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Coastal Companion

Your ultimate guide to the coast

Fun Things To Do in June – Charleston, SC

June 11, 2012 by Susanne Talentino

Wine Stroll

Charleston, SC, is always a beautiful place to visit in the Summer and there is always a lot going on in Charleston. One of our favorite places to visit is Middleton Place, and Arthur Middleton was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, so this is the time of year when a visit seems appropriate. There’s even a special naturalization ceremony to celebrate Independence Day.

There is of course a lot of other things to do in Charleston. Just walking around in the downtown district is an experience, and you might also want to visit Patriot’s Point. This is where the big 4th of July celebration is taking place. 

Here are some of the events in Charleston in June.

Wine Stroll Wednesdays
June 13, 20, 27
Middleton Place

Sip and stroll in a different garden location each week while sampling old and new world wine vintages. Special themed strolls are scheduled throughout the season.  The Wine Strolls take place from 6:30 – 8:00 pm. Cost $15. Call  (800) 782-3608 for more information.

Movies at the Mount Pleasant Pier
Friday, June 15. Movie begins around sundown.
Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park and Pier

Come to the Great Lawn at the Town of Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park for movies under the stars!This time Back To The Future is screening. Bring a chair or blanket and enjoy a family-friendly film. Event admission is free.

Charleston Farmer’s Market
June 15, 22, 29 – Saturdays 8:00 am – 2:00 pm
Marion Square, Downtown Charleston 

Visit Charleston Farmers Market at Marion Square on Saturday mornings. Fresh produce, vegetables, baked goods, plants, arts and crafts and more. This is an excellent place for people watching, or to have breakfast or brunch.

Read more about the Charleston Farmers Market here.

Folly Beach Pier

Folly Pier Fishing Tournament
Saturday, June 16, 6 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Folly Beach Fishing Pier

Come to a great fishing event at the Folly Beach Fishing Pier, the second largest pier on the East Coast. Online registration open through June 14. On-site registration available June 16 beginning at 6 a.m. Tournament ends at 4 p.m. and prizes are awarded at 4:15. Prizes are awarded for the largest catch in the King Mackerel category and the three largest catches in the Big Fish category. For additional information, call the Folly Beach Fishing Pier at (843) 588-3474. Ages 3 & up. An adult chaperone is required for participants ages 15 and under. Tournament held rain or shine.

Mt Pleasant, SC
Dance the night away in Mount Plesant, SC

Shaggin’ on the Cooper: The Cruiseomatics
Saturday, June 16, 7 – 11 p.m.
Mount Pleasant Pier

Dance the night away under the stars at the new Mount Pleasant Pier while enjoying live classic oldies and beach music performed by The Cruiseomatics. Beverages will be available for purchase on-site. As only 800 tickets will be sold for this event, advance purchase is recommended. Age: 3 & up. Fee: $10/$8 CCR Discount/$10 on-site if still available

Charleston Sprint Triathlon Series
Sunday, June 17, 7:15 a.m. race start
James Island County Park

Now in its 22nd year, the series will consist of five triathlons and will include a .3-mile swim, a 12-mile bike ride, and a 5K run. To register, contact Paul King at (843) 881-8872, or go to www.ccprc.com/csts. Open to ages 16 and up.

Moonlight Mixer
Friday, June 22, 7 – 11 p.m.
Folly Beach Fishing Pier

Dance the night away under the stars at the Folly Beach Fishing Pier. DJ Jim Bowers of 1340 The Boardwalk will play the hottest oldies and beach music classics! Beverages, food, and snacks will be available for purchase. Tickets are limited, so advance purchase is recommended. No refunds or exchanges. Tickets: $10/$8 CCR (Charleston County Resident) Discount/$10 on-site if still available

middleton place charleston south carolina
Middleton Place

Naturalization Ceremony
June 26, 2012 – 10 a.m.
Middleton Place, Charleston, SC 

Celebrate Arthur Middleton’s 270th birthday and welcome America’s newest citizens as they take the oath of citizenship at the home of an ardent patriot who signed the Declaration of Independence.

Reggae Concert Series: Da Gullah Rootz
Saturday, June 30, 7:30 – 11 p.m.
James Island County Park

Enjoy traditional old school roots reggae with a new school attitude in the beautiful outdoor setting of James Island County Park. Bring your chair or blanket and rock the night away to live music by Da Gullah Rootz! Food, beverage, and souvenirs will be available for purchase. Outside alcohol and coolers are prohibited. No advance tickets will be sold. Bands are subject to change. Gates open at 7:30 p.m.; music begins at 8:30 p.m. Fee: $8/Free: Gold Pass Holders & ages 12 & under. For more information about upcoming Reggae Nights, click here.

For more information about what to do in Charleston, visit www.charlestoncvb.com

REGGAE NIGHTS SUMMER CONCERT SERIES CHARLESTON

National Get Outdoors Day at Fort Pulaski – Savannah, GA

June 3, 2012 by Susanne Talentino

National Get Outdoors Day is an annual event to encourage healthy, active outdoor fun. National parks across the country are celebrating this new event by waiving entrance fees. Get outdoors, and enjoy your national parks! Fort Pulaski National Monument will offer free admission to all visitors on National Get Outdoors Day 2012 – Saturday, June 9th.

