Old Fort Jackson
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Great historic tour. Appreciated the interactive engagement of the guide. He should be commended for the exceptional way he shares the Fort's story and the canons. He's approachable, welcoming and informative
Visiting Old Fort Jackson was an amazing experience. History does indeed come alive here. The fort itself is a quick wander round. Their daily interactive programming is what will take up a large chunk of time. Depending on the day, different scenes from different wars/time periods will be reenacted, complete with either musket, small cannon or large cannon firings. It's all very well done, and audience participation is encouraged. Highly recommend this National Historic Landmark for all ages. Definitely one of our favorite things to do during a recent visit to Savannah!
A really well curated fort with more interesting history to explore. This state-owned fort is definitely worth the visit. We self toured but saw some others getting guided tours. We did spend some time with a very friendly and super knowledgeable female employee that gave us a great presentation and answered a ton of questions. It's located on the Savannah River in a beautiful scenic location. I actually enjoyed this fort more than nearby Fort Pulaski.
This small fort was a great visit! Our family has a history minded 6 year old, and we decided this summer drive to vacation nearby would include a stop by Old Fort Jackson. We enjoyed looking around! We timed it so that we would be able to see the 11:00 am cannon firing. This was a rather elaborate and informative demonstration, a pleasant surprise. It was a relief to see plenty of young faces mixed in with history loving adults. I have seem that this is a field trip destination, and I can understand why. We did find the musket firing interesting, but loud enough, and we got up to view a few other areas before the cannon. You enter the fort, and show your digital ticket or buy admission, through a building called Tybee Depot. This is a sweet souvenir and convenience type shop. There were lots of interesting things to see in here. With very close proximity to bay/river street areas, this is a quick detour into history that we would recommend to many! Tybee depot would not be accessible by wheelchair, but there is a gate that is.
Totally breathtaking at what went down here. And the capability this fort had. The power of some of these canons. What a great trip. Wish you had hiking tags for the fort to purchase!
Old Fort Jackson was so much cooler than we thought. We stopped by because we had some time to blow and we were all impressed. It's well cared for and the live demonstrations were fantastic. This is fun for all ages while learning history.
We stopped by in a whim and it was amazing. Cannons. Muskets. Watching soldiers in formation and marching. People dressed in period costumes. Very knowledgeable. We thought we'd just hang a 1/2 hour and take photos. And we stayed 2+ hours and have great memories to talk about over dinner after. Super fun. Plus education for us on the importance of the fort in Georgia history.
Highly recommend going here at one of the times when they do the Cannon firing. It turned out to be a crowd participation improv show, which was totally amusing and much more interactive than I have ever seen. Very cool. The fort itself is a little old and musty, but still worth an hour or so of looking around.
We stopped by here on the way out of town in the morning. We were lucky enough to stay for the 11am tour of he small but important fort. Our guide was dressed in what an 1862 confederate corporal would be found in. He explained the history of the fort from its inception through the middle of the Civil War. At the end of the tour he fired a musket and then a 12 pound cannon to give visitors a sense of the noise both would give off. I worked at a civil war fort/prison camp in Delaware in college so I always enjoy this and seeing people's reactions to it. It is a very family friendly and informative and you can do a self guided tour or wait for the one with a guide. Our entire visit was about 90 minutes. This is a must do if your a history buff. The staff were all amazingly friendly and even the gentlemen working in the gift shop were extremely knowledgeable about the entire property.
We came today for the afternoon canon firing at about 2:15. We've been waiting and we're happy to discover they recently reopened after being closed for a long time due to COVID. Bradford does an EXCELLENT job with the canon demonstration and has the best outlook. He's a great story teller too! The fort is small, but it's really neat to walk around and read the different information signs they have. They are a nonprofit organization so your ticket price goes toward keeping this open for people.
My wife and I wanted to see at least one of the two forts in Savannah while we were here, so we stopped in at Old Fort Jackson. I was struck by how friendly the staff were right off the bat and the abundance of historical documentation throughout the fort. That they had two live demonstrations at 11:00 and 3:00 p.m. which included a rifle/musket drill and firing and a cannon firing and each was explained very well and in thoughtful detail. I would definitely suggest anyone who's coming to Savannah to definitely check out old four tracks and as it's a huge part of the US history, three separate wars which include the Revolutionary war, the War of 1812 and the Civil War and you learn a lot about the historical inaccuracies and historical accuracies within our history books.
