Fort Pulaski National Monument

We went on an overcast day that turned out the best perfect. Highly recommend watching the video in the visitor center and then listening to the amazing talk by Andrew given at 11am or 2pm. It was so interesting and informative. If history class was presented in these ways, I would have paid more attention! The grounds are well kept, the history is visible and palpable around you - from the fig and pecan trees, the room recreations, the cannons, to the 1862 shells still stuck in the outer walls.

An absolute must-visit for history enthusiasts! This fort is incredible and so well-preserved. I had a great time exploring the collection of cannons and the various artifacts that really bring the history and daily life of the fort to life. The exhibits are engaging and help you visualize what it was like for the soldiers stationed here. Beyond the history, the views of the ocean and the surrounding marsh are beautiful. Definitely worth the stop!

Absolutely stunning and beautiful. Stunning views. Lots of history at this fort. Plenty of informational signs that you could learn from. Gift shop is limited but cozy. They offer cold drinks. The history of this place is amazing. They still have bullets lodged into the fort. The trails are full of beautiful views. The lighthouse walk is a bit disappointing but not too bad.

Fort Pulaski is an absolute must visit for the National Park Geeks like me! Rich in history with breathtaking scenery! The Park Rangers are wonderfully cheerful and eager to share the story of Fort Pulaski. Incredible place to visit! You won’t regret it!

Loved the experience! Learned a lot about the Fort just through the signs. Loved exploring at our own pace. Even rode bikes to see the Cockspur lighthouse. They have a small bike rack and bike repair station. Bathrooms were clean as well.

Love seeing big fish in the canal. Fish jumped when we went past the visitor center. Bummer, No fishing here - confirmed with the rangers inside the visitor center. Was curious to see what those big fish are in the canal surrounding the Fort. They were told visitors found big flounders in the canal and summer months people saw alligators in there to feed. They have park bench all around the Fort in front of the canal loop, so you can sit and relax after walking around the Fort. You can also follow the trail at the water gate to the river to see the river.

My first time in the Savannah area. Ft Pulaski was at the top of my list. Make sure you stick around for the presentation. Learned that Robert E Lee had a hand in the planning but was not there during the construction. He did come back after the fort was put into operation. Learned about the immortal 600 and a couple escape attempts. Walk through the open areas, around the top and around the outside to see all of the damage. Make sure you leave time and energy to walk along the lighthouse trail.

Cool historic fort though the history around it is kind of boring. Basically it was outdated before it even saw it's first (and only) battle , so it fell pretty quickly to the union army who was firing on it from Tybee Island. The brick work and craftsmanship are amazing though.

Incredible engineering at the time this structure was built. Amazing taking 30 years to build and protect and then destroyed in 30 hours. The staff were incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. Recommend taking the path to the lighthouse and walking on the outside of the fort to see the damage the shells did to the walls. Lots of things to read and signs everywhere. Highly recommend.

My husband loves history so this was a must see. We were at Fort Jackson earlier in the week and you could fit several Fort Jackson's inside of this one. It is massive. You pay at the gate as soon as you pull off the main road, then to the visitors center where there are some things to look at. Then off to the fort. It is a self guided tour but there are times of the day where rangers do presentations. We did ours and our ranger Max was very informative and answered every question asked. This guy knows his stuff! There is a gift shop in the fort that has odds and ends and drinks. Parking: lots of on site parking Restrooms: Outside the visitors center

Visited on a perfect day while visiting friends who were staying at Tybee. It was a National Park free day so four of us got in free. We timed it to listen to one of the volunteers give an overview of the fort. It is amazing how the structure was built in the 1800's. Also amazing how they used the winds to cool the soldiers and the rain for water. If you have a chance to listen to the volunteers presentation it is well worth it.

We took the doggies for a ride and ended up at Fort Pulaski. We were going to do the walking trails but parking put a damper on that idea. The "benches" that are placed in the parking area are not really visible when trying to park correctly and I just crunched up the bumper and grille on the front of my car. Go figure??? I think if concrete barriers were placed on the ground for parking, this would not have happened.

So many other Yelpers have written thoughtful reviews for this National Monument Park but I would like to respectfully suggest BICYCLING around the Fort. The trails are marked and while not for skinny tire road bikes, they were a wonderful way to explore outdoors! Check in at the station & they will give you a map of the trails. Not enough biking for you? Go across the bridge & bike the McQueens Island Historic Trail (the Old Tybee Railroad line). Bring your camera-lots of wildlife & birds!

