Fort Frederica, St. Simons
St. Simons Island, in Georgia is better known for the National Park’s Fort Frederica, which was built between 1736 and 1739 and was the most expensive Fort in America at that time. The Fort was also the most impressive British settlements ever built. Fort Frederica was strategically placed on a bluff, surrounded by a marsh and there was only one supply road leading into the settlement, which was easily defended from the Spanish who still claimed the territory as theirs. While visiting, there is a great hotel St. Simons offers to all its Fort Frederica tourists, one that will accommodate and meet all your needs during your stay.
Today, you can visit Fort Frederica through the Visitors Center. Once your past the center, which by-the-way is equipped to handle the physically challenged, there is an area where historical interpreters have recreated the lives of all the townspeople living in the settlement and the British military personnel. The entire site, including some of the remains of individual homes are complete with real live actors portraying what life was like in the Fort. You can also buy a brochure that contains a self-guided tour. You’ll be able to tour homes and businesses along the Main road in the Fort, plus you’ll get to see one of the few remaining military structures on the property: the Magazine, where in 1743, a fire broke out and the magazine exploded, which basically ended the Forts viability. The British then disbanded the troops after the fire, but the people of the settlement did their best to entice the troops to stay by offering land if they remained for 7 years, out of the 1000 people, only 250 stayed. By 1756, much of the town was deserted.
Fort Frederica is located on the west side of St. Simons Island, north of town at 6515 Frederica Road. The National Park is open daily from 9am to 5pm and there is a $3 entrance fee for visitors 15 years and older.
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June 24th, 2010 at 10:15 pm
Hard to believe there’s a National Park that only costs $3 admission. I may have to see that for myself. Always wanted to visit Georgia.