All my opinions can be summed up with one word -- WOW! As a person who loves history, this place gave me such joy. The staff were lovely & friendly, and even dressed up in old civil war clothing. The amount of objects & artifacts they had for show were so exciting to learn about. The canons were extravagant. Their little gift shop is filled with fun artifacts, too. Would love to come back with more friends & see their reaction!
Silly me. When I first heard of Old Fort Jackson my thoughts were Andrew Jackson, but no, not so. It's named after James Jackson, a real piece of Georgia work in that he not served as a Georgia congressman but also as a Senator and as Governor. Then to top all of that off, he was a real loud mouth who relished in getting involved in fights. These fights however were not just fights, they were apparently fatal fights as he became most well known as "The Duelist." However he was a staunch Georgia patriot who's famous line was "If you cut my hear out you find George engraved upon it." As forts go, Jackson isn't all that eye appealing. Basically it's just a big brick fortification intended to protect from a naval invasion coming up the Savannah River. It totally lacks the beauty of the French built fort Niagara or the ruggedness of Spanish forts such as those of St. Augustine or upon the Island of Puerto Rico. Though it had some minor involvement in the War of 1812 and was a significant fortification during the Civil War, the challenge did not come from the sea but by Union Forces on land under the commander of William T. Sherman, upon which the Confederates, being totally outnumbered, abandoned the fort. If you go here, be sure that it is at an hour or time for the guided tour. The guides or docents will point out things you would never be able to pick up on your own and, of course, the highlight is the firing of one of the cannons. It really does make a pretty good bang.
We made a short Uber pitstop here on our final day in Savannah. This was about a 15-20 min Uber drive from downtown, so it wasn't too difficult to get an Uber here (or to get one to come pick us up). There isn't much to the fort. It's pretty easy to see in maybe a half hour or so. Everyone hangs around for the rifle target practice, that's the most fun. There's also the cannon show which coincides with the arrival of one of the riverboat cruises. Cool history lesson learned here and worth the Uber to get here. read more
Business owner information
Coastal H.
Vivek,…
1 year ago
Business owner information
Coastal H.
Christa,…
Old Fort Jackson was our second fort we stopped at today. There was a gentleman giving an explanation of a shooting cannon and rifle today- he demonstrated how to prepare both military weaponry as well as clean it out. He was dressed in a confederate military uniform from the 1800s. To get into the fort and grounds it's $10 per person. I definitely recommend stopping here! The fort is HUGE and it's a great way to learn about history. 10/10 read more
2 years ago
Great historic tour. Appreciated the interactive engagement of the guide. He should be commended for the exceptional way he shares the Fort's story and the canons. He's approachable, welcoming and informative read more
3 years ago
Visiting Old Fort Jackson was an amazing experience. History does indeed come alive here. The fort itself is a quick wander round. Their daily interactive programming is what will take up a large chunk of time. Depending on the day, different scenes from different wars/time periods will be reenacted, complete with either musket, small cannon or large cannon firings. It's all very well done, and audience participation is encouraged. Highly recommend this National Historic Landmark for all ages. Definitely one of our favorite things to do during a recent visit to Savannah! read more
A really well curated fort with more interesting history to explore. This state-owned fort is definitely worth the visit. We self toured but saw some others getting guided tours. We did spend some time with a very friendly and super knowledgeable female employee that gave us a great presentation and answered a ton of questions. It's located on the Savannah River in a beautiful scenic location. I actually enjoyed this fort more than nearby Fort Pulaski. read more
2 years ago
This small fort was a great visit! Our family has a history minded 6 year old, and we decided this summer drive to vacation nearby would include a stop by Old Fort Jackson. We enjoyed looking around! We timed it so that we would be able to see the 11:00 am cannon firing. This was a rather elaborate and informative demonstration, a pleasant surprise. It was a relief to see plenty of young faces mixed in with history loving adults. I have seem that this is a field trip destination, and I can understand why. We did find the musket firing interesting, but loud enough, and we got up to view a few other areas before the cannon. You enter the fort, and show your digital ticket or buy admission, through a building called Tybee Depot. This is a sweet souvenir and convenience type shop. There were lots of interesting things to see in here. With very close proximity to bay/river street areas, this is a quick detour into history that we would recommend to many! Tybee depot would not be accessible by wheelchair, but there is a gate that is. read more
1 year ago
Business owner information
Coastal H.