Returning after some of the COVID era restrictions had been lifted allowed me to get a better appreciation of this place. It has a lot to offer, from the majestic architecture to the swampy scenery. A ranger talk contextualized the fort's military history, and the visitor center allowed a thankfully air conditioned reprieve and a twenty minute movie. Walking down the path to the old lighthouse yields only a marginal view, but the walk itself is worth it if the conditions permit. Which, to be fair, they might not. Regardless, it's a very different experience from the beach and well worth a stop.

Great afternoon! Lovely tour. Great history lesson! We stayed for a few hours and really enjoyed seeing history. Grabbed a cook book and a few other items at the gift shop. Definitely worth a trip.

Really amazing looking fort with lots of history and alot of views. It's pretty self guided so bring comfy shoes and go see it, especially if you're from a military family.

Great place to visit and learn more about the beautiful island of Tybee. If you are a Veteran you and your family get in for free just have your ID. They also gave my husband a free lifetime pass to any US National Park.

A really nice National Monument in a scenic location. I loved exploring the interesting history here surrounded by nature. The unique and amazing thing about this impressive fort is the amount of cannonballs fired at it and how much of the damage is still visible as well as the many embedded cannonballs that are still visible in the walls.

2nd time coming. Did the walking path to the left once in the park. So many off path destinations to amazing scenery. It's all so beautiful and peaceful. FranknKimm March 29th, 2024 Good Friday 2024

We are so grateful that our friend (Judy) gave us the national parks pass book. We bought a Life Time membership to the national parks, and it's been so fun learning the history of America. This has to be one of our favorite forts that we have visited. We met a local gentleman by the name of the Lowell that volunteers there and gave us some great information and showed us around, thank you, my friend. It is a must! it is so educational. We even met our new friends, Lowell and Susan. They were so excited that I asked about the camper and he showed me around. It is wonderful. We might have to buy one. I WOULD RECOMMEND

Check the weather before you go as this attraction is outdoors/no air conditioning except in very limited spaces. We went in July and sweat a ton! You can make a day out of Tybee Island activities and then stop here in your way back home/to Savannah! It's very neat to learn the history of what happened here by walking around the fort!

Although it was very hot, it was a great visit to the fort and the hike to the lighthouse. The price of admission allows you to enter for up to a week. There's a huge fig tree inside the fort and you are allowed to pick the ripe figs!

Very cool place. You would really be missing out if you skip this while traveling even if you're not a history buff. It's unique, I had never seen anything like this place. So interesting.

sick af. its a fort. go there. its great. especially if ur a civil war dude. sick. cannons are pretty big too

Large well preserved Civil War fort w numerous exhibits that showcase its history both in Confederate and Union possession (in an unbiased way).

This is a National Park that I think is worth the visit. There is a lot of colonial and antebellum history in this structure and visitors should really plan for 2 - 3 hours to fully see all the rooms and areas in the fort. It's a very unique structure with a moat, drawbridge and several underground tunnels and walkways. There are park rangers on site to answer questions and the facility provides a self-guided tour throughout all the rooms. With plenty of displays and placards to read, this is a neat stop and well worth the price of admission

Visiting Fort Pulaski was a great experience. Make sure you go up the stairs to see the area from the top of the fort. We attended the 11am presentation which was very informative. There is not a lot of shade so make sure you can handle the heat and sun. Dog friendly (leashed) everywhere except the buildings (museum and gift shop). Beware of alligators in and near the moat - especially for small pets and children. Your paid admission /receipt gets you in free for 7 days if you want to go back.

Fort Pulaski is a great National Monument just outside Savannah. It's deserves half a day of attention and exploration. Try timing your visit to a ranger talk to really appreciate the history and engineering of the fort. The inside of the fort is very open. You're able to explore almost every room including the upper ramparts. Outside the fort is a restroom, visitors center, but the gift shop is inside the fort. There are a few trails outside around the fort near the water front that give the park a little added variety. Spend some time here as it's worth your driving!

