later after differences with his parishioners.

Be inspired at Fort Pulaski National Monument, near Savannah!

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