Maria,…
6 years ago
Old Fort Jackson was so much cooler than we thought. We stopped by because we had some time to blow and we were all impressed. It's well cared for and the live demonstrations were fantastic. This is fun for all ages while learning history. read more
We stopped by in a whim and it was amazing. Cannons. Muskets. Watching soldiers in formation and marching. People dressed in period costumes. Very knowledgeable. We thought we'd just hang a 1/2 hour and take photos. And we stayed 2+ hours and have great memories to talk about over dinner after. Super fun. Plus education for us on the importance of the fort in Georgia history. read more
Business owner information
Coastal H.
Dear El J,…
Highly recommend going here at one of the times when they do the Cannon firing. It turned out to be a crowd participation improv show, which was totally amusing and much more interactive than I have ever seen. Very cool. The fort itself is a little old and musty, but still worth an hour or so of looking around. read more
We stopped by here on the way out of town in the morning. We were lucky enough to stay for the 11am tour of he small but important fort. Our guide was dressed in what an 1862 confederate corporal would be found in. He explained the history of the fort from its inception through the middle of the Civil War. At the end of the tour he fired a musket and then a 12 pound cannon to give visitors a sense of the noise both would give off. I worked at a civil war fort/prison camp in Delaware in college so I always enjoy this and seeing people's reactions to it. It is a very family friendly and informative and you can do a self guided tour or wait for the one with a guide. Our entire visit was about 90 minutes. This is a must do if your a history buff. The staff were all amazingly friendly and even the gentlemen working in the gift shop were extremely knowledgeable about the entire property. read more
We came today for the afternoon canon firing at about 2:15. We've been waiting and we're happy to discover they recently reopened after being closed for a long time due to COVID. Bradford does an EXCELLENT job with the canon demonstration and has the best outlook. He's a great story teller too! The fort is small, but it's really neat to walk around and read the different information signs they have. They are a nonprofit organization so your ticket price goes toward keeping this open for people. read more
My wife and I wanted to see at least one of the two forts in Savannah while we were here, so we stopped in at Old Fort Jackson. I was struck by how friendly the staff were right off the bat and the abundance of historical documentation throughout the fort. That they had two live demonstrations at 11:00 and 3:00 p.m. which included a rifle/musket drill and firing and a cannon firing and each was explained very well and in thoughtful detail. I would definitely suggest anyone who's coming to Savannah to definitely check out old four tracks and as it's a huge part of the US history, three separate wars which include the Revolutionary war, the War of 1812 and the Civil War and you learn a lot about the historical inaccuracies and historical accuracies within our history books. read more
3 years ago
All my opinions can be summed up with one word -- WOW! As a person who loves history, this place gave me such joy. The staff were lovely & friendly, and even dressed up in old civil war clothing. The amount of objects & artifacts they had for show were so exciting to learn about. The canons were extravagant. Their little gift shop is filled with fun artifacts, too. Would love to come back with more friends & see their reaction! read more
Business owner information
Coastal H.
Dear Amber, We are thrilled that you had such a wonderful experience…
2 years ago
Silly me. When I first heard of Old Fort Jackson my thoughts were Andrew Jackson, but no, not so. It's named after James Jackson, a real piece of Georgia work in that he not served as a Georgia congressman but also as a Senator and as Governor. Then to top all of that off, he was a real loud mouth who relished in getting involved in fights. These fights however were not just fights, they were apparently fatal fights as he became most well known as "The Duelist." However he was a staunch Georgia patriot who's famous line was "If you cut my hear out you find George engraved upon it." As forts go, Jackson isn't all that eye appealing. Basically it's just a big brick fortification intended to protect from a naval invasion coming up the Savannah River. It totally lacks the beauty of the French built fort Niagara or the ruggedness of Spanish forts such as those of St. Augustine or upon the Island of Puerto Rico. Though it had some minor involvement in the War of 1812 and was a significant fortification during the Civil War, the challenge did not come from the sea but by Union Forces on land under the commander of William T. Sherman, upon which the Confederates, being totally outnumbered, abandoned the fort. If you go here, be sure that it is at an hour or time for the guided tour. The guides or docents will point out things you would never be able to pick up on your own and, of course, the highlight is the firing of one of the cannons. It really does make a pretty good bang. read more