Not only is Fort Pulaski one of the most well-preserved fortifications in the Southeast, but it is also surrounded by an abundance of natural beauty, looking out over the Savannah River, marshes and woodlands. “Fort Pulaski National Monument has more than 5,000 acres of beautiful natural resources and wilderness,” said Superintendent Randy Wester.

Programs scheduled for Saturday, June 9 are as listed:

Fort Pulaski
Fort Pulaski National Monument, Georgia Department of Economic Development

10:00 AM Guided Fort Tour

11:00 Cannon Firing

12:00 PM Musket Firing

1:00 Cannon Firing

1:30 Guided Fort Tour

2:30 Musket Firing

3:00 Cannon Firing

4:00 Guided Fort Tour

5:00 Musket Firing

Extended summer hours will be available at Fort Pulaski National Monument, effective June 2, 2012. The Visitor Center and the historic fort will be open daily from 9:00 AM to 6:30 PM. The park gates will close at 6:45 PM. Please go to the official Fort Pulaski National Monument website for more details regarding park programs. Information on special offerings at parks nationwide is available at www.nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparks.htm. “National park vacations are always memorable and affordable,” said National Park Service Director Jonathan Jarvis. “However, in these tough economic times, we added fee free days as a way to ensure everyone has the opportunity to visit a park. I encourage everyone to sample a new park or revisit an old favorite.”

Read More:

The History of Fort Pulaski

Drake’s Raid in St. Augustine

Fort Pulaski, Savannah, Georgia
Fort Pulaski, Savannah, Georgia

The History of Fort Pulaski

June 17, 2011 by Susanne Talentino

Fort Pulaski was constructed after the war of 1812 when our coast line was vulnerable to attack by a foreign power. Between 1816 and 1860, Congress appropriated $40 million for coastal defense. Today that would be an investment in the billions.

Completed in 1846, the brick masonry structure was a five sided structure built on Cockspur Island in the middle of the Savannah River at the entrance to the river.  The fort is estimated to have been constructed of 25 million bricks and had two levels.  When built, the fort was considered impenetrable by the artillery of the time.  The fort’s 7.5 foot thick walls provided ample protection against smoothbore cannon fire in theory.

Fort Pulaski
Fort Pulaski National Monument, Georgia Department of Economic Development

 

The Third System of Defense

Originally the United States wanted to build 200 of these masonry forts along the eastern shore line but a lack of money brought that number down to 30.  Fort Jefferson in the Florida Keys, Fort Pulaski and For Sumter in Charleston harbor were forts built about the same time.  These forts were called the Third System of Defense.

Cannons have been used since medieval times to breakdown a castle’s or fort’s walls.  The defensive technology had been ahead of siege weaponry until 1862 when Union forces landed on Tybee Island and commence siege operations in April 1862.  Although the siege was not an important event in American history from the stand point like a Gettysburg or Vicksburg had, it was nevertheless a very important point in military history.

 

Thanks to New Technology Masonry Forts Can Be Penetrated

A new technology, rifled artillery, would prove that masonry forts were no longer impenetrable.  The Parrot rifle was a new twist on artillery siege weaponry.  The Parrot rifle had spiral groves inside the weapon that spun the projectile out the barrel, sending the projectile further, more accurately and with a greater impact.  I will use the analogy of throwing two balls.  The first is throwing a basketball.  When thrown, the basketball has no spiraling action and does not travel that far.  On the other hand, try throwing a football and you see it travel farther and more accurately.  With a spinning projectile, the embedded shell will penetrate farther into a masonry structure thereby exposing the structure to danger.  This is what happened as a powder magazine was threatening the walls at Fort Pulaski.  The fall of Fort Pulaski proved masonry forts were no match for rifled artillery and marked the end of coastal fortifications as a means of defense.  From April 1862 forward no coastal masonry forts were ever constructed in the United States.

 

Siege at Fort Pulaski

Siege operations on Fort Pulaski began in February 1862.  Command to take the fort was given to General Quincy Gilmore.  Union forces had begun and had controlled access to the fort by way of the river.  On April 10th, Union forces on Tybee Island began a 36 hour bombardment of Pulaski until the 11th when Gilmore sent surrender terms under a flag of truce.  Colonel Charles Olmstead, Confederate commander of the fort had to surrender.  The use of large artillery had taken an effect on Pulaski.  Shelling of the fort would start on the 10th and the rifled artillery began to effect the next day  The north powder magazine was exposed and Olmstead and 384 of his men surrendered to the Federals on April 11th.  The loss of the fort would result in the closing of the Savannah River to the Confederacy. Supply  ships could sail into Savannah indirectly by the Ogeechee Rivert on Savannah’s southside.Savannah would not fall into Federal hands until December 1864 with the capture of the city by William T. Sherman.  Fort Pulaski would later be used to house Confederate officers in late 1864. By wars end over 600 Confederate officers would be housed here.