We wanted to ride our bikes while visiting Savannah and Fort Polaski was perfect. At the entrance to the park is a "Rails to Trails" pathway that is poorly marked- in fact it says " motor vehicles probibited" but nothing that this is the Rails to Trails path. About 25 feet into the trail it is marked as such. PLEASE move the signage to the entry to the trail???!!!! It is a packed gravel road, but it felt like I was riding in a butterfly garden/ bird sanctuary. We only went about 30 min down the trail bc we wanted about an hour ride, but I think it takes you into Savannah! Also, we have the senior( over 62) national Park pass- so our entrance fee was free! It's the first time we have used it since we purchased it! The Fort itself was pretty amazing with great views, and the visitor center has a short film that explains the history very well. They have a picnic area that we weren't able to get to but you can easily spend a few hours - especially if you go for a bike ride!

Such a beautiful site to visit. Plenty of really good backdrops for photos. There's plenty of space here, so it didnt feel too busy. Visited in July on a Tuesday afternoon so it was quite hot. There are a couple of trails to explore as well, but do bring bug spray. The entry fee is also valid for a week so that was an added bonus to the visit.

The gate keeper Annie was AWESOME!! She was funny and felt sorry for us bc one in our party didn't have his Natl Park pass with us and we were from out of state. But as we were blabbing about being former military she said okay okay I was trying to ask if we for military! She was great and jovial.

This National Monument had a bit for all to enjoy. A 15min movie gave a great history lesson. We caught the ranger led tour that was informative and guided us through different areas of the fort. The views can be taken in at all angles. Once you're done exploring the fort take a stroll down to the Cockspur lighthouse. The trial is flat and very easy to navigate.

History buffs will love Fort Pulaski. The staff were super friendly and answered questions and shared stories. The fort is very clean and the signage was excellent to gain an understanding of the historical significance of this place. Even saw an alligator in the most, baby eagle, and an armadillo.

This was an unplanned trip for me. I just happened to be in the area and didn't want to pass up an opportunity to learn. I'll be the first to admit that I didn't pay enough attention in history class in high school and college so the Civil War and the turning point in military history is a bit spotty for me. For that reason, I try to learn as much as I can from reading online, listening to people share stories and perspectives, and visiting National Monuments like this one. Upon arrival, there is a small fee collected for admission -- $10 per adult, children and military are free. The parking lot had ample space for many visitors but with COVID19 restrictions in place, I'm sure the park is monitoring the number of visitors coming in and out. Once you get to the site, it's very easy to spend 1 to 2 hours roaming through each section of the preserved space. There are some things that are the originals (like the front entrance door) which is pretty cool. The weaponry and cannons are massive in comparison to anything next to it. There are short written passages staged throughout the entire property to explain a lot of the setups. Visitors get to see where soldiers and higher ranks ate and slept at. There is the prison camp that has wooden bed frames, and steel doors that visitors can walk through. It was sort of eerie to walk through hallways that were occupied in the 1800s. Anyway, there are some history lessons to soak up so make sure to bring the little ones. Masks are required on the property at all times. Here is the description found on Wikipedia about Fort Pulaski -- "Fort Pulaski National Monument is located on Cockspur Island between Savannah and Tybee Island, Georgia. It preserves Fort Pulaski; during the American Civil War, the Union Army successfully tested rifled cannon in combat in 1862 there, the success of which rendered brick fortifications obsolete. The fort was also used as a prisoner-of-war camp."

I have visited this park a few times. It is well worth the money. Your admission works for a few days, not just one. The guy that works the gate is so friendly and helpful. He takes his time and answers all of your questions. My first visit was just me and my Boykin. She loved all the smells. It's nice to find a dog friendly place to visit. There were many others there that had dogs. My second time I was with both our dogs and my husband. Our second dog is a poodle and he has his hair grown out. I will say, he was covered in burrs. The other dog didn't even have one! It's a great place to visit with the whole family! There is plenty of parking, large bathrooms and a gift shop too.

Fun place to visit, even if you're not a history buff. Kids will love traversing the moat and adventuring through the numerous tunnels and caverns under the fort. Warning: plan to leave the park early if you Uber like us--it's out of the way, so it took nearly an hour to get an Uber....at which point they closed the gate, which is a mile from the fort. Luckily, one of the rangers was leaving, and kindly drove us out to the gate where our Uber driver met us. 4 stars for the fort, a fifth star for the kind ranger!

We've been teaching out kids lots of history about the Civil War, but we live in Oregon. So while on a trip to the southeast, we decided to visit Fort Pulaski so they could see history up close. The fort is so unique - we spent a few hours touring around. My only complaint, which is a big one, is that they didn't have any guided tours during our visit (early afternoon on a weekday) - I think that's a big loss. Would visit again, but next time hope they are better staffed to show people around.

