Last, but not least, in our Georgia National Park recaps is Fort Frederica National Monument. I wanted to publish the recaps in the order that we visited, and then I totally forgot about this post.
The Spanish and English fought a series of small battles for control over Georgia in the 1730s and 1740s. Fort Frederica served as the southern border of England’s colonies and as a buffer against Spanish ambitions. The area included a fort and a small town built within a large stone wall.
St. Simons Island saw the final “major” battle in this conflict near Fort Frederica. An English victory established English control of the area. The fort and the town thrived for a short time. Today, you can explore the remnants and ruins of the fort and town. Some of the sites have been excavated.
Address and Location
You will find Fort Frederica National Monument at 6515 Fort Frederica Road in St. Simons Island, Georgia.
Cost
Admission and parking to Fort Frederica are free.
What to do
Start off in the Visitor’s Center with a short video about the area. From there, you had head out to the fort and town. I would definitely recommend walking around the ruins. You can check out the excavations of homes, businesses, and other parts of the town. The NPS does have a few signs posted to explain what you’re looking at and what it was. The site isn’t that large, so you don’t need to plan a lot of time there. You can easily visit during a quick trip while exploring the Golden Isles. But be sure to pack sunscreen and bug spray.
Georgia National Park Service sites: Ocmulgee National Monument | Andersonville National Historic Site | Jimmy Carter National Historic Site | Fort Pulaski National Monument | Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park | Our weekend in the Golden Isles | Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site | Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area | Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park
