Fort Frederica National Monument, Saint Simons Island, Georgia, 7-23-2015 - 1

Written by Kris M. on June 8, 2021

Fort Frederica National Monument GA

Georgia . Road Trip Stops . Washington DC

Fort Frederica National Monument GA

Fort Frederica National Monument, Saint Simons Island, Georgia, 7-23-2015 - 5

Ancient Artifacts

The fifth stop on our Roadtrippers itinerary on the way to Washington DC was Fort Frederica National Monument.

This was a great little visit where we got to visit the ruins of an old fort and the town that was built around it. It was about a 1 hour stop, 2 if you really took your time.

My son and I enjoy visiting all the different forts and learning about the history of the area. This one was a great surprise as it was built differently than what we’d seen before. It was cool!

We walked around the town learning what each building had been when it stood and took a few pictures along the way. I think this was probably my son’s favorite stop so far on this trip.

We learned a lot while we there about the beginning of Georgia.

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About Fort Frederica National Monument GA

Fort Frederica National Monument, Saint Simons Island, Georgia, 7-23-2015 - 3

Free to Visit

In the early 18th century, the land lying between British South Carolina and Spanish Florida (today’s Georgia) was the epicenter of a centuries-old imperial conflict between Spain and Britain.

Fort Frederica was established in 1736 by James Oglethorpe to protect the southern boundary of his new colony of Georgia from the Spanish in Florida. Colonists from England, Scotland, and the Germanic states came to Georgia to support this endeavor.

Frederica was named after Frederick Louis, Prince of Wales (1702-1754). The town of Frederica was a military outpost consisting of a fort and town. The entire area was fortified with a palisade wall and earthen rampart. The fort’s location on the Frederica River allowed it to control ship travel.

Fort Frederica National Monument is located at 6515 Frederica Road, St. Simons Island, Georgia 31522. It was established May 26, 1936 and is managed by the National Park Service. It’s open from 8:30am – 5pm every day. There are no entrance nor parking fees for this park. It is free to visit.

Summary

Fort Frederica National Monument, Saint Simons Island, Georgia, 7-23-2015 - 4

A Great Stop

This was another great stop to get out and stretch our legs after a couple hours of driving. My son was little at the time and I have medical conditions that make me hurt after sitting for too long so these stops are great ways to get out and stretch.

If you are in the area of St. Simons Island, Georgia and you enjoy learning about how the area came to be, this would be a great stop for you. It is off the beaten path a bit but it is well worth it to come spend an hour or two here exploring the history of this area.

I’d highly recommend this stop. Have you been there? I’d love to hear what you thought of it. Please drop a few lines in the comments box below and let me know how your visit went.

In the meantime, safe travels!

~Kris M.