Mill Pond & Tidal Mill Site

Fort King George was a British fortification at what was, at the time, the southernmost extremity of British control on the North American continent. In the early 1700's what is now the southeastern United States was a contested land which had in turn been claimed by all three major European powers; namely Spain, France, and Great Britain. Constructed in 1721 in what was then part of the South Carolina colony, the outpost was a miserable place to be assigned duty in the army. Of the original contingent of 100-or-so troops sent to man the fort, over half died by the following year. Initially commanded by Colonel John "Tuscarora Jack" Barnwell of His Majesty's Independent Company of Foot, the establishment of Fort King George solidified British claims to the region immediately surrounding the commercially important Altamaha River.

Like so many of his troops under him, Colonel Barnwell died in 1724 of disease and hardship from being stationed at the fort. Though the fort never came under attack it did mysteriously burn to the ground in 1726. After being rebuilt, the British Government shortly thereafter ordered the fort abandoned in 1727. It was garrisoned by a small contingent of lookouts until about 1732. In Fort King George's six year existence it claimed the lives of 150 men though not a single shot in anger was ever fired against it. The demise of the fort did not signal British abandonment of the region, however. In the decade or so following the abandonment of Fort King George British colonists established the nearby town of Darien and a new fort was constructed not far to the north by the name of Fort Frederica.

Not a single trace of the original fort remains to his day. The site is now operated by the Georgia State Park system and the fort was reconstructed in 1988 based on maps and other documents which had survived from the period. The fort today contains faithful recreations of the original three-story blockhouse, guardhouse, officers and enlisted quarters, bakery and brewing house, Indigenous Huts, and Blacksmith Shop. It is, honestly, one of the finest state-operated fort reconstructions I've ever visited...

2-13-2015

Fort King George State Historic Site (GA)

Fort King George State Historic Site
An aerial view of Fort King George State Historic Site, highlighting major points of interest pictured within the album...
Visitor Center
A nice center, though oddly designed if you ask me...
Visitor Center
A few handy visual aids describing the functionality of the fort...
Fort King George Site Map
Steam-Powered Sawmill Ruins
Built in 1818, this large mill housed five band saws which cut lumber from trees felled along the neighboring Ocmulgee, Ohoopie, and Altamaha Rivers...
Mill Pond & Tidal Mill Site
Dating back to the late-1700's and early 1800's this pond sat adjacent to a tidal mill which impounded water fed by the cycle of the tides...
Fort King George
A short boardwalk takes you across a small marsh to the fort itself. The reconstructed fortification is built to appear as it would have in the 1720's, according to historical maps...
Fort King George
The reconstructed fortification is built to appear as it would have in the 1720's, according to historical maps...
Approaching the Main Gate
The impressive three-story blockhouse towered above the palisade wall as we approached the main gate...
Main Gate
The main gate to Fort King George, beyond which a short bridge takes you across the moat into the fort itself...
North Wall
Looking along the north wall after entering the main gate. The guardhouse is the structure closest to the right...
Blockhouse
Designed as the main defensive position for the fort, the original structure was only accessible by latter. Containing three stories, you can see numerous openings from which small arms and cannon could be fired...
Blockhouse
The lower floor of the blockhouse provided storage for six months worth of supplies as well as serving as the fort's powder magazine and storage for weapons and tools...
Blockhouse
The second story is where the main firepower of the blockhouse was arrayed. There are two cannon ports per wall, for a total of eight, and numerous smaller openings for muskets to fire from. In addition the second floor overhangs the first allowing defenders to fire downward through slats in the floor at enemies should they get close enough...
Blockhouse
The upper floor I assume was used primarily for storage and as a lookout post. Only two square barn-like doors provide an opening from this level...
South Wall Battery
Looking down from the blockhouse a battery of cannon can be seen along the south wall, facing the marshlands across Lower Bluff Creek...
Southwest Sentry Box
This sentry box, occupied by soldiers on lookout duty, stands at the southwest corner of the fort alongside another of the forts gates...
North Wall from the Blockhouse
Looking down at the north wall from the blockhouse. The main gate to the fort can be seen to the left...
Blockhouse
Designed as the main defensive position for the fort, the original structure was only accessible by latter. Containing three stories, you can see numerous openings from which small arms and cannon could be fired...
Parade Ground
The view of the parade ground from in front of the Officers Barracks where soldiers would drill, fall in for roll call, as well as other duties...
Guardhouse
This building housed as they rotated through sentry duty. When on sentry duty they were required to stay in this building...
Guardhouse - Interior
This building housed as they rotated through sentry duty. When on sentry duty they were required to stay in this building...
Officer's Barracks
As with most forts (of any era) the officers of Fort King George were provided their own living quarters. Eight officers originally lived here but, unfortunately all had died by the time the fort was abandoned in 1727...
Officer's Barracks - Interior
As with most forts (of any era) the officers of Fort King George were provided their own living quarters. Eight officers originally lived here but, unfortunately all had died by the time the fort was abandoned in 1727...