We went to this fort on impulse, and it turned out to be very interesting. You're able to wander around the fort and surrounding grounds, admire the cannons and the quarters. We were fortunate that our visit timed with the appearance of one of the costumed docents, who provided additional information about the fort and gave a cannon demonstration. He definitely made it a more interactive and interesting experience, well worth listening to his presentation! read more
If you like history, Old Fort Jackson is a must-see! The history, artifacts and storytelling by the staff is wonderful and educational. The cannon firings, musket demonstrations and grounds with added descriptions and stories give you a real perspective on what soldiers faced, how they lived, and how they shaped history. The $10 entry price is modest and they are not funded by taxpayers dollars. Go visit them and take in the history. read more
We were in town and decided to visit today. A great experience and very interesting artifacts. They had things from cannons, old clothes, artillery, and more. A lot of interesting tours going on, as well as informative signs and videos. There was one guide that even interacted with different kids and families, describing how to fire a cannon and such. Daveon, one of our guides, was super interesting and did well interacting with the audience. He was very knowledgeable about the history of the fort and answered all questions. The cannon blast was also great to watch as well. I definitely recommend if you need something to do in Savannah. The fort itself should not take much time, only around 2-3 hours of visiting, depending on your interest, and the prices are pretty fair for being a private business. Overall, great place. rDeveon read more
10 years ago
Real cannon firing? Count me in! Well, unless you need "help" demonstrating the firing, then count me out. I'd like to believe my work in "holding the video camera still" was helpful enough to the cause. But let's back up. My friend was interested in seeing this fort. I was neutral and followed along. We didn't even realize it was there until we had lunch at the Pirate House and noted a sign for it. The fort is really close to downtown Savannah -- only a short drive away. The weather was nice and perfect for photography. We arrived and listened to a re-enactor tell us about the fort's diverse history. Then a group of five visitors learned how to fire the cannon. Then everyone sat down and the paid guy with actual training fired the cannon off for real. Plug your ears for that part -- it's loud! After the show, we spent some time wandering around the well-maintained grounds. From the lookouts, you can see South Carolina. It's especially nice later in the day before closing when the lighting starts to get softer. I'd highly recommend a visit to this fort if you want to learn about the local history in detail. read more
2 years ago
Great way to spend an hour or two if you're in the area. Very inexpensive as well - tickets were about $7 and they asked for a small donation to preserve some of the canons which we gladly put in a few dollars for! Everyone was really pleasant, and the workers took the time to chat with us. One "soldier" was cleaning his gun before it was time to shoot the canon (11:00am sharp!) and he was just a wealth of knowledge and was happy to answer any questions. Really great for the history buff! read more
6 years ago
This fort is smaller than nearby Fort Pulaski BUT I highly recommend a visit here especially if you're passing by on your way to Tybee Island. Although we missed it they do fire cannons everyday, something my boys will make sure we don't miss again (I got in a bit of trouble for missing it but the beach wouldn't let me leave). What we did get was a highly informational visit with a guide, dressed in period costume, who spent a lot of time demonstrating and answering questions. I wish ALL historic landmark type places had knowledgeable people bringing these places to life. My boys remember their trip to Mount Vernon & now Fort Jackson so much better with this kind of interactive experience. Their shop also has some pretty standard but fun toys and a nice selection of books. read more
5 years ago
Awesome place to visit, great history narrated by a well verse young man and I can tell he loves what he does! The canon fire demonstration was very fun! A must see when coming to Savannah read more
12 years ago
On August 15, 2014, Tony, Noel and I was in Savannah, Ga celebrating Tony's 52nd birthday. We stopped at Fort Jackson to check out the site. We were actually on our way to Tybee Island on Rt 80 when we saw the sign and opted to stop. The admission was $6 per person and it was worth it. It is a self guided tour and a short 20 minute film to watch. This is what I found out on the internet about the site: Named after James Jackson, Old Fort Jackson is a beautifully preserved fort along the Savannah River, and is Georgia's oldest standing brick fortification. Old Fort Jackson is a must-see National Historic Landmark offering weekend cannon firings year-round, and daily interactive programs scheduled March through October. Minutes away from Savannah's Historic District, visitors of all ages experience unique views of Savannah's river-front skyline and the Tallmadge Bridge while walking the grounds of one of the oldest brick fortifications along the East Coast. Named for James Jackson, the fort is the oldest standing fort in Georgia. It was not the first fort to occupy the site, however. In 1776 Savannah residents built an earthen fort, which was destroyed by the construction of Fort