Darien, Georgia: Fort King George

For history aficionados, families, or anyone who’s even a little curious about Georiga’s colonial past, Fort King George Historic Site is a fascinating place to explore year round. Presiding over the delta of the Altamaha River and overlooking vast expanses of coastal salt marsh, the fort was built in 1721 as a strategic defense point by the British against the encroaching forces of the French and Spanish who were all after a piece of the North American pie, particularly in the Southeast. From the outset the fort seemed destined for trouble; the group that was sent to man the fort spent most of their first year hospitalized with scurvy and various other ailments brought on by the rough journey to the fort, and suffered perpetually from tropical diseases dished up by the marsh environment. Beset by difficult living conditions, low morale and a fire that destroyed most of the fort in 1726, it was rebuilt but eventually abandoned in 1732.

Even with its shaky start, the fort would eventually continue to play a role in the region’s contemporary story. General James Oglethorpe’s Scottish Highlanders resettled the fort in 1736. This settlement would eventually become Darien, a community driven largely by the milling industry that was started with the Highlanders’ sawmill at the Fort. Remnants of this sawmill still stand today at the Historic Site. You’ll also find some significant remnants of the original buildings among reconstructed versions of the original buildings including barracks, palisades, and even a moat! The centerpiece of the site is the blockhouse, constructed according to original plans, that towers over the marshes in three imposing stories. There’s a museum that fills you in on the area’s history, including that of the Guale Indian culture and 16th Century Spanish Missions, the 18th century colonial power struggles among the British, French and Spanish, and the lives of the colonial Scottish Highlanders in the area.

Get a heaping helping of colonial history from an 18th century soldier’s-eye view during one of the Site’s popular “living history” events scheduled throughout the year. These often include artillery drills, musket firings, battle reenactments and other activities that provide insight into the lives of the soldiers and historical events at the British Empire’s southernmost North American outpost.

Fort King George Historic Site is located in Darien, GA, 3 miles east of I-95 off Exit #49. For more information call 912-437-4770