We stopped here because we were driving by and saw the sign so it was an unplanned visit. I really didn't know what to expect. This is a really cool monument from the civil war. It's an old fort that was really very fortified. It has a kind of moat around it called a demilune. There are even drawbridges. Lots of old cannons to check out. Stop in the visitors center first for a 20 minute video about the history of the fort. There are some artifacts here as well including the generals sword. You can really walk in and through the whole monument. You can even go up on top. There are even some people buried here. There is a lot of information provided with signs to read along the way telling you different facts about the fort. It was very interesting. Highly recommend.

A wonderful remnant of American history. The landscape of America is strewn with historic artifacts from centuries of conflict with the European Colonial Empires. In fact, the design of forts like this one stem from these influences. They present angular features, notably, pentagonals. The iconic Pentagon, in Northern Virginia is the modern day face of American military power. It's the cause of wonder for many about where source of its' pentagonal design. I'm told it's a coincidence. There's many reasons to visit this fort. The history is interesting. It's been the site for movie shoots. And you'll note angular features in its' construction. The site is expansive. The view of the surrounding area to include the Cockspur Lighthouse and Tybee Island is notable. It's worth a visit. You'll pay a fee for entrance. You'll need several hours to see this site. Enjoy!

My partner & I watched a video on YouTube about this place & we decided to visit it while staying in Savannah. The staff it's very lovely & welcoming. It's really a beautiful & peaceful historic place to visit. It's amazing to be around a place that it's sooo old & has soo much history. The views are simply stunning, the minute you walk from the parking lot the breeze & the views really will capture your attention. One thing tho, if you plan to visit please bring bug spray because we were hit hard with the amount of mosquitoes that were everywhere while walking around it. We were surprised because we went at the beginning of March & it was not super humid outside like it would be in the summer. Unfortunately, due to the excessive amount of mosquitoes we shortened our visit because it was simply overwhelming. Needless to say, we felt honored to have visited this historic place that will stand the test of time for generations to come.

Amazing history! There is so much to learn from this place. Best weather in cooler months. Bring an umbrella if you want to avoid the hot rays of the sun.

Be honest.... How many times have you walked by a Civil War era Canon and felt the temptation to straddle it ? Don't be bashful; we've all wanted to and until now, I had no idea if it was okay. So here I am... Straddling a cannon... with a pile of piles at my feet... 20 pound metal balls that can be shot about 2 miles (or so that is what I remember from the information I supposedly learned. For those hard core history buffs... this is a must see As interesting (and has huge) as the inside of the fort is, a hike around the outside is just as interesting. The perimeter around the fort is mesmerizing.... monstrous brick walls that go into the moat water with a draw bridge to enter this centerpiece of history. If you focus closely enough you can find spots on the walls that were hit and damaged by the canon ball fire (assumed to be from ships in the rivers by when). There are plenty of walking/hiking trails around the fort; make your way over to see the Cockspur Island Lighthouse for a real treat. Inside the fort is not what I expected. I expected a fort that was all about canons and protected the mouth of the Savannah River... but it was so much more. The science and know-how of the inner workings is what caught my interests. The water storage (cisterns) and drawbridge gate mechanisms are just a sample of those amenities. And of course there are the many canons and other features designed for protection and battle. Another interesting feature, was the fort was actually an island (since it had a water moat around it with a drawbridge but to get to the drawbridge you actually had to first cross a different drawbridge onto a separate moat protected island because they needed to store the gunpowder separate of the fort (in cave like storage areas which also kept moisture away too). For so many reasons, this place is awesome !

This fort was a lot like fort Jefferson near key west. The history is really interesting. It was really cool that we walked toward the beach and saw 5 or more dolphins including baby dolphins playing with their moms. One even jumped clear out of the water. There is so much history in this area, i love to learn about the area. It does cost to get in but you can buy a season pass for just that park or all national parks which is what we did. I liked going up on the top level. It was a view!

We came here on a spur of the moment decision. They let us in for free because of military. That was awesome. Otherwise it's $10 per person. Funds go to maintenance of the site. The site is in amazing condition. The light house trail was still closed. They are doing some restoration work on the top of the first so you can only walk around and view certain areas. Still very cool. Lots of civil war history to read and learn about. I highly recommend taking the trip out here.

