Fort Morris State Historic Site – Midway, GA

When my daughter and I planned our trip to Coastal Colonial Georgia, I’d never heard of Midway before. The town of just 2,100 people lies about 40 miles south of Savannah. Despite its small size, Midway boasts a rich history dating back to 1752 when Puritans settled the area to grow rice and indigo.

Fort Morris, built during the Revolutionary War, sits on 66 acres along the Medway River (not a spelling typo), just south of the ghost town of Sunbury. In its prime, Sunbury rivaled Savannah as a commercial port.  

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Fort King George State Historic Site – Darien, GA

My daughter and I set out to explore Coastal Colonial Georgia – forts and all. After visiting Fort Frederica on St. Simon’s Island, we drove to Fort King George State Historic Site in Darien. I had only been to Darien once before, when we toured the Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation State Historic Site and ate lunch at a seafood restaurant.

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Fort Frederica – St. Simon’s Island, GA

My daughter (Thing 1) and I recently visited Fort Frederica National Monument on St. Simon’s Island. This was the first stop on a three-day trip exploring historic sites along coastal Georgia. Although we had toured this spot years ago, Thing 1 didn’t pay much attention to it. Now that she has earned a college degree in public history, she wanted to see it again.

St. Simon’s Island is one of only four Georgia barrier islands that can be reached by car. Unspoiled public beaches, Spanish-moss-covered oak trees, good restaurants, and a laid-back vibe beckon visitors to this town of 16,000 residents. But back in the early 1700s, both the British and the Spanish fought over the Georgia coastline (including St. Simon’s Island), known as “the debatable lands.”

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Fort Pulaski National Monument – Savannah, GA

On our recent trip to Savannah, we stayed on Tybee Island. Along the 17-mile drive between the two, we passed the gates to Fort Pulaski National Monument. We decided to visit after our breakfast companions at the B&B had toured it and said it was worth seeing.

Cockspur Island

The fort sits on Cockspur Island, located at the mouth of the Savannah River. Cockspur Island is where John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist church, landed in 1736 to begin his ministry in the colonies. Additionally, the Cockspur Island Lighthouse, first erected around 1839 as a daymark, lies at the southeastern tip. High tides to the islet prevent accessibility to visitors.

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