Georgia played an important role in the Civil War. We’re famous, of course, for Sherman’s March to the Sea and for battles at Chickamauga, Kennesaw, and more. We also have a Civil War fort in Georgia that’s now a National Monument and museum open for tours. Fort Pulaski is just outside of Savannah and is one of the most historic places in the state. This fascinating museum is a great place to learn about what an important role the Peach State played in the Civil War.

Fort Pulaski National Monument takes up much of Cockspur Island, a small island just between Savannah and Tybee Island.
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Construction on Fort Pulaski began in 1829. The construction was supervised by Robert E. Lee, who at the time was a newly graduated West Point Second Lieutenant.
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The fort was named after Casimir Pulaski, a Polish cavalryman who fought under Washington in the American Revolution. The construction of Fort Pulaski took 18 years, nearly $1 million, and approximately 25 million bricks.
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When Georgia seceded from the Union and joined the Confederate States of America, Confederate troops moved into Fort Pulaski. Nearby Tybee Island was abandoned by the Confederacy and taken over by Union troops.
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Fort Pulaski was used by the Union Army during the Civil War to test rifled cannons.
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Unlike older cannons, rifled cannons have grooves on the inside that cause the artillery to spiral as it is shot out. This makes the cannons far more accurate and able to shoot longer distances. It also made brick forts like Fort Pulaski completely obsolete.
Confederate forces surrendered Fort Pulaski upon realizing how strong the new rifled cannons were. The loss of Pulaski meant the loss of Savannah as a Confederate port, so this was a devastating loss for the Confederacy.
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During the remainder of the war, Fort Pulaski was used as a prison for captured Confederate soldiers. It also served as a stop on the Underground Railroad.

Today, Fort Pulaski is a military monument and museum open to the public. Tours are self-guided and there are plenty of interesting exhibits and displays to check out that are educational and fun.

Have you ever visited Fort Pulaski? Share your experiences in the comments!

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Fort Pulaski National Monument, 101 Fort Pulaski Rd, Savannah, GA, USA