Fort Pulaski, Savannah, Georgia
Fort Pulaski, Savannah, Georgia

 

 

History Lives

Today, the scars are still visible on the northeast side of the fort.  Start you visit to Fort Pulaski’s visitor center.  Inside you will find exhibits and displays relating to Pulaski’s history.  There is also a nice exhibit on artillery as well.   The park encompasses over 5,000 acres and includes the Cockspur lighthouse on the eastern side of the island.  Tour the inside as well as the outside of fort.  There are summer interpretative programs which may include musket firings, ranger led tours or cannon firings.  Within the park there are several hiking and biking trails.   There are also fishing opportunities within the park as you can fish the Savannah River.  Just make sure you have a Georgia fishing license.  The best time to visit is the non-summer months.  This site can get very hot and humid during the summer.  There are plenty of recreational opportunities for the visit to use at Fort Pulaski.  While visiting the fort, take advantage of Fort McAllister in Richmond Hill and nearby Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina.  It is about a hundred miles between Fort Pulaski and Charleston.

 

Fort Pulaski Information

Fort Pulaski National Monument is located fifeteen miles east of Savannah and is a site to see in coastal Georgia during the sesquicentennial of the Civil War   Fort Pulaski is one of the over 370 National Park Service sites under the jurisdiction of the Department of Interior.  The national monument is supported by federal tax dollars. One hundred percent of the admission fee goes towards interpretive and preservation program in the park.  The park is open year round except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.  Admission fee is three dollars per person sixteen and older.  The receipt is valid for seven days of visitation.  Golden Age and Golden Access passes are available for issuance to seniors and the handicapped for free. These passes allow the user free access to National Park Service sites.

The fort and visitor center are opened from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with extended hours in the summer.  For more information log onto NPS.gov or call the visitor center at (912) 786-5787 and a park ranger will gladly assist you.  There is no camping allowed on the park’s premises but ample hotel space is nearby in Savannah and on Tybee Island.  The visitor center, restroom and first level of the fort are handicap accessible.  There is a 20 minute film in the visitor center about the battle for Fort Pulaski.  Finally, for large groups it is highly recommended to call in advance.

Written By Joe Cates

Other Interesting Pages:
City of Savannah, Georgia
4th of July in Savannah, Georgia

 

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Free Admission to National Parks – Fall 2010

September 10, 2010 by Susanne Talentino

Visit one of our national parks on September 25, 2010 or November 11, 2010, without paying admission. The National Park Service offers fee free days every year, and these are the two dates for the fall. Pack a picnic and take family and friends to a state park for a visit. In our area you could for for example visit the Castillo de San Marco or Fort Pulaski.

  • September 25, 2010 – Public Lands Day
  • November 11, 2010 – Veterans Day

Below is a complete list of participating National Parks in our area:

Fort Pulaski
Fort Pulaski National Monument, Georgia Department of Economic Development

GEORGIA

Cumberland Island National Seashore, Georgia
Cumberland Island is Georgia’s largest and southernmost barrier island.You still have to pay for the ferry boat ride to the island. Click here to visit the website
Visitor Information: (912) 882-4336 ext. 254

Fort Frederica National Monument, St Simons Island, GA
Spanish and British forces clashed on St. Simons Island in 1792. Fort Frederica’s troops defeated the Spanish troops. Georgia remained a British colony.
Visitor Information: (912) 638-3639
Click here to visit the website

Fort Pulaski National Monument
The Battle of Fort Pulaski in April 1862 featured the first significant use of rifled cannons in combat. The fort surrendered, which was a turning point, signaling the end of masonry fortifications.
Visitor Information: (912) 786-5787
Click here to visit the website

SOUTH CAROLINA

Fort Moultrie National Monument – Charleston, SC
The National Park Service’s fee-free weekends apply to Fort Moultrie, a unit of Fort Sumter National Monument. The site is located on Sullivan’s Island and is accessible by car. Fort Sumter is always free – but there is a fee for the ferry boat ride to the fort.
Click here for more information about Fort Sumter

FLORIDA
Castillo de San Marcos National Monument – St. Augustine, FL
The Castillo was constructed to defend Spain’s claims in the New World. It was never defeated in battle. The Castillo witness to over 330 years of history and culture and is an impressive place to visit.
Visitor Information: (904) 829-6506
Click here to visit the website.

Fort Pulaski, Savannah, Georgia
Fort Pulaski, Savannah, Georgia

Museum Mile Weekend – Charleston, SC

August 30, 2010 by Joe Talentino

Museum Mile in Charleston, South Carolina is an area in historic downtown with lots of museums and cultural sites. As you know, the city of Charleston is rich in history, so the museum density in downtown comes as no surprise. No matter where I go, I always seem to miss out on some of the museums – lack of time and entry fees for a family of four will do that. That’s why I think the Museum Mile Weekend in Charleston is one of the best deals around.

Charleston Museum MileJust buy a weekend pass and explore all 13 sites in the Meeting street area downtown during September 25 & 26, 2010.

To find out more, see what sites are participating, download a map or to get ticket information, visit our special events page for Museum Mile Weekend – Charleston, South Carolina

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