Fort Benjamin Hawkins facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Hawkins Archeological Site
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Fort Hawkins (1938 reconstructed southeastern blockhouse)
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 Location in Georgia (U.S. state)
Location in the United States
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| Location | Macon, Georgia |
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| Built | 1806 |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000410 |
| Added to NRHP | November 23, 1977 |
Fort Hawkins was an important fort built a long time ago, between 1806 and 1810. The United States Army built it when Thomas Jefferson was president. It was located in what is now Georgia, right next to the Ocmulgee River. The fort was special because it sat on a high spot overlooking an area called the Ocmulgee Old Fields. A busy trading path, used by the Lower Creek Indians, ran right past the fort. This path led to a natural crossing point on the Ocmulgee River. Fort Hawkins became very important for trade, defense, and government dealings for the Lower Creek Indians, the United States, and the state of Georgia.
The fort was surrounded by a strong wall made of logs, covering about 1.4 acres. Inside, there were buildings where soldiers and officers lived and worked. There were also two special guard towers, called blockhouses, at opposite corners. A copy of the southeastern blockhouse was started in 1928 and finished in 1938. Today, the Fort Hawkins Archeological Site is recognized as a historic place. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is part of the Fort Hill Historic District.
From 1990 to 2018, the Fort Hawkins Commission looked after the site. They hired experts to dig and study the area, finding nearly 40,000 old items. These digs also showed that the fort had a second log wall and some brick buildings. A new log cabin was built in 2014 to welcome visitors. Since 2018, a group called the Fort Hawkins Foundation, Inc. has been taking care of the site.
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Discovering Fort Hawkins' Past
Fort Hawkins was built by the United States in 1806. It was a very important place for trade, military actions, and government decisions. For the Creek Nation, it was a main spot for trading deerskins with Americans. There was even a trading post, or "factory," there.
A Key Military and Trading Hub
The U.S. government used Fort Hawkins as a main command center for the army in the Southeast. It was a big camp for soldiers and a place where they gathered for important battles. It also had a government trading post to manage the Creek economy. The Creek Indians gave up their lands east of the Ocmulgee River, but kept the Ocmulgee Old Fields. The fort was built on the highest ground nearby.
The Federal Road and Travel
An old path, called the Lower Creek Trading Path, ran right outside the fort. This path was improved and became part of the Federal Road. This new road connected the nation's capital to important port cities like Mobile, Alabama, and New Orleans, Louisiana. This made it easier for many more soldiers, settlers, and visitors to travel through the area.
Who Was Benjamin Hawkins?
Fort Hawkins was named after Benjamin Hawkins. He was a special government agent who worked with Native American tribes from 1796 to 1816. He was the main U.S. agent for the Creek people. Hawkins was a former US Senator from North Carolina. President George Washington chose him to work with the Choctaw, Cherokee, and Chickasaw tribes. He helped create many years of peace between the Creek and American settlers. The Southeastern tribes respected him so much that they called him the "Beloved Man."
Fort Hawkins in Wars
Fort Hawkins was used during the War of 1812 against Great Britain. General Andrew Jackson visited the fort and used it as a starting point for the Battle of New Orleans in 1814-1815. It was also used during the Creek and Seminole wars. As more settlers moved west, the need for the fort in Georgia decreased. By 1828, the fort was no longer owned by the military. The city of Macon was founded nearby in 1823.
Preserving and Studying the Fort
People have worked hard to save and study Fort Hawkins for many years.
Rebuilding a Blockhouse
Starting in 1928, groups like the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Macon Kiwanis Club raised money. They wanted to build a copy of one of the fort's guard towers, called a blockhouse. In 1936, a small archaeological dig happened. Workers from the U.S. Works Progress Administration (WPA) helped. The copy of the southeastern blockhouse was finished in 1938. Some of the original stones were used in its basement. The upper parts were made of concrete to look like wood, making them stronger.
Finding Hidden History
Many historical records were lost when Washington, D.C., was burned during the War of 1812. So, in 1971, the city allowed more digging to find the fort's original size. These digs found many old ceramic pieces, like parts of dishes used by people living there between 1779 and 1834. In 1977, Fort Hawkins was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Modern Discoveries and Future Plans
The City of Macon bought the historic site in 2002. They plan to make it a park and a history center. The rebuilt blockhouse is now open to the public and is a symbol of the city. For a while, experts worried that building a school and a road in the early 1900s might have destroyed old evidence. But since 2005, new archaeological digs have shown that many artifacts and layers of soil (called stratigraphy) survived. These findings can still tell us a lot about the past.
From 2005 to 2007, more extensive digs happened. They found proof of two log walls, not just one. The second wall enclosed several brick buildings, meaning the fort was bigger and more complex than first thought. More walls were found in 2007, likely built by the U.S. Army around 1809-1810.
Nearly 40,000 items from the fort's time (1806-1821) have been found. These items help us understand the lives of the different groups of people who lived and worked on the American frontier. This evidence shows that the fort had a more important history than previously known. Digs in 2011 and 2012 looked for parts of the outer walls and the northwestern blockhouse.
Today, the Fort Hawkins Foundation, Inc. manages the site. They are planning to rebuild the entire fort complex. This will allow visitors to experience the history and archaeology of Fort Hawkins, the Woolfolk Plantation, and the Fort Hawkins School, all of which were once on this land. The Ocmulgee Archaeological Society also meets at the Visitors' Center every month. They host a special Fort Hawkins Archaeology Day each May.
Fort Hawkins Achievements
- 1977: The Fort Hawkins Archeological Site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1993: Fort Hawkins is included in the Fort Hill Historic District, also listed on the NRHP.
- 2002: A special sign, called a State Highway Marker, was put up at the fort.
- 2007: Fort Hawkins was featured in Georgia's Archaeology Month, with a big celebration at the fort.
Images for kids
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Fort Hawkins around 1876
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entrance sign
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upper level of fort blockhouse
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middle level of fort blockhouse
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bust of Benjamin Hawkins
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spinning wheel