Having graduated from a military college, military tactics have always giving me the advantage in buffet lines, but I got more than that out of it. It also instilled within me a love of military history and military fortifications. When traveling I never miss visiting any area forts and of them all, Fort Pulaski National Monument stands out as one of the better. Built as a coastal defense against foreign invasions with none other than then young lieutenant Robert E. Lee working on it as an engineer, it has an incredible history. The biggest point which was the Union Siege of Fort Pulaski in which the new and innovative rifled heavy guns could easy lay ruin to masonry fortifications. Then unlike some other forts, Fort Pulaski National Monument is very much intact, well preserved and well maintain. It covers a good area ground and you are basically free roam all of it. And when you're there, don't miss Fort Pulaski's Sutler Book Store. Besides being a great place to duck in from the hot Savannah heat, it's load with historical books, souvenirs and memorabilia.

Very cool place to visit! You can explore everything in the fort on the lower and ipperLearned so much about the civil war. This place was also part of the Underground Railroad and has connections to the Gullah people. There is also a lighthouse you can see on one of the trails.

Beautiful place in the marsh area. The drive is a scenic one from Historic Downtown Savannah. I didn't realize how far it was from downtown until recently. But as soon as you reach the bridge leading to the Fort you are in awe of how lush the area really is. I actually drove on the new bridge they were constructing from the damage sustained from the Storm the year before. It was really cold with the wind and the gust made it hard to walk over the wooden bridges that lead into the fort. Once in the fort you were transformed to the time when this strategical fort protected the mouth of Savannah river. Can you even imagine the many cannons and ammunition needed to fight off the enemy? And how could the soldiers work and live in the fort in the summer heat of the south with the layers they wore for their uniforms. The historians are awesome and they foretold what is was like when the fort was fully operational. And they answered our questions...so much information and so much admiration for those who fought here. Do the drive out here you will be amazed at what you learn and see.

For History geeks and Civil War aficionados such as myself, Fort Pulanski is amazing. I don't want to go deep into the history of this Civil War Fort; you can read about that online. But the amazing 1800s architectural and historical value of this fort is fascinating. The geometry and design was modern for its time, but quickly became obsolete. Lots of great photo opportunities here, and a great walk through history...well worth the $10 and drive out here!

We visited while on vacation on Tybee Island. The employees were very informative. We started by watching the short film in the theater. I recommend anyone that loves history to visit the monument.

Your receipt allows for you to return again within 7 days. But, you'd be just fine with one visit unless you were wanting to do the hiking trails. Don't forget your insect repellant spray! This fort is a great history lesson for kids to learn about the civil war and what part Savannah had in that time. You can walk through the rooms of the fort and walk on the roof of the fort. Be careful since there are no railings to prevent you from falling off the roof!

Awesome Fort and worth the visit. We took our two boys, 12 and 14 years old, and they absolutely loved it. The moat and the tunnels/rooms were the highlights.

A must visit/see historical landmark in Georgia. Background: This fort was named after American Revolutionary War hero Brigadier General Casimir Pulaski, the father of the Cavalry! The fort saw action in April, 1862 when a battalion of Union soldiers from Brooklyn, New York bombarded the fort with the new technologically advanced (for the time) exploding artillery shells. They reduced the fort to rubble and destroyed all of the souths cannons, forcing the defending force to surrender. Despite Savannah still under control of the Confederacy up until 1864, the Union was able to control Fort Pulaski and cut off trade to Savannah throughout the war. Cool Things: The Fort is Haunted, so keep the Crucifix handy! On Youtube you can find the Poltergeist actress with a few students going through the place looking for ghosts. (We didn't find any ghosts, but we went during the daytime) The fort and surrounding area is absolutely magnificent. It will take you about 2 hours to see everything, which includes the Spanish-American Hamright battery next to the North Pier. If you're lucky, you can catch huge ships come in and out of the harbor. We weren't able to do the 75 mile lighthouse trail, but maybe next time I'll bring some water and check it out. Also, there's a small picnic area (bring bug spray for those pesky gnats). They have re-enactors and park keepers who are knowledgeable about the specifics of the area and weapon systems. I have a one year old who loved going through the dark, dark hallways (with our cell phone flashlight). Well worth it, add it to the bucket list if you haven't checked this place out!

