Knocking on the Door of Preservation

Historic Sally Port Doors

NPS Photo

Preservation of Sally Port Doors

The original sally port doors have provided the only entrance and exit to the fort, a duty they have performed for over 170 years. Every visitor to the fort is treated to this intimate glimpse of history as they enter into the fort. For the most part, the doors are in relatively good condition, which can be attributed to the high quality of materials and the fabrication techniques used. The wood is composed of longleaf pine, a now-endangered tree long revered for its strength and shock resistance, and is studded with iron rivets that hold the two layers of 2 inch planks together. Each is hung on two large ferrous straps that extend the full width of the door. The hinges are affixed with bolts that appear to have been made by hand. However, wood and iron artifacts can only last so long against the steady onslaught of sun, rain, and the harsh conditions faced on a coastal island.

Storm surge days after hurricane Matthew, 2016.

NPS Photo

Emergency Conservation

In October of 2016, Fort Pulaski withstood the brutality of a category 2 hurricane as Matthew battered the South Atlantic coast. While the fort itself emerged looking strong and proud, wooden objects, like the flooring and the doors took a more pervasive level of damage, soaking in the salt water of a storm surge that flooded the entire island for days. In September of 2017, the Fort was once again inundated with storm surge as the remnants of Hurricane Irma impacted the park recreating much of the same scenario from the year prior. These storms accelerated the oxidation of many of the iron rivets which, if left untreated, could cause irreparable long-term damage to the doors.

ACE Intern perform conservation work to the historic Sally Port doors.

NPS Photo

Today, Fort Pulaski preservationists are working in conjunction with expert conservationists from Harper’s Ferry to care for many different door elements in need of attention. They will address heavy corrosion of iron elements by cleaning with mineral spirits, then applying a protective layer of rust converter where appropriate to stabilize the iron and prevent further oxidation. Components with more severe erosion will be removed and either repaired off-site or replaced. Replacement elements for the doors will be fabricated in close mimicry to the historic originals and installed as needed to maintain continued use of the sally port doors. Finally, the wooden surfaces will be treated with a water repellant and UV inhibitor to limit further weathering. Due to the local marine environment and past storms, efforts have already been executed to desalinate the doors as much as possible prior to conservation, removing the salt from the wood and slowing the progress of unseen corrosion. These steps, along with regular maintenance, will ensure these historic doors will remain in place for visitors to admire for decades to come.