Jackson. Visiting Old Fort Jackson Plan on spending at least 1 hour when you visit the fort. As you leave the Tybee Depot the site of the C. S. S Georgia is directly in front, near a cannon embankment. From here continue to the sentry box in front of the "sally port," the techical designation for the entrance to a fort. The open land in front of the fort was once a rice field. After entering through the sally port there is a brief film describing the history of Old Fort Jackson. A highlight of the visit is the Coastal Heritage Society exhibits that explain the fort's relationship with the city of Savannah, weapons used at the fort, and the fort itself. These displays are locate in the casemates (technically a protected chamber within the fort) beneath the ramparts . Then comes the tour of the ramparts itself. In addition to the cannon, there is a beautiful view of the Savannah River and the coastal plain. Leaving the rampart be sure to visit the privy in the southeast corner of the fort. Once a day the tidal nature of the river would "flush" it out. We really enjoyed the site. I can't wait to visit again. This was an awesome site to check out. I am glad we found this site. It was accidental and worth every minute. Took us about an hour to look around. It is so lovely!! I would definitely visit this Historical Fort again... read more
5 years ago
We had a wonderful time exploring this fort! There was an employee that showed how the guns and cannons worked which was great. There is so much to learn and explore in a smaller version of many other forts. If you like to experience history this is a great place. The entry fee allows you to visit for 3 days and since they don't get tax dollars, the small fee is well worth it!! read more
6 years ago
This place was wonderful! Cannon and musket firings! Super informative guides who genuinely seem like they love their jobs. Tons of fun! I wasn't expecting too much out of this small fort but I was delightfully wrong! Support businesses like this!! read more
5 years ago
CSS Georgia (The Ladies Gunboat) sunken near Fort Jackson, was an ironclad warship built in 1862. The Ladies' Gunboat Association raised $115,000 (roughly $2 million to $3 million today) for her construction to defend the port city of Savannah. Due to a shortage of iron for armor, the Georgia's wooden casemate was covered with overlapping train track rails. The steam engines turned out to lack sufficient power for offensive use, so Georgia was anchored in the Savannah River as a floating battery, protecting both the city and Fort Jackson. Georgia had been in service about 20 months when Sherman's March to the Sea captured Savannah by land on December 21, 1864. Confederates scuttled the ship to prevent her capture. The wreck was then left alone and forgotten. In 1968 Georgia was rediscovered during a dredging operation of the Savannah River. Dredging is the removal of sediments and debris from the bottom of lakes, rivers, harbors, etc. In May 2012 the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) budgeted $14 million to raise the remains of the ironclad. read more
5 years ago
So glad we stopped to see this local historic fort. The fort is totally dependent on tourism and they do a great job of educating and entertaining you with the fort history and re-enactments of the guns and cannons. We had the pleasure of being a part of Aaron Bradford's tour. To get the full tour arrive before 10am or 1pm for all the tour activities. The outside cannon firing is especially fun since it is coordinated with a local river boat tour passing by. The site itself is well kept and contains a variety of small exhibits, educational signage and a video room. I encourage all to visit this local historic treasure. read more
7 years ago
We went to tour the fort this afternoon and despite the heat had a wonderful time. We were about to ask questions to two very knowledgeable staff who portrayed the life of soldiers with a deep knowledge of the forts history and of life at different points in time for soldiers and the area. Anything from medicine, guns, how soldiers actually fought. Amazing. Also got to see a cannon shot off. Definitely a must see! read more
6 years ago
My family had the best day at Old Ford Jackson. Our guide Private Bradford was the absolute BEST he was extremely knowledgeable, engaging, and fun. He made learning American history exciting and meaningful all at the same time. I would highly recommend visiting this amazing place with your family when you are in the area. read more
7 years ago
This is smaller than Fort Pulaski but I liked it much more. The presentation and the cannon firing was really cool. I like the history explanation and the information presented by the guy playing a confederate soldier. I feel like I leaned more here about the time and what the soldiers were facing than I did at Ft Pulaski. read more
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More info about Old Fort Jackson
1 Fort Jackson Rd
Savannah, GA 31404
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(912) 232-3945
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http://www.chsgeorgia.org
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Are pets allowed at Old Fort Jackson?
Dogs are allowed on site as long as they are kept on a leash, are non-threatening, cleaned up after, and are monitored during cannon firings. As long as you and your pet are respectful of our historic site, they are welcomed!
