For much of the 19th century, masonry fortifications were the United States’
main defense against overseas enemies. However, during the Civil War, new
technology proved its superiority over these forts. Using rifled cannons, the
U.S. Army compelled the Confederate garrison inside Fort Pulaski to surrender.
The siege was a landmark experiment in the history of military science and
invention.

For much of the 19th century, masonry fortifications were the United States’ main defense against overseas enemies. However, during the Civil War, new technology proved its superiority over these forts. Using rifled cannons, the U.S. Army compelled the Confederate garrison inside Fort Pulaski to surrender. The siege was a landmark experiment in the history of military science and invention.

Bird's eye view of the park

Fort Pulaski National Monument

Tybee National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) was established on May 9, 1938, by
Executive Order No. 7882, as a breeding area for migratory birds and other
wildlife, and to "effectuate further the purposes of the Migratory Bird
Conservation Act." The majority of the refuge is covered with sand deposits
from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' dredging activities in the Savannah
River. The more stable portions of the island are densely covered with such
woody species as eastern red cedar, wax myrtle, and groundsel. Saltwater marsh
borders parts of the island, and at low tide, the shoreline provides a
resting, nesting, and feeding place for many species of migratory birds.
Protecting and providing habitat for nesting shorebirds is the primary
management objective of the refuge.

Tybee National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) was established on May 9, 1938, by Executive Order No. 7882, as a breeding area for migratory birds and other wildlife, and to "effectuate further the purposes of the Migratory Bird Conservation Act."  The majority of the refuge is covered with sand deposits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' dredging activities in the Savannah River. The more stable portions of the island are densely covered with such woody species as eastern red cedar, wax myrtle, and groundsel. Saltwater marsh borders parts of the island, and at low tide, the shoreline provides a resting, nesting, and feeding place for many species of migratory birds. Protecting and providing habitat for nesting shorebirds is the primary management objective of the refuge.

Tybee National Wildlife Refuge

Gray Reef’s National Marine Sanctuary is an ocean park that protects a
beautiful hard-bottom area that is one of the largest nearshore sandstone
reefs in the southeastern United States. This sanctuary is the home to an
abundance of marine life such as crabs, sponges, sea stars, and soft corals.
Below the Atlantic Ocean’s surface, the rocky platform is wreathed in a carpet
of attached organisms, known locally as a "live-bottom habitat." The sanctuary
provides year-round opportunities for sport fishing, recreational diving, and
boating. The research area within the sanctuary hosts one of the only
designated no-take zones in the region. To learn more about this sanctuary,
visitors should stop by the Gray’s Reef Ocean Discovery Center.

Gray Reef’s National Marine Sanctuary is an ocean park that protects a beautiful hard-bottom area that is one of the largest nearshore sandstone reefs in the southeastern United States. This sanctuary is the home to an abundance of marine life such as crabs, sponges, sea stars, and soft corals. Below the Atlantic Ocean’s surface, the rocky platform is wreathed in a carpet of attached organisms, known locally as a "live-bottom habitat." The sanctuary provides year-round opportunities for sport fishing, recreational diving, and boating. The research area within the sanctuary hosts one of the only designated no-take zones in the region. To learn more about this sanctuary, visitors should stop by the Gray’s Reef Ocean Discovery Center.

A diver among sponges in Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary

Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary

Scamp cruising over Live Bottom

Sea star and urchin hanging out in Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary

Wassaw, one of Georgia's coastal barrier islands, was designated a National
Wildlife Refuge on October 20, 1969. Unlike many of Georgia's Golden Isles,
little development and few management practices have modified Wassaw's
primitive character. The 10,053-acre refuge includes beaches with rolling
dunes, live oak and slash pine woodlands, and vast salt marshes.

Wassaw, one of Georgia's coastal barrier islands, was designated a National Wildlife Refuge on October 20, 1969. Unlike many of Georgia's Golden Isles, little development and few management practices have modified Wassaw's primitive character. The 10,053-acre refuge includes beaches with rolling dunes, live oak and slash pine woodlands, and vast salt marshes.

Wassaw National Wildlife Refuge

Savannah National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1927 as a sanctuary for
migratory birds, most notably wintering waterfowl. The refuge lies in both
Georgia and South Carolina, divided by the Savannah River, and encompasses
over 30,000 acres of vital wildlife habitat, including tidal freswater marsh
and bottomland hardwood forest.

Savannah National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1927 as a sanctuary for migratory birds, most notably wintering waterfowl. The refuge lies in both Georgia and South Carolina, divided by the Savannah River, and encompasses over 30,000 acres of vital wildlife habitat, including tidal freswater marsh and bottomland hardwood forest.

Savannah National Wildlife Refuge

Pinckney Island NWR, established December 4, 1975, was once included in the
plantation of Major General Charles Cotesworth Pinckney. Pinckney was a
Revolutionary War veteran, delegate to the Constitutional Convention and two-
time presidential candidate in the early 1800s. Few traces of the island's
plantation exist today. From 1937 to 1975, when it was donated to the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, Pinckney Island was privately owned and managed as
a game preserve.

The 4,053 acre refuge includes Pinckney Island, Corn Island, Big and Little
Harry Islands, Buzzard Island and numerous small hammocks. Pinckney is the
largest of the islands and the only one open to the public. Two-thirds of the
refuge consists of salt marsh and tidal creeks. A wide variety of land types
are found on Pinckney Island alone: salt marsh, forestland, brushland, fallow
fields, and freshwater ponds. These habitats support a diversity of bird and
plant life. Wildlife commonly observed on Pinckney Island includes waterfowl,
shorebirds, wading birds, raptors, neo-tropical migrants, white-tailed deer
and American alligators. There are large concentrations of white ibis, herons,
and egrets.

Pinckney Island NWR, established December 4, 1975, was once included in the plantation of Major General Charles Cotesworth Pinckney. Pinckney was a Revolutionary War veteran, delegate to the Constitutional Convention and two-time presidential candidate in the early 1800s. Few traces of the island's plantation exist today. From 1937 to 1975, when it was donated to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pinckney Island was privately owned and managed as a game preserve. The 4,053 acre refuge includes Pinckney Island, Corn Island, Big and Little Harry Islands, Buzzard Island and numerous small hammocks. Pinckney is the largest of the islands and the only one open to the public. Two-thirds of the refuge consists of salt marsh and tidal creeks. A wide variety of land types are found on Pinckney Island alone: salt marsh, forestland, brushland, fallow fields, and freshwater ponds. These habitats support a diversity of bird and plant life. Wildlife commonly observed on Pinckney Island includes waterfowl, shorebirds, wading birds, raptors, neo-tropical migrants, white-tailed deer and American alligators. There are large concentrations of white ibis, herons, and egrets.

Fort Pulaski National Monument

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Nearby Parks

Tybee National Wildlife Refuge

Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary

Wassaw National Wildlife Refuge

Savannah National Wildlife Refuge

Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge