THE HARBOR DEFENSES OF SAVANNAH
FORT PULASKI
Fort Name: (Military Name/Harbor Defense) Fort Pulaski
Date of Visit: 31 May 1999
Current Site Name: Fort Pulaski National Monument
Site Use: (Park, School, Private Ownership, Landfill, etc) Federal Park
Is this Site open to the Public?: Yes
Dates and Hours of Operation:
Summer (April to Labor Day?)-8:30am to 6:45pm, 7 days a week
Winter (September to March?)-8:30am to 5:15pm, 7 days a week
What type of programs are offered at this Site?:
Living History: General Interpretive Programs
Tours: Self-Guided
Museum Shop: Yes
Restoration Projects?: None
Are there events that the Site would like to have advertised in the CDSG Newsletter?:
Event: 1861 Confederate Christmas
Description: Tours of Fort
Dates/Times: Week prior to Christmas, reservations required.
Call (912)786-5785
What is the overall condition of the site?: Good
What is the condition of the Individual Elements?:
Batteries (Battery Garland is farthest to the south, Gant farthest to the north):
Good, mortar battery not restored (earthen battery). The fort did not have individual batteries, and the upper wall of the fort where the cannons were located is in good condition, with exception to battle damage from the 1862 battle here (likely as not repaired on purpose). Battery Hambright, located a short distance from the fort, is also in good condition. Hambright was an Endicott system battery apart of Fort Screven.
Other Elements: Structurally in good shape, and many rooms of the fort have been restored to their original use.
What is the protective status of the Site?:
National Park: Yes
National Register: Yes
State or Local Historic Site: No
Current Site Owner(s): Federal Government, National Park Service
Current Site Supervisor: John Breen
Mailing Address: PO Box 30757, Savannah GA, 31410-0757
Phone: (912)786-5787
Fax: (912)786-6023
Email: fopu@nps.gov
Support Group: Easter National (Operate Fort gift shop)
Mailing Address: PO Box 30757, Savannah, GA 31410-0757
Phone: (912)786-5787
Fax: (912)786-6023
Email: None
Is the Site or a responsible individual at the site a CDSG member? : No
What Information can the CDSG provide to the management of the site? : Unknown
Are there any projects at the Site that would benefit from CDSG Funding? :
Probably Not
Is there anyone at the Site that would submit material for the CDSG Journal? : No
Any Special Situations at the site (Damage, Imminent Destruction, etc): No
If individual batteries or base-end stations, etc. are in some way significant, please indicate:
The fort was built by Robert E Lee and required 18 years to build, and was immediately placed in caretaker status afterwards. Fort Pulaski was captured on 11 April 1862, after a two day battery in which the obsolescence of forts in battle was proved by the rifled cannon of the Union fleet. The capture of Fort Pulaski kept 38,000 bails of cotton ($25 million dollars) in the port of Savannah until the end of the war.
FORT SCREVEN
Fort Name: (Military Name/Harbor Defense) Fort Screven/Savannah Defense Harbor
Date of Visit: 31 May 1999
Current Site Name: Fort Screven
Site Use: (Park, School, Private Ownership, Landfill, etc) City Park, operated by the City of Tybee Island
Is this Site open to the Public?: Yes
Dates and Hours of Operation:
Summer (April to Labor Day)-10am to 6pm, closed Tuesdays
Winter (September to March)-Non to 4pm (Weekdays), Noon to 6pm (Weekends)
What type of programs are offered at this Site?:
Living History: No
Tours: Self-Guided
Museum Shop: Yes
Restoration Projects?: Lighthouse (apart of park), waterproofing batteries
Are there events that the Site would like to have advertised in the CDSG Newsletter?:
Event: Memorial Brick Walkway
Description: For an amount of $50, memorial bricks can be bought for a walkway
Dates/Times: Beginning 1 June 199, contact:
Cullen Chambers
PO Box 366
Tybee Island, GA 31328
What is the overall condition of the site?: Good
What is the condition of the Individual Elements?:
Batteries (Battery Garland is farthest to the south, Gant farthest to the north):
Battery Garland: Fully restored as museum, very good condition except for water leaks
Battery Brumby: Intact, not restored. The battery can be divided into three sections to describe its condition. The most southern section, which occupies approximately a 1/3 rd of the battery, is adjacent to Battery Garland, is home to the Shriner’s Club, formed in 1984. This section, and the middle 1/3 rd (Gun pit #3) are owned by the City of Tybee Island. The middle 1/3rd, also known as Gun pit #3, is almost totally untouched. It is sealed off and in very good condition on the inside and is the only section of the fort, with exception to Battery Garland, that has not been modified in any way, shape, or form by developers since the fort was closed. Because the City of Tybee Island is responsible for the battery, Gun pit #3 would make an excellent addition to the museum if restored. The most northern 1/3rd of the battery has been converted into a private residence in the early 1960s (c.1963). It is currently owned by two Italian brothers who wish to sell their portion of the battery for about $1 million dollars. Sadly, their section of the battery has been modified substantially and can not be restored to its original condition.
