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Fort Frederica National Monument
Cannon at Fort Frederica National Monument, 2020, HAL333. Courtesy Wikipedia Commons C.C. 4.0.
Associate Pages
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Visitor Statistics
243,027 visitors
Fort Frederica National Monument
#178 Most Visited National Park Unit
Source: NPS 2024 Visitor Attendance, Rank among 398 National Park Units.
Park Size
304 acres (Federal); 305 acres (Total)
Park Fees
Free
Fees subject to change without notice.
Fort Frederica National Monument Weather
Summer - This is Georgia, so expect hot and humid with daily highs in the upper 80s and low 90s most days.
Winter - Mild with highs in the 50s to low 60s. Dress accordingly.
Photo above: Old tourist brochure for Fort Frederica National Monument, 1960, National Park Service. Courtesy Wikipedia Commons. Right: Magazine at Fort Frederica, 2008, Bubba73. Courtesy Wikipedia Commons C.C. 3.0.
Fort Frederica National Monument
For many in the United States, they think of the colonial battles, and wars, between England and France. However, that is certainly only part of the pre-American Revolution battles going back centuries. For one, the Spanish, who had brought European settlement first to the Caribbean, then Mexico, then Florida with St. Augustine, they claimed territory north of today's Florida border. So when England gave James Oglethorpe authority to establish the province of debtors in Georgia in 1732, and he began to construct it in 1733, it did not please the Spanish king. And it would spark a battle or battles to get rid of them.
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Fort Frederica Then
The English knew from the beginning of the province that they had to establish fortifications as the Spanish had already done around St. Augustine with the Castillo de San Marcos and Fort Matanzas. The battle against an incomplete Fort Matanzas on July 21, 1741 proved a loss for Great Britain. While their attacks previously against the Castillo had been successful, the addition of Fort Matanzas turned the tide for the British against the Spanish at their main settlement.
Fort Frederica had been built in 1736 and was already a prosperous town, with streets and homes on the inland side and the fort by the water of the Frederico River. There were 630 soldiers stationed at the fort, and one thousand residents of the town. It took until 1748 until the fort was completed.
After the British had failed to take St. Augustine in 1741, the Spanish saw an opportunity. They would invade Georgia the next year and on July 7, 1742. Fort Frederica and Fort St. Simons were attacked by the Spanish in the Battle of Bloody Marsh.
Photo above: Map of Fort Frederica and Community, 2022, J. Jonah Jackalope. Courtesy U.S. Government via Wikipedia Commons. Below: Site where the Battle of Bloody Marsh occurred, 2008, Bubba73. Courtesy Wikipedia Commons C.C. 3.0.
Fort Frederica Now
The park now tells the story about the community, the Battle of Bloody Marsh, as well as the African-American community started there. The remnants of the fort and the Visitor Center, plus separate acreage of the Battle of Bloody Marsh is a great tale of the Spanish attempting to invade Georgia. However, it did not work, and the Province of Georgia remained in British hands until the American Revolution was won in 1783.
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Fort Frederica National Monument
Things You Should Not Miss
1. Start off with a visit to the Visitor Center where you can get refreshed, take in the park film, get park orientation and find out about ranger programs. The quarter mile walk under the Spanish moss will take you down to the fort area. The park is open 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except Mondays, Tuesdays, and certain holidays.
2. Head over to the area of the Battle of Bloody Marsh; it is seven miles from the Visitor Center, south toward the Atlantic coast, but inland, on Saint Simon's Island. Although the entire park is not large, and the area of the open plains and marsh of the battle small, it gives you an idea of not only where the battle took place, but how it unfolded. This small battle convinced the Spanish never to invade again.
3. Pick a side. This was the furthest south the British had founded a colonial settlement and your neighbors were debtors, i.e. to some prisoners. The Spanish, with their now better protected town of St. Augustine, provided a more settled way of life. In hindsite, we know who eventually came out on top, at least for awhile. It's now all part of the United States anyway.
Visitor FAQ
What's There Now
Fort Frederica Visitor Center one quarter mile from the fort provides orientation, a twenty minute film, restrooms, exhibits, and Park Ranger tours. It is not open Monday or Tuesday. The park ranger tours include a Frederico Town Tour, as well as a rotating number of tours about the fort, African-American history, and other topics.
Three hundred acres of hot Georgia landscape to explore, including the remnants of the fort. The Battle of Bloody Marsh site is seven miles away, open 8:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. daily.
Photo above: Remnants at Fort Frederica, 1936, Historic American Buildings Survey. Courtesy Library of Congress.
Directions
Fort Frederica National Monument is located at 6515 Frederica Road, St. Simons Island, Georgia 31522. It is located near Brunswick, Georgia. The park was made a national monument by President Franklin Roosevent on May 26, 1936. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1966.
Fort Saint Simons
Today, much of the history of this fort is lost due to its destruction as described below. It was built in 1738 and meant to prevent enemy ships from entering St. Simon's Sound. It failed when put to the test.
"...The 5th of July with the Tide of Flood and a brisk gale, 36 sail of Spanish vessels entered St. Simons Harbour, 9 of which were large topmast vessels. We received them with a brisk fire from our batteries and ships. Killed
several of them with our 18 pounders from the Fort and our 4 pounders from the lower Battery... The Engagement lasted upwards of 3 hours ...," English soldier at Fort Saint Simons during the Invasion of Georgia.
Photo above: Drawing of James Oglethorpe meeting the Native Americans of the area upon arrival, unknown date and author. Courtesy National Park Service. Source may be incorrect.
Battle of Bloody Marsh
Oglethorpe had been expecting a counterattack from the Spanish after his failed attempt at St. Augustine in 1741. The Invasion of Georgia occurred the next year with a combined force of 5,000 Spanish soldiers from St. Augustine, free black troops from Fort Mosé, and grenadiers from Cuba. Their leader was Don Manuel de Montiano, the governor of Florida. They sailed past the guns at Fort Saint Simons on July 5, 1742. The Spanish landed on the Torras Causeway and immediately took over Fort Saint Simons.
English soldiers met the Spanish one mile from town, with Oglethorpe joining in the skirmish known as the Battle of Gully Hole Creek. Twelve Spanish soldiers were killed; one English soldier died. The English soldiers followed them for two miles while Oglethorpe returned to Fort Frederica for reserves. The Spanish attempted a retreat, but it led to the marsh, where the British were waiting. The Battle of Bloody Marsh was short; it was over by the time Oglethorpe arrived. Some British soldiers held fast; some retreated. The Spanish lost seven soldiers, then retreated further when their ammunition ran out.
Montiano remained in the area for seven days; he retreated to Florida when his saw scout ships from Charleston arrive. Before leaving, he destroyed Fort Saint Simons.
Photo above: Remnants with visitors at the Fort Frederica King's Magazine, 1958, Jack E. Boucher, Historic American Buildings Survey. Courtesy Library of Congress.