I've spent many hours walking the beautiful coastal property of Fort Pulaski National Monument, and I never tire of its beauty and historical significance. Spend a few hours or spend the day touring the historic site of Fort Pulaski, walking the grounds to the beach side, Lighthouse Overlook Trail, bring a picnic lunch as they have a picnic area, bring your dog on a leash, and enjoy the beautiful coastal flora and fauna. Adults, 16 +, $10.00 and children are free. Your receipt is valid for 7 days for return visits. Annual passes are available, as well as, lifetime passes for seniors, 62+. Historical Highlights of Fort Pulaski: *Following the War of 1812, President James Madison ordered new coastal fortifications to protect the young United States against foreign naval invasion. *Construction began on Fort Pulaski in 1829, on Cockspur Island, at the mouth of the Savannah River. This location was chosen to protect the port of Savannah from upriver access by foreign invaders. This port city was the major exporter of cotton and the railroad epicenter reaching cities Albany, Macon, Charleston, Milledgeville, Atlanta and more. *Recent U.S. Military Academy, West Point graduate, Robert E. Lee, oversaw the early construction of Fort Pulaski by choosing the site and designing the dike system. * In 1833, Fort Pulaski was named in honor of Kazimierz (Casimir) Pulaski, an American Revolution soldier and military commander under George Washington. * In 1847, after 18 years of construction, $1 million in cost, it was completed. Impressively, wooden pilings were sunk up to 70 feet, an estimated 25,000,000 bricks were used and its walls, thought to be impenetrable, were 11 feet thick. * During the civil war, a risk was taken by Union Captain Gilmore to use new warfare technology in the Parrott Rifle Cannon. The bombardment from Tybee Island began on 4/10/1862 of the confederate occupied Fort Pulaski. It wasn't long before the Parrott Rifle Cannons had ripped two, 32 ft holes on the southeast side of the fort. Confederate Colonel Charles Olmstead surrendered the fort on 4/11/1862. * The siege victory by the Union forces, using the Parrott Rifle Cannon, was a landmark experiment in military science history. * Fort Pulaski served as a safe haven for enslaved African Americans occupied by Union forces.

This place was someplace we hadn't planned on going, but ended up being one of the best things we did around Savannah!!! We drove out to Tybee Island and on the way back, we saw Fort Pulaski and decided to tour it. Truthfully, it was a long day and I was just going to rest in the car, but they charged for both of us, so I went in. No need to waste money. I am so glad that I did! The history at this place was phenomenal and our tour guide was one of the best we'd ever had. She was just so passionate and knowledgeable about every detail that it seemed like a fresh presentation. She made the history of this place come alive. Basically Fort Pulaski was built to keep out enemies trying to approach via the water. This Fort is surrounded by a demilune, which is french for half moon, or a moat as you and I know it. It literally took years for this fort of thick masonry brick to be built and they thought they were impenetrable. The cannon and the shells were improved upon while the fort was being built to extend their range and accuracy. The Yankees showed so much determination to get their artillery closer without letting their enemy know. Because of their strategy to aim for the natural openings for the Confederates to shot from, they were successful in making the south vulnerable. At first, they commander of the fort refused to surrender thinking they were safe inside the very thick masonry walls. However, they were dazed the first evening to see all the damage that had been done. The 2nd day they surrendered because shells started hitting the walls of the powder magazine where massive stores of gunpowder were. Go there if you get the chance!

What a great place to visit!!! Highly recommend. Plan at least 2 hour visit. Beautiful surroundings, great American history, easy to get to. Very well run and maintained.

Great fort to visit. The grounds and exhibits are in excellent condition, with plenty of plaques and markers to explain what you're looking at. If you get the chance to visit during Christmas time, with the re-enactments going on, do it! The nighttime cannon firing is cool too.

I go to a lot of these old forts and this one was AWESOME! Starting off, the young lady at the little booth at the entrance was polite, efficient, and cheerful. The parking lot is paved, well laid out, and as close to the fort and visitor's center as could be expected. The restrooms were clean and included a water fountain with a bottle filling feature. They also had bowls nearby for dogs. The visitor's center was small but informative. The moat around the fort was well kept. The water was clear enough to see lots of fish swimming around. The fort itself was also well kept. Both levels had things to see and there were boards posted all over the place giving information about the construction of the fort, uses of various rooms/ areas, historical information as to people who lived and worked there and nearby as well as events that happened there. I love the old brickwork and the arches. There is a trail which leads to a lighthouse you can't get to. Had a blast!