News Release

Fort Pulaski National Monument Begins 100th Anniversary Year with Public Archeology Exhibit at City Hall

An NPS archeologist carefully digs into a layer of soil at Fort Pulaski National Monument.

NPS Photo

News Release Date: January 2, 2024

Contact: Max Farley, 912-710-1283

SAVANNAH, GA –As Fort Pulaski National Monument celebrates its 100th anniversary of becoming a National Park Service unit in 2024, staff are excited to offer special events, programs, and exhibits that share some of the park’s lesser-known stories. From January 8 to January 20, 2024, visitors to Savannah City Hall (2 E Bay St, Savannah, GA 31401) will have the opportunity to view a temporary exhibit highlighting recent archeological study of the Workers Village on Cockspur Island.

While known for a pivotal Civil War battle, Cockspur Island and Fort Pulaski rest upon layers of complex history. Park archeologists recently investigated the Workers’ Village, home to the enslaved and free people who built Fort Pulaski, and later, hospital patients, self-emancipated “contrabands,” soldiers, and officer’s families.

This temporary exhibit at Savannah City Hall kicks off Fort Pulaski’s anniversary year by exploring the Workers’ Village site history, highlighting new archaeological discoveries, and shedding light on the challenge of preserving Fort Pulaski. Visitors will also get to see select artifacts from recent excavations.

Park archeologist and acting Chief of Resources Laura Seifert will open the exhibit with her “Hungry for History” talk at Savannah City Hall on January 10 at 12:00 PM. Seifert has spent her career working on archaeology projects with a focus on the southeastern United States. Since earning her master’s degree from East Carolina University in 2006, Seifert has been digging through Savannah’s museums and squares.

Fort Pulaski National Monument is located on U.S. Highway 80, 15 miles east of Savannah. For more information, please call the visitor center during business hours at 912-219-4233, visit the park website at www.nps.gov/fopu, email [e-mail], or follow on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FortPulaskiNPS.