A Visit to Fort McAllister – Savannah’s Best Civil War Site

Why Fort McAllister State Park is the Must-See Civil War Site near Savannah, Georgia

As shocking as it seems in hindsight, we almost didn’t go to Fort McAllister State Park.

By our third day in Savannah, we’d seen enough of the historic downtown and River Street. We needed to stretch our legs beyond the confines of the city’s numerous squares. Although the beach at Tybee Island beckoned as a Savannah day trip destination, we didn’t want to come this far in the American South without visiting some Civil War sites. Everything came together in a perfect plan to day trip down to Fort McAllister, located about ten miles south of Savannah in Richmond Hill, GA.

Our trip to Fort McAllister ended up being a highlight of our Savannah trip. Read on to learn more about this historic site. There’s so much to do and see at Fort McAllister State Park!

Savannah and the Civil War

While the Civil War raged all around Savannah, the city itself emerged (physically) unscathed from the deadly four-year conflict. Part of why we all enjoy visiting Savannah so much today is because of its beautiful examples of antebellum architecture.

That’s not to say that Savannah stood apart from Civil War events. It’s where General Sherman concluded his brutal March to the Sea and famously presented the city to President Lincoln as a Christmas gift. Sherman rested for about a month here in the house known now as the Green-Meldrim house before continuing on to the Carolinas.

While the city’s understandably more anxious to regale visitors with tales of its role in the American Revolutionary War, there are still plenty of ways to learn about the Civil War while in Savannah. I’d like to credit extensive research with our decision to tour Fort McAllister, but we actually ended up because we already had a Georgia State Park pass.

At the bottom of this post, I have a full list of Civil War sites near Savannah so you can review all your options and make the best choice for your group.

How to Get to Fort McAllister State Park

Fort McAllister State Park is located just outside of Richmond Hill, GA, a small town of 17,000 that sits approximately 10 miles (as the crow flies) from downtown Savannah. Despite its proximity to the city, because of rivers and other geographical obstacles, it was actually a 30-mile drive from our hotel to Fort McAllister.

While Savannah is an extremely walkable city, if you want to visit any nearby Civil War sites, you definitely need a car. Special shoutout to Kathy for driving us! All in all, it took us about 45 minutes to reach the state park. Along the way, you’ll see pine forests and beautiful riverfront.

A Brief History of Fort McAllister 

When the Confederate army approached rice plantation owner Joseph McAllister about using his land for a fort, he agreed to donate his land for war efforts as long as the Confederates named the fort after his father, George.

By defending the Ogeechee River (and its railroad bridge), the Confederate army could keep the city of Savannah supplied even after the Savannah River fell in April 1862.

As quickly as the fort rose from Joseph McAllister’s lands, it was abandoned. Union troops left just one week after seizing it in December 1864. On their way out, General Hardee had the bunkers burned.

In 1930, Henry Ford purchased the land with the intent of restoring the old fort. The site was recognized with a spot on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. It officially became Fort McAllister State Park when Fort McAllister Historic Site and Richmond Hill State Park combined in 1980.

What Happened at Fort McAllister during the Civil War

While many people associate the city of Savannah with the end of Sherman’s March to the Sea, Sherman took Savannah peacefully. Sherman’s men actually waged the final battle in the March to the Sea campaign at Fort McAllister on December 13, 1864. This short 15-minute battle put an end to the path of destruction Sherman had blazed from Atlanta to Savannah.

Prior to its fall in December 1864, Fort McAllister successfully kept the Ogeechee River and Savannah open to Confederate traffic. The fort also ensured that surrounding rice and cotton plantations could operate and contribute to the Confederate economy. Between 1861 – 1864, the fort endured many attacks, included seven from Union ironclad ships.

The fort’s earthwork construction significantly contributed to its success. Not only did the earthwork do a better job of absorbing artillery than brick and mortar forts, it was also relatively easy to repair. Soldiers at Fort McAllister didn’t have to wait for a supply delivery to patch up the fort after an attack. They could just mound some more dirt and get back at it.

What To See During A Visit To Fort McAllister State Park

If you’re just at Fort McAllister to view the historic site, you’ll want to head straight to the office to pay your admission fee. Just behind the front desk, you’ll enter a small two-room museum. Despite its size, the museum provides a comprehensive overview of the Civil War, including a film about the fort’s involvement in the Civil War. After you’ve filled up on Civil War facts, head out the back door to tour the reconstructed fort.

The excellent self-guided tour inside the park’s brochure combined with interpretative signs throughout the site answered pretty much all of our questions as we walked the grounds. On your way to the actual fort, you’ll pass several buildings including solider sleeping quarters, barracks, and a blacksmith station. There’s also a signal tower which was actually only added after the Union captured the fort. Don’t worry, they do have one of Sherman’s famous necktie railroad ties on display!

While you definitely shouldn’t stray off any of the designated paths or climb up the fort (the dry moat surrounding is filled with sharpened palisades), you can go inside several areas of the fort, including the central bombproof. You can also walk on the parapets and see a lot of replica artillery.

The actual battlefield where the fort was finally overrun by Union soldiers has been reclaimed by forest. It was certainly a sobering thought to think of General Sherman ordering captured Confederate soldiers to return to battlefield to remove any unexploded land mines. Yikes!

On the way to the visitor center, you’ll stroll under Spanish moss draped trees along the shores of the Ogeechee River.

