Fort King George State Historic Site

This is the official page for Fort King George State Historic Site, operated by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Division of State Parks and Historic Sites. www.gastateparks.org 1-800-864-7275. This is the oldest English fort on what is now Georgia's coast. From 1721 until 1736, Fort King George was the southern outpost of the British Empire in North America. A cypress blockhouse, barracks, and palisaded earthen fort were constructed in 1721 by scoutmen led by Colonel John “Tuscarora Jack” Barnwell. For the next seven years, His Majesty’s Independent Company garrisoned the fort. They endured incredible hardships from disease, threats of Spanish and Indian attacks, and the harsh, unfamiliar coastal environment. After the fort was abandoned, General James Oglethorpe brought Scottish Highlanders to the site in 1736. The settlement, called Darien, eventually became a foremost export center of lumber until 1925. Using old records and drawings, this 18th-century frontier fortification on the Altamaha River has been reconstructed for public tours. Structures include a blockhouse, officers' quarters, barracks, a guardhouse, moat, and palisades. A museum and film cover the Guale Indians, the Santo Domingo de Talaje mission, Fort King George, the Scots of Darien, and 19th-century sawmilling when Darien became a major seaport. In addition to the many fort buildings, remains of three sawmills and tabby ruins are still visible. This site is on the Colonial Coast Birding Trail. TERMS OF USE: We appreciate hearing from our community. Comments and photos of Georgia’s State Parks & Historic Sites are welcome. Moderation of comments is governed by Board of Natural Resources Rule 391-1-10. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources may remove comments not related to the topic of the social media post. Additionally, the Department may delete comments that contain profanity. A comment will not be edited or modified to remove unacceptable content. If a portion of the comment violates Rule 391-1-10, then the entire comment will be deleted.