Information
Landmark: Old Fort JacksonCity: Savannah
Country: USA Georgia
Continent: North America
Old Fort Jackson, Savannah, USA Georgia, North America
Overview
Old Fort Jackson, a landmark steeped in history, stands on the edge of the Savannah River, about a mile east of downtown Savannah, where the water laps quietly against its weathered stone walls.It’s the oldest brick fort in Georgia, its walls still bearing the reddish hue of time, and stands as one of the finest surviving pieces of early 19th-century military design in the country.Built between 1808 and 1812, Old Fort Jackson stood as part of America’s “Second System” coastal defenses, guarding key ports and harbors against foreign warships-especially during the War of 1812, when the smell of gunpowder often hung in the salty air.Captain William McRee, a West Point graduate and skilled military engineer, designed Old Fort Jackson, shaping its stone walls with precision.They built it as part of a nationwide push to shore up coastal defenses, after the Revolutionary War and the young nation’s early years had revealed dangerous gaps-like cannons rusting in salt air and forts crumbling by the sea.The fort’s design follows the military architecture of its time, with a polygon-shaped layout and brick walls so thick you can feel the cool dampness when you run your hand along them-built to stand firm against bombardment.The fort’s walls hold a series of stone-vaulted casemates, each built to house a cannon aimed through narrow embrasures at the river below.Six cannons face the river, ready to guard Savannah’s approach along the wide, muddy sweep of the Savannah River.The fort holds powder magazines to keep gunpowder dry and secure, along with thick earthworks and deep, shadowed moats built to push back any infantry attack.At Old Fort Jackson, one standout feature was its brick masonry-sturdy, weathered red blocks that could shrug off cannon fire far better than the fragile wooden walls used before.Over the years, the fort underwent a series of changes, with the 1840s bringing new stone ramparts and other upgrades to keep its defenses in step with the latest artillery.Old Fort Jackson stood finished, its stone walls smelling faintly of wet mortar, as the War of 1812 began to sweep across America.It never saw much fighting in the war, but stationed along the coast, it stood as a serious warning to British ships eyeing Savannah’s busy, salt-scented port.During the American Civil War, the fort once again became a key military stronghold, its stone walls bristling with cannon.Confederate troops manned it, guarding Savannah and the winding river channels that led to the city.In December 1864, as Sherman’s “March to the Sea” swept through Georgia, Union soldiers took Savannah and held Old Fort Jackson for a short spell, their boots echoing on the fort’s stone floor.It was a turning point-Savannah now lay firmly in Union hands, its streets echoing with the sound of marching boots.After the war, the fort took on the name Fort Oglethorpe in 1885, but by 1906 it had reclaimed its original name, Old Fort Jackson, a nod to the weathered stone walls and the history they carried.Today, the Coastal Heritage Society runs Old Fort Jackson as a living history museum, where visitors can step into 19th‑century military life-hear the crack of a cannon, watch soldiers drill, and feel history unfold around them.Visitors can wander through the old fort, stepping into dim casemates, peering into dusty powder magazines, and tracing their hands along the thick stone walls.One of the best parts of visiting Old Fort Jackson is watching the cannon roar to life in the daily firing.At 11:00 a.m. and again at 2:00 p.m., you can watch one of the Southeast’s oldest working cannons boom across the field.Cannon fire brings the fort’s military past to life with thunderous blasts, curling smoke in the air, and guides who explain each shot’s history.Guides who know their history, along with reenactors in crisp period military uniforms, lead tours and lively demonstrations that make the fort’s past feel vivid and real.They bring 19th-century military drills to life, describe the duties of soldiers posted at the fort, and share vivid stories of daily routines, the clank of rifles, and how the fort ran during its years of service.All through the fort, visitors come across cases filled with muskets, gleaming swords, worn medical kits, and the rations soldiers once carried-some pieces are originals, others careful replicas.Panels and displays fill in the story of the fort-its stone walls rising under skilled hands, its role in defense, and the larger history of guarding the coast.The fort serves as a rich learning hub for school groups and history buffs, with hands-on programs that bring American military history, its architecture, and Savannah’s role in national events to life-right down to the sound of boots echoing across old stone floors.Old Fort Jackson offers plenty to make guests feel at ease, from shaded benches by the cannon to restrooms close to the main gate.The site offers free parking, clean restrooms, a gift shop stocked with souvenirs and educational keepsakes, plus shady picnic spots where families and friends can relax.Set beside the winding Savannah River, the spot treats visitors to sweeping views and the quiet rustle of water along its banks.Old Fort Jackson sits at 1 Fort Jackson Road in Savannah, Georgia, just a quick drive from downtown along Bay Street or President Street, where the air smells faintly of the nearby river.It sits along the road to Tybee Island, so travelers headed for the Georgia coast often pause here, maybe for a cold drink before the beach.The fort welcomes visitors every day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., though the gates stay shut on major holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.Adult tickets cost about $10, and kids ages 4 to 12 get in for less, making the price easy on the wallet.If you’ve got a SNAP EBT card, show proof of your benefits at the gate and walk in free.You can book group tours in advance, making it a great spot for school trips or other planned outings-imagine students leaning in to study an old map together.Old Fort Jackson stands as more than a preserved relic of the past-it’s a lively place where history comes alive, from the creak of its wooden gates to the stories shared in its classrooms and events.It has weathered wars without losing its sturdy stone walls, standing as a solid reminder of America’s earliest defenses.At the fort’s living history programs, visitors step into the past-handling replica muskets or hearing boots crunch on gravel-gaining a deeper respect for Savannah’s military heritage and the larger tale of America’s coastal defense.With its carefully chosen exhibits, lively reenactments, and views of the river drifting past, Old Fort Jackson stands as a must-see for anyone wanting to grasp Savannah’s military past, offering a vivid look at the challenges and tactics behind early American coastal defense.
