Fort Pulaski National Monument Visitor Center

OPERATING HOURS

The Fort Pulaski National Monument Visitor Center is open from 9 AM to 5 PM every day except for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day (the same hours as the park). However, times can always change, so before making travel plans be sure to get the latest schedule on the National Park Service’s official Operating Hours and Seasons web page for Fort Pulaski National Monument.

AMENITIES

• Ranger-staffed information desk where you can pick up a free park brochure, trail map, and a brochure on the Cockspur Island Lighthouse. The trail map is a printed version of the online Trail Guide.
• Fort Pulaski Museum
• Park orientation film
• Book / souvenir store
• Restrooms

Fort Pulaski Visitor Center Information Desk

PARK FILM

A 20-minute film, The Battle for Fort Pulaski, shows every half hour, with the first show at 9:30 AM and the last show at 4:30 PM. While covering the history of the fort, the main emphasis is on the Civil War period. The film features live action with Civil War reenactors playing the parts of the Union soldiers on Tybee Island and the Confederates stationed inside Fort Pulaski. Cannon are fired back and forth, but no blood or deaths are shown (only one Union soldier died in the actual battle), so the film is suitable for all ages.

MUSEUM

The Fort Pulaski Museum houses only a handful of exhibits. Along one wall is a timeline that covers the history of Cockspur Island from the founding of the Georgia colony up through 1947 when Fort Pulaski National Monument reopened after being used by the Navy during World War II. A few artifacts are also on display, including tools used to build the fort and the actual sword of Confederate Colonel Charles Olmstead, the officer who surrendered to Union forces after the prolonged artillery assault heavily damaged the fort. The sword was given to the Union officers he surrendered to. A few days later Union General David Hunter returned the sword to Olmstead because the surrender was honorable.

Fort Pulaski timeline exhibit inside the Fort Pulaski Visitor Center

The only other exhibit is a display of artillery shells, cannon balls, and military paraphernalia. The most eye-catching piece is a replica of a mortar that is actually a donation box. Drop coins into the barrel to trigger the sound of the mortar firing.

Military exhibits at the Fort Pulaski Visitor Center

Civil War buffs can read through all of the information and see all of the exhibits in about twenty minutes, which is probably more effort than the typical visitor will put forth at the museum.

SCHEDULING YOUR TIME

Plan to spend 30 to 45 minutes at the Visitor Center. It takes about twenty minutes to go through the museum exhibits if you read everything and twenty minutes to see the park film, plus you’ll need a little time to talk with a Ranger about what there is to do. The only way that you could spend more than 45 minutes is if you were to strike up a lengthy conversation with somebody.

Back to the Top