 What Makes Fort McAllister Worth Visiting

We’d had a lackluster tour of the Green-Meldrim house a couple days earlier, so we were a little leery of the interpretation we’d find at Fort McAllister. But we loved Fort McAllister’s “just the facts” approach to telling its story. The interpretation neither glamorized nor villainized.

If you can only see one Civil War site during your Savannah visit, I think Fort McAllister is the one to see. Since Savannah is most connected with Sherman’s March to the Sea and Fort McAllister is where the march concluded, it just makes sense to day trip out to this fort if you’re at all interested in Civil War history. The fort also saw significantly more action than the two forts closer to Savannah.

If, like me, you’ve toured forts before and walked away underwhelmed, let me assure you that Fort McAllister is different. Whether it was the peaceful riverfront setting or the unique (and attractive) earthwork construction, Fort McAllister just felt . . . more pleasant? Less austere? And that’s not throwing shade on brick-and-mortar forts. They might be unwelcoming, but that’s also their job.

Even if you don’t care a wit about the Civil War, I still think Fort McAllister makes a great Savannah day trip destination.

With live oaks, Spanish moss, a salt marsh, and Ogeechee riverfront, it’d be a great destination if you just want to picnic and escape the tourist scene in downtown Savannah. Believe it or not, we were basically the only people at the site during our entire two-hour visit! Fort McAllister is truly a Georgia hidden gem hiding in plain sight.

How Much Time Does It Take to See Fort McAllister

Most sources tell you to budget 1.5 hours to tour the fort. We actually spent close to two hours here and that was without any deviating off the self-guided tour route. If you’re really interested in the Civil War, you could easily spend three hours here. I think the determining factor is how much time you spend in the small, but very thorough museum. We definitely cut our time in the museum short in favor of spending the beautiful day outside on the fort grounds.

If You Visit Fort McAllister State Park

Fort McAllister is located at 3894 Fort McAllister Road in Richmond Hill, Georgia. The museum and fort are open every day from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. except on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Admission to the museum and fort costs $9 per person; $8 for seniors and $5 for kids ages 6-17. There’s also a $5 parking fee unless you have a Park Pass.

Other Things to do at Fort McAllister State Park

Fort McAllister State Park offers a lot more than just a glimpse into Civil War life. In addition to the historic site, you’ll find camping, boating, fishing, hiking trails, picnic grounds, and biking to keep you busy. The state park is also a site on the Colonial Coast Birding Trail.

If you’re on a road trip, I think Fort McAllister would be a great place to camp a night or two. They even have seven fully furnished rental cottages if camping’s not your style. Given how close it is to Savannah, you can easily use the state park as a base for spending a day exploring the city’s historic downtown.

How to Go on a Self-Guided Savannah Civil War tour

If you want to visit a Civil war site during your Savannah trip, here’s a list of options. You can choose to stay in the city or venture further afield for a day trip.

Civil War sites in downtown Savannah

Savannah Visitor Center and History Museum 

If you’re looking for a good overview of Savannah history, the Savannah Visitor Center and History Museum is the good place to start. Exhibits start pre-Revolutionary War and go through modern times, including a discussion of the Civil War.

Green-Meldrim House

Sherman used this house right off Bull Street for his headquarters during the five weeks he spent in Savannah. But don’t expect to learn much about the Civil War if you pay for a tour. Instead, our guide focused on the house’s ownership. Although this house was the height of the opulence when it was built in the mid-19th century, it’s pretty subdued by modern standards. Be aware that St. John’s Episcopal Church now owns the house. Sadly, that means many of the artifacts displayed have no actual connection to the house . . .  other than being donated by church members.

First African Baptist Church

Started in 1733, this is said to be the oldest black church in America. The current church was built in the 1850s and was used as an Underground Railroad station. If you’d like a tour, sign up in advance. 

Second African Baptist Church 

In January 1865, General Saxton met with freed slaves on the steps of this church to outline Sherman’s Special Field Order #15. This order allotted some freed families 40 acres of land and a mule to work it. The current church only dates back to 1925, but it’s built on the same site. To see inside you’ll have to attend a service.

Webb Military Museum

If you’re really into military history, then you’ll want to check out this army museum. Although the museum is small, the displays include artifacts from the Civil War.

Laurel Grove Cemetery

Many Confederate soldiers, as well as countless slaves and freed men, are buried in this cemetery in the southwest corner of historic downtown.

Civil War Day Trips from Savannah

Fort Pulaski

The National Park Service operates this impressive 19th century brick fort as a National Monument. Originally the fort was built to beef up the United States coastal battlements following the War of 1812. The fort was surrendered to the Union in April 1862. Its walls still bear a lot of battle scars!

Fort James Jackson 

Located only a couple miles east of downtown Savannah, Old Fort Jackson is the Civil War site to see if you’re pressed for time. Built to defend the city of Savannah during the War of 1812, it fell to the Union Army in April 1862 during the Civil War. If you’re already headed out towards Tybee Island with intent of visiting Fort Pulaski, you might as well swing in here too.

Fort McAllister

Although it’s definitely more out of the way than the other two Civil War forts near Savannah, we give this one two enthusiastic thumbs up!

Wormsloe Historic Site 

One of the most popular Savannah day trip destinations, you won’t actually learn much about the Civil War at this former plantation. Although Wormsloe wasn’t directly involved in Civil War action, its very existence certainly contributed to the bloody conflict. At Wormsloe you’ll get a peek at an economy that required enslaved people and eventually pushed America to its breaking point.