Old Fort Jackson: Savannah's Protector for 200 Years

Old Fort Jackson, or Fort James Jackson, as it is called by the National Park Service, is a historic fort just outside of downtown Savannah. The fort is named for James Jackson, who led the force that liberated Savannah from the British in 1782. The fort is located on the Savannah River about three miles from the Historic District. All of the Historic District's attractions, including the Green-Meldrim House, the Jepson Center for the Arts, the Savannah History Museum and the Owens-Thomas House, are within ten to fifteen minutes of the fort.

Old Fort Jackson was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 2000. It is owned by the state but maintained and operated by the Coastal Heritage Society (CHS), a local non-profit organization that employs dozen of preservationists, archaeologists and curators to discover, restore and protect the coastal history of Georgia. The fort was built in 1808 at the behest of President Jefferson, who sensed a coming war with Britain, as part of the Seacoast Fortification program. According to the National Park Service, "It is nationally significant as one of only five surviving Second System Seacoast Fortifications. Most of the Second System forts were so radically redesigned by later defensive construction that little remains of their original works.''

First System coastal fortifications, used during the American Revolution, were mostly made of wood and earthen works. The Second System forts were put in place after the war because military technology had made the older forts vulnerable to bombardment from sea. According to the Savannah Morning News, "this system featured high stone or brick walls with multilevel tiers containing internal casemates and gun positions for more firepower.'' Almost immediately after the War of 1812, however, a Third System was initiated, again to upgrade forts. Fort Jackson's Second System battery was left untouched during this upgrade.

The fort was seized by Confederate troops in 1861 and was held until 1864. It was the city's primary naval defense during the Civil War. After the Civil War, the fort became less important. In 1923, the federal government sold the fort, which sat abandoned for over 40 years. The state operated the fort for a few years in the 1960s and `70s. The CHS has operated it ever since.

Today, Fort Jackson receives about 50,000 visitors a year. It has an active education program as well as a calendar of social events. The fort welcomes student groups to its Student Militia program, which they have also adapted especially for Scout programs. Students get to learn basic maneuvers, hold replicas of period weapons, and face "tough'' questioning from "drill sergeants.'' Events at the fort include the annual Fort Jackson Auction and Low Country Boil, the Parent-Child Campover and daily cannon firings throughout the summer. (Fort Jackson is the only historic fort in the United States to deliver cannon salutes to passing military vessels.) The fort can also be rented for events.

Reviews of Old Fort Jackson on the Internet are very positive. Even young people love it! The location, just outside of Savannah's Historic District, makes it popular with tourists. Ships pass by the fort almost within arm's reach. One visitor says, "This was the best place we found in Savannah to watch the ships.'' The leader of a Girl Scout Troop called it "an awesome educational experience ... I thought this would be boring, but it was quite an experience for the girls.'' A student sums up the Fort Jackson experience by saying, "I went to this fort with my class and it was sooo fun and educational! First, a man in character lined us and taught us drill commands. This may sound boring, but it was very funny! Then he sat us down and talked about how the Fort was used and different cool facts.'' It doesn't get much better than that.