fopu_front Crop Marks are Black National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Fort Pulaski National Monument Savannah, Georgia Fort Pulaski National Monument Administrative History Cultural Resources Southeast Region Fort Pulaski National Monument Administrative History December 2003 J. Faith Meader New South Associates Cameron Binkley, Editor National Park Service The administrative history presented here exists in two formats. A printed version is available for study at the park, the Southeastern Regional Office of the National Park Service, and at a variety of other repositories. For more widespread access, this administrative history also exists in a web-based format through ParkNet, the website of the National Park Service. Please visit www.nps.gov for more information. Cultural Resources Division Southeast Regional Office National Park Service 100 Alabama Street, SW Atlanta, GA 30303 404-562-3117 Fort Pulaski National Monument P.O. Box 30757 Highway 80 East Savannah, Georgia 31410-0757 About the cover: A “park” guide poses in front of the Fort Pulaski National Monument contact station, which was located in Savannah, Georgia, at the intersection of Bull Street and Victory Boulevard in the 1930s. The contact station was necessary because Fort Pulaski, located on an island in the Savannah River, was difficult to access during the early years of its development. Lack of uniform insignia suggests that the guide, identity unknown, was a CCC employee. Source: Fort Pulaski NM photo collection. iv Fort Pulaski National Monument Administrative History Contents Figures . ix Tables . x Figure Credits . x Foreword . xi Introduction Chapter One: The History of Fort Pulaski Early History of Cockspur Island . 3 The Construction of Fort Pulaski . 5 The Civil War Years . 8 Chapter Two: Fort Pulaski Prior to the National Park Service The Military Post after the Civil War, 1865-1880 . 13 Fort Pulaski Military Reservation, 1881-1914 . 13 The American Antiquities Act and the Establishment of the National Park Service. 16 Designation of Fort Pulaski as a National Monument, 1915-1933. 18 Chapter Three: Development of Fort Pulaski National Monument Land Acquisition at Fort Pulaski NM . 23 New Deal Agencies and Programs at Fort Pulaski NM, 1933-1941 . 23 Civil Works Administration (CWA). 24 Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) . 24 Public Works Administration (PWA) . 28 Mission 66 at Fort Pulaski NM, 1956-1966 . 29 Visitor Center Construction . 30 Other Mission 66 Projects. 31 Additional Park Development, 1966-2000. 32 Chapter Four: Interpretation and Visitor Services Early Park Interpretation and Visitation, 1934-1938. 35 Fort Museum, 1939-1956 . 37 Casemate Exhibits and Fort Tours . 37 Collections Transfer to Ocmulgee National Monument, 1942-1947 . 38 Post-World War II Years . 38 Commemorative Markers and Interpretive Signs and Aids . 38 Mission 66 Interpretation, 1956-1966 . 39 Interpretive Prospectus, 1971 . 40 Living History and Reenactments. 41 Interpretation, Collections, and Visitor Services in the 1980s and 1990s . 42 Visitation Statistics and Trends. 44 National Park Service v Special Events . .45 Chapter Five: Park Planning Master Plans . .49 Master Plans, 1939 and 1942. .49 Master Plan, 1965 . .52 Master Plan, 1971 . .52 Land Protection Plan, 1984 . .53 Park Planning, 1993-2001 . .55 Chapter Six: Park Administration Government Agencies at Fort Pulaski NM . .57 Naval Occupation of Cockspur Island, 1942-1948 . .57 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers . .59 U.S. Coast Guard . .61 Transfer of Cockspur Island Lighthouse from U.S. Coast Guard . .62 Savannah Bar Pilots . .64 Cooperative Activities . .65 Chatham County . .65 Volunteers . .66 Youth Conservation Corps . .66 Management Issues . .67 Chapter Seven: Resource Management and Law Enforcement Cultural Resource Management . .69 Archeological Investigations. .69 Collections Management . .71 Artifact Preservation . .73 National Register Nomination . .74 Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) . .75 Cockspur Island Lighthouse Restoration . .76 Natural Resource Management . .78 Moat Management . .78 Shoreline Stabilization . .80 Water Studies. .82 Flora and Fauna . .82 Law Enforcement . .84 Safety Measures . .86 Conclusion Appendix A: Chronology - Fort Pulaski National Monument . ..