Fort Pulaski's Defenses Strengthened by the Great American Outdoors Act

News Release Date:
August 2, 2024

Contact:Max Farley, 912-219-4233

SAVANNAH, Ga. - Fort Pulaski National Monument recently completed a critical $300,000 project funded by the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) that rehabilitated the historic fort's iconic brickwork and ventilation systems.

To commemorate the four-year anniversary of GAOA on August 4, Fort Pulaski will join national parks throughout the country in offering free entrance that day.

Repairs to the fort's unique casemate ventilation system, essential for maintaining the structure's integrity, were completed by staff from the park and a Maintenance Action Team (MAT) from the National Park Service (NPS) Historic Preservation Training Center (HPTC). Together, they meticulously restored damaged masonry and replaced missing or broken bricks. They also applied hot wax to help preserve the Fort's bronze plaques.

MATs are geographically based teams of NPS employees with experience in a wide variety of traditional trades that enable the NPS to complete historic preservation projects in a consistent and cost-effective manner.

"The HPTC team brought a wealth of expertise and passion to this project," said Melissa Memory, superintendent of Fort Pulaski National Monument. "Their collaboration with our dedicated staff ensured that this historic fort's defenses remain strong for years to come." Rodanté Paz, a HPTC exhibit specialist, added, "The Fort Pulaski staff made us feel like part of the crew."

The project is part of the NPS's commitment to address long-needed deferred maintenance and repair needs in national parks throughout the country. Supported by revenue from energy development, GAOA provides the NPS with up to $1.3 billion per year for five years to make significant enhancements in national parks to ensure their preservation and provide opportunities for recreation, education, and enjoyment for current and future visitors. In addition to more than 100 large-scale infrastructure projects, GAOA has funded more than 300 smaller MAT activities, many of them historic preservation, in national parks throughout the country.

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, email [email protected], visit the park website at www.nps.gov/fopu, or follow on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FortPulaskiNPS.

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.