Plants

Aerial image of the fort and the surrounding landscape

Historical Fort Pulaski Landscape

Foggy view of a ditch outside of the fort

When the first soldiers arrived at what is now Cockspur Island to begin construction of the fort, the landscape was noticeably different than what we see today. In the early nineteenth century, the island would have been primarily salt marsh with some coastal hammock forest.

In order to develop the island for defense, the installation of drainage canals and a dike system modified the island. During this time any existing vegetation would have been removed to enhance visibility. Later, dredge spoil from the Savannah River was deposited on the island, further impacting the natural scene.

Fort Pulaski Landscape Today

Trees outside of the fort with sunlight shining through them

Since the abandonment of the fort in the late eighteen hundreds, a considerable portion of Cockspur Island has reverted to maritime forest. A visitor to the Monument today will find approximately 250 acres of upland areas which support a mosaic of maritime forest, shrub communities, maintained grasslands and successional spoil deposit areas, as well as over 350 acres of tidal marsh.

See below for images of Fort Pulaski’s plant identification guide. Print out a guide to bring with you for your visit, or stop by the visitor’s center and borrow one of ours so you can identify plants as you explore the park!