Fort Frederica National Monument facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fort Frederica National Monument |
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 Fort Frederica National Monument
Location in Georgia (U.S. state)
Fort Frederica National Monument
Location in the United States
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| Location | St. Simons Island, Georgia, USA |
| Nearest city | Brunswick, Georgia |
| Area | 284.49 acres (115.13 ha) |
| Authorized | May 26, 1936 |
| Visitors | 293,041 (in 2011) |
| Governing body | National Park Service |
| Website | Fort Frederica National Monument |
Fort Frederica in 2020
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| Nearest city | Brunswick, Georgia |
| Area | 218 acres (88.2 ha) |
| Built | 1736 |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000065 (original) 100005351 (increase) |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Boundary increase | July 23, 2020 |
Fort Frederica National Monument is located on St. Simons Island, Georgia. It protects the old remains of a fort and a town. These were built by James Oglethorpe between 1736 and 1748. The main goal was to protect the southern border of the British colony of Georgia. This area was often attacked by Spanish forces. About 630 British soldiers lived at the fort.
A town called Frederica grew up around the fort. It had about 500 people living there. The town was planned using special rules from the Oglethorpe Plan. It was named Frederica after Frederick, Prince of Wales. He was the son of King George II. The monument was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966.
Contents
Discovering Fort Frederica's Past
Why Fort Frederica Was Built
In the early 1700s, the land between British South Carolina and Spanish Florida was called the "Debatable Land." This meant both Spain and Britain claimed it. The area that is now Georgia was a key part of this long-standing fight.
James Oglethorpe, a kind person who helped others (a philanthropist), started the Georgia colony in 1733. He wanted to create a place for poor people to start new lives. Colonists from England, Scotland, and Germany built Fort Frederica in 1736. They built it to defend their new land. They named it Frederica after Frederick, Prince of Wales. The name was made a bit different from another fort in South Carolina.
Battles and Abandonment
In 1742, important battles happened at Bloody Marsh and Gully Hole Creek. Forces led by Oglethorpe successfully stopped the Spanish. They prevented Spain from taking over St. Simons Island. After these battles, Spain no longer threatened the colony.
In 1749, the government removed the soldiers (the garrison) from Frederica. The town then started to struggle. By 1755, most people had left. A fire in 1758 damaged the town even more. After a few more years, it was completely empty.
Protecting the Historic Site
Fort Frederica was officially recognized as a National Monument on May 26, 1936. This happened during the Great Depression. At that time, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) helped find and protect historic places. This also created jobs for people.
Starting in 1947, the National Park Service and a group called the Ft. Frederica Association began studying the site. They used old maps and journals from the 1700s. Archaeological teams dug up parts of the fort and village. By studying what they found and comparing it to old records, they learned a lot about Frederica's past. This helped us understand a time when different countries were competing for land.
Fort Frederica is now a historic area managed by the National Park Service. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966. Today, Fort Frederica is open to everyone, and there is no charge to visit.
Gallery
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Historical layout of the colonial fort
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The magazine of Fort Frederica
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Fort Frederica on riverfront
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Remains of Fort Frederica barracks
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Remains of Frederica house
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Modern map of the area
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Historical layout of the town
Related Sites to Explore
- Fort Argyle
- Battle of Bloody Marsh
- Battle of Gully Hole Creek
- Castillo de San Marcos National Monument
- Fort Caroline National Memorial
- Fort King George
- Fort Matanzas National Monument
- Fort Morris State Historic Site
- Wormsloe Historic Site
- Oglethorpe Plan
- List of national monuments of the United States
