Our kids would tell you that we’ve been to every historic fort in Florida and Georgia, but that’s not true. We’ve been to ALMOST all the forts in Florida and Georgia. We’ve found that one of the best ways to learn about US history is to visit the different military forts all through the east coast, and in particular the Southeast. While it may not seem like a fun thing to do when you’re traveling with kids, the different Revolutionary and Civil War era forts are great stops on family road trips.
We do so many road trips, and one of the goals is always to learn something. Educational stops like the historic forts in Florida and Georgia actually make for engaging, fun places to learn and get out energy. We are not a pro-military family despite Chris being a veteran, but learning about past conflicts and what happened at different historic sites really does give context to the way we look at our country today. If you have any questions about the sites we’re talking about here or planning a road trip through the Southeast, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more!
Historic Forts to Visit in Florida
Visiting historic sites in Florida, and in particular in North Florida, gives a very different spin on history. I’m not saying that it doesn’t tell accurate stories, but that the narrative is often framed in an unexpected way. The Florida-Georgia border splits the way the territories’ histories are talked about, with historic sites in Florida coming from the viewpoint of the Spanish and a non-African-slave-holding population. The narrative on the Georgia side is all about the British and fighting the Spanish.
Eventually visiting the forts in Florida and Georgia moves into Civil War history and the foreign players fall out of it, but it really is fascinating to see how pre-Civil War events are talked about depending on where you are. If you’re doing a Florida-Georgia road trip, keep your eyes are ears peeled for these differences.
Castillo de San Marcos – St. Augustine, Florida
One of our two local Florida forts, the Castillo de San Marco National Monument here in St Augustine is a great place to visit. We’ve been countless times and always learn something new. Our town is the oldest city in the USA and much of our history surrounds the fort and falls within our city walls that begin here at the Castillo de San Marcos.
Activities here include tours, canon fire on the weekends, living history, tons of exhibits and even access to the moat wall and grounds after hours. The Castillo de San Marcos is a must when you come to St Augustine.
Fort Matanzas National Monument – St. Augustine, Florida
Since we’re talking about St Augustine, we actually have one more historic fort here in town. Fort Matanzas National Monument on Anastasia Island (our neighborhood) is much less visited than the Castillo de San Marcos and gives you a completely different experience. Here you have nature trails and one of the pretties beaches in St Augustine, so it more than a fort.
Fort Zachary Taylor – Key West, Florida
How can we talk about historic forts in the Southeast and NOT talk about Fort Zachary Taylor State park in Key West. Now that we’ve been here many times and gone through the tunnels more times than I can count, we tend to spend our time here at the beach. Yes, the historic fortress is cool to check out, but the best beach in Key West is the real attractor here for us.
When you visit, start at the Fort Zachary Taylor, enjoy a trail or two, and then head to the beach. Bring a picnic and your swimwear, because a visit here always leans more towards the fun in the sun of the Florida Keys.
Fort Jefferson at Dry Tortugas National Park – Key West, Florida
It’s a trek to make it out to Dry Tortugas National Park in the Florida Keys, but it’s worth it. Fort Jefferson, located on Bush Key out in the Dry Tortugas is one of the largest Civil War Era forts in the Southeast. With a built in lighthouse, multiple levels to explore and even a moat wall, it’s really neat as either a history lover or as somebody into nature. Snorkeling along the moat wall is awesome!
Fort Clinch State Park – Fernandina Beach, Florida
Whether you’re here for shark tooth hunting or you’re here for the history, Fort Clinch State Park up on Amelia Island in Fernandina Beach is a great place to visit with kids. A much more restored structure than most historic forts in the Southeast, you can explore the different building and climb around the fortress seeing it nearly exactly like it was when it was an active fort in the 1800s, including living history from time to time.
Fort Mose Historic State Park – St. Augustine, Florida
I’m excited to share about Fort Mose (moz-ay) here in St Augustine because it’s been undergoing a lot of work. Historically, Fort Mose was the first safe place that people could escape slavery to. They would cross from British held Georgia down into Spanish held Florida and be granted their freedom in exchange for committing to Catholocism and service. So was it freedom? Yes, it wasn’t slavery, but not, because actual freedom doesn’t come with life conditions.
On weekends, there are living history demonstrations, including musket firing and learning about the first Black military troops. There’s always something happening here. Also, currently there is a new fortress being constructed at Fort Mose to recreate what the compound was like during the 18th century. This should be completed in 2025 (hopefully).
Fort Caroline National Memorial – Jacksonville, Florida
I don’t think of Jacksonville as a place to go for history, but if you’re doing a North Florida road trip, you should plan to make a stop here at Fort Caroline. Very different in comparison to other historic forts in the Southeast, Fort Caroline National Memorial is a part of the Timucuan Ecological Preserve and is a part of the National Park Service. Much of the fort is earthen, similar to many forts up in Georgia, and of course you know we love our living history here in Florida.
