To Tybee Island, GA - Fort Pulaski National MonumentNov 9, 2011
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Tybee Island, GA
Fort Pulaski National Monument
I See Fish
We continue south on Route 17. It is an easy run to Savannah and then Tybee Island. The drive onto Tybee Island is beautiful. Fortunately, we arrive at the campground early. I have laundry to do.
By noon, we are ready to explore. We drive around Tybee Island. It reminds us of the shore towns at home. The people are friendly. They have a great parking system. Put your money in and you get a ticket with an expiration time for your dashboard. You can move around town on the same ticket as long as your time has not expired.
We head to Fort Pulaski National Monument. I should rename this trip. It is the Forts Tour. We are on the Atlantic Coast and forts were important to the defense of the cities.
We arrive at the fort in time for a “ranger talk.” He is great. He is also from New Jersey. We have time to talk some after his presentation.
History: Two weeks after Federal Troops occupied Fort Sumter, the Georgia state militia seized Fort Pulaski. The fort was considered invincible. By in end of April 1861, eleven states had left the union. In 1862, the union attacked Fort Pulaski with rifled cannons. They were far more accurate than the older cannons. The south surrendered their invincible fort in only thirty hours. New technology had made the difference.
I climb the spiral stairs to the top of the fort for great views of the Savannah River. We walk back to the visitor center for the twenty-minute video. The park service always does a great job.
Campground: River’s End Campground