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Coastal Companion

Your ultimate guide to the coast

National Get Outdoors Day – Free Admission

June 4, 2012 by Susanne Talentino

America’s Best Idea – the national parks – gets even better with several fee-free days at more than 100 national parks that usually charge entrance fees.* This is part of the promotion to get families outdoors more often, so maybe this would be a good time for you to pack a picnic and go visit a park with your family or group of friends. National Get Outdoors Day takes place on June 9, 2012, you can visit some of our parks for free. 

Please check with each park for operating hours and event schedules.

South Carolina
Fort Sumter National Monument

Florida
Canaveral National Seashore
Castillo de San Marcos National Monument
Dry Tortugas National Park
Everglades National Park
Gulf Islands National Seashore

Georgia
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area
Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park
Cumberland Island National Seashore
Fort Frederica National Monument
Fort Pulaski National Monument

*Fee waiver includes: entrance fees, commercial tour fees, and transportation entrance fees. Other fees such as reservation, camping, tours, concession and fees collected by third parties are not included unless stated otherwise.

Read More:

National Outdoors Day at Fort Pulaski in Savannah, GA

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

Father’s Day in Savannah, GA

June 17, 2011 by Susanne Talentino

If you haven’t made plans for Father’s Day yet – don’t worry. Here are a few ideas for what you can do if you are in Savannah for the big day from fun things for the  outdoors type, the history buff, or gourmet.

 

Have a Blast with Dad!

Most boys, young and old, loves anything that goes “boom”.  So why not take Dad to a good  old cannon firing? This time of year there are cannon firings at Old Fort Jackson! For history buffs, a visit to the National Historic Landmark Old Fort Jackson is a special treat – especially when the visit includes cannon firings. The cannon firings take place at 10am and 2pm all throughout the spring and summer.

For more information, contact us at 912.232.3945 or visit www.chsgeorgia.org for more.

 

The Big Engine

Blasting cannons might not interest your Dad, but how about another type of noisy machinery – a diesel train ride. Sunday rides take place at 1pm and 2 pm, but please check the schedule since it’s subject to change. A visit to the GA State Railroad Museum includes a tour of the passenger car and the depot and you will learn all about the railroad. General admission is $10. The museum is open on Sunday from 9 am – 5 pm.

Roundhouse Railroad Museum, 601 W. Harris St. Savannah, GA 31401
912.651.6823

 

For the Country Cowboy

Is Dad a big fan of good old country music? The Country Star Revue at Savannah Theatre is going to be the perfect choice for your music lover.  The performance is a two hour long tribute to the wonderful music of the great country stars of the past 50 years. You will hear music from Patsy Cline to Taylor Swift and Johnny Cash to The Rascal Flatts performed to a live country band by seven talented vocalists. The Country Star Revue takes place on Sunday afternoon at 3 pm.

Savannah Theatre, 222 Bull St., Savannah 912.233.7764

 

Jazz It Up


If your dad enjoys jazz, this is a great idea for a fun event to attend..

Jazz – Just Across The River presents the Annual Fathers’ day Concert, featuring a concert with guitarist Howard Paul and organist Scott Giddens. The concert takes place on Sunday, June 19, 2011 at  5 pm at the Westin Harbor Resort on Hutchinson Island.

The concert is free for Coastal Jazz Association members and $10 for non-members. Attendees who join CJA while at the concert will also be admitted for free.

For more info call: 912.920.1317 or go to www.coastal-jazz.org

 

Tybee Turtle Walks

On Sundays you can visit Tybee Island Marine Science Center to learn more about the amazing loggerhead sea turtles who visit our beaches to nest every year. The program takes 90 minutes and includes a walk on the beach.  The fee is $10. Call 866.557.9172 for more information.

Tybee Island Marine Science Center, 1510 Strand Avenue, Tybee Island, Georgia 31328

 

I Scream, You Scream…


The heat and the humidity, and lately the smoke from the fires, can wear anyone out. A good way to relax and cool off is with a trip to Leopolds Icecream Parlor.  What Dad turn down a delicious cool treat?

Leopold’s has been around forever, and there is a special flavor for everyone. The pink grapefruit sherbert is so refreshing, especially in the summer.  But I know from experience suggesting something “fruity” and “pink” would meet with what we in the family refer to as “the look” from my Dad. He would have opted for the more appropriate “real man” flavor of Peanut Butter Chippy or Rum Bisque.

Leopold’s Ice Cream, 212 E. Broughton St., Savannah
912.234.4442 or visit Leopolds Icecream


Other stories to read:

Fourth of July in Savannah

Festivals & Events in Savannah, GA

The History of Fort Pulaski

Savannah Westin Hotel, 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
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