Historic Forts in Georgia Not to Miss
While a lot of the history you’ll learn at the different forts in Florida is around the Spanish and colonial times, the fortresses and historic sites in Georgia really dig into the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. You can’t swing a dead cat without hearing about either General Oglethorpe or Sherman’s March to the Sea… As you visit the historic forts in Georgia, pay attention to how each battle story or possession is framed. You’ll see the British as the good/better guys quite often and sometimes the discussion of the Civil War can still feel pro-South.
Fort Pulaski National Monument – Savannah, Georgia
Whenever friends visit us in Savannah we take them to Fort Pulaski National Monument. In addition to it being a very large fort, as big as Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas, Fort Pulaski actually has a lot of visible history to it. The Battle of Fort Pulaski was intense (you can learn about it inside) and as you walk around the exterior of the fort you can see the blasts and damage to the fort. Of all the historic forts in the Southeast, I think this is the BEST one to visit for learning about the Civil War and really getting context of battle.
Old Fort Jackson – Savannah, Georgia
I know I said that Florida has a lot of living history, but I think one of the best living history experiences we’ve had at any of the historic forts of the Southeast has been at Old For Jackson in Savannah. It’s not a giant fortress like Fort Pulaski, but the demonstrations here are exceptional. Add to that the tunnels and exhibits and you’ve got a great place to learn all about Civil War history and Savannah.
Fort McAllister State Park – Richmond Hill, Georgia
I like Fort McAllister a lot. This is a great place for a picnic and musket demonstration. It’s set in a clearing in the woods, just up from the marsh, in a really beautiful place. The visitor center has some good exhibits and you’ll get educated about fort construction and how different Fort McAllister is due to being an earthen fort, in the ground. Our kids like this spot for getting out their energy when we’re doing our Coastal Georgia road trip.
Tip: get the Georgia Historic Sites annual pass when you visit. This is good at all kinds of places around the state, and several of the historic forts are included with this pass.
Fort Morris State Historic Site – Midway, Georgia
Another great place for living history, Fort Morris State Historic Site, is not too far from Fort McAllister. Really, you can plan a day to drive GA-17 and visit so many historic forts and sites, and you’ll learn a ton! Focusing on Revolutionary Georgia, the exhibits and demonstrations here at Fort Morris vary a bit from what you’ll see at Fort Jackson or the other places you’ll visit. While I don’t like guns in general, seeing the struggle of modern humans loading muskets and riffles while talking about history is always fascinating to me.
Fort King George State Historic Site – Darien, Georgia
I think Fort King George State Historic Site is one of the coolest places in Coastal Georgia to visit with kids. I love the structures, the exhibits and even the trails. This fort focuses on Colonial Georgia, so the context is quite different from the battle forts you’ll visit. It’s located at the southern end of the Georgia coast near the Golden Isles, but if you’re doing a trip to Jacksonville or have to drive on I-95 it’s an easy add on.
Note: in the summertime there are a lot of mosquitoes here. Be prepared with your bug spray!
Fort Frederica National Monument – St. Simons Island, Georgia
In Georgia’s Golden Isles lies Fort Frederica National Monument. Of all the historic forts we’ve covered here, this is the most unusual. Why? Fort Frederica is all but gone, and yet when you go you can walk through the streets of the town that once stood there. You can see the ruins of the fort on the marsh, and you can stand inside the ruins of the mansion that once looked across the town. Fort Frederica is both a historic fort and a ghosts town. It’s beautiful with the biggest, most majestic live oaks dripping with Spanish moss. You’ll fall in love with it.
More Historic Forts to Visit in Florida and Georgia
There are actually more forts that what we’ve included here. Florida and Georgia played such big roles in US History, from the landing of the Spanish to the Civil War. If you’re planning an in-depth history road trip, you can create a loop that starts in Atlanta where you visit the MLK National Monument then head to Savannah and down the coast to St Simons and Jekyll Island, then down the Atlantic Florida Coast to the Keys. From there, head up the Gulf Coast and then through western GA and Alabama and you’ve got yourself a three week adventure in US History.
Here are some more historic forts to add to your trip, wherever you may be heading.
- Fort De Soto – Bradenton, Florida – easy to add to a Florida Gulf Coast road trip
- Fort Pickens – actually in Gulf Shores, Alabama but it’s an easy day trip from Pensacola FL
- Fort Stewart Museum – Hinesville, Georgia, not too far inland from I-95 if you’re on a road trip
- Fort Hawkins – Macon, Georgia where you can also visit Ocmulgee Mounds National Monument
- Fort Early – Fort Gaines, Georgia near the Alabama/Georgia border on the way to Mobile AL
- Fort St. Andrews – Darien, Georgia pretty close to Fort King George
If you have any questions about the forts we recommend or want to share your own tips or road trip ideas, please leave a comment or send us a note. There’s always more to see and do than we’ve shared, so feel free to add onto our ideas!