Batteries Fenwick, Backus, and Gant- This batteries, located north of Brumby and Garland (the most northern is Gant) have all been converted into private residences. These can be purchased for approximately $150,000-$450,000 dollars although they are not currently for sale.
Battery Hambright-This battery is located at the former Fort Pulaski, a few miles to the west of Ft Screven. It is preserved by the national park service and presumably in good condition.
Battery Morgan- This battery, located on Wassaw Island, was never formally named as Battery Morgan. It was an unofficial name given to the battery which Henry Simms built, as a memorial to Mr. Simms (he was killed trying to save passengers on a sinking ship). Conflicting reports exist on this battery-some people say it is completely washed away although some buildings exist, and others say that the battery has not washed away totally yet and still can be seen.
Other Elements: Many buildings exist still from the days of Fort Screven. The majority of these have been renovated and are now homes and/or private businesses. Despite the many renovations on the inside of these buildings, externally some of them appear as they did in the days of Fort Screven. Sadly, this is not true for all structures. Many have been renovated beyond recognition, and there are also a number of buildings which were used by the fort that are now abandoned. The majority of the abandoned buildings seen at Tybee which date from the early 20th century were mostly intact, although they may not be structurally sound.
What is the protective status of the Site?:
National Park: No
National Register: Yes
State or Local Historic Site: Yes
Current Site Owner(s): City of Tybee Island owns Battery Garland and the majority of
Battery Brumby. Battery Hambright is on National Park Service land and is presumably owned by them, and Battery Morgan (unofficial name) is located on land owned by the Department of Natural Resources. All other facilities and batteries are privately owned.
Current Site Supervisor: Bill Farmer
Mailing Address: Unknown, Mr. Farmer works for the City of Tybee Island
Phone: (912)786-4573
Fax: Unknown
Email: Unknown
Support Group: Tybee Island Historical Society
Contact Person: Cullen Chambers
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 366, Tybee Island, GA 31328
Phone: (912)786-5801
Fax: (912)786-6538
Email: Unknown
Is the Site or a responsible individual at the site a CDSG member? : Yes, the site has been a member for about 6 years.
What Information can the CDSG provide to the management of the site? : Unknown
Are there any projects at the Site that would benefit from CDSG Funding? : Yes, Battery Garland, along with the other batteries are all in need of waterproofing. Leakage is a major problem. Also, the museum is currently undertaking a project which will allow them to restore Gun pit 3. The restoration of this gun pit, if permitted, will likely be expensive.
If funds could be raised, it may be wise to purchase one of the other batteries at Screven (Battery Gant perhaps).
Is there anyone at the Site that would submit material for the CDSG Journal? : Unknown, Mr. Chambers reported that last year’s CDSG Journal had a spectacular article on Ft Screven and he felt that no other comments could be made on Ft Screven.
Any Special Situations at the site (Damage, Imminent Destruction, etc): Yes, all batteries are in need of waterproofing, including privately owned batteries. Also, people are buying batteries here and converting them into homes, ruining the historical significance of the structure. They are selling between $150,000 to $450,000.
If individual batteries or base-end stations, etc. are in some way significant, please indicate: Gunpit 4 was the only battery operational at Fort Screven in the Spanish-American War. The US Army’s first underwater diving school was located here in the 1920s.
