COASTAL DISCOVERY MUSEUM

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC

Civil War at Fort Pulaski: bam! Days before Georgia seceded from the United States and joined the Confederacy, the state seized the federal fortification of Fort Pulaski on Cockspur Island near Savannah. Unfortunately for the Confederacy, it then did not support the surrounding ground because it thought Tybee Island was too remote, a waste of resources for what it deemed to be an impenetrable fort. The Civil War would quickly test those military assumptions. The United States thought of Fort Pulaski in terms of a bigger picture–Southern supply chain, military logistics, and economic bottleneck. Controlling traffic of the Southern port city of Savannah was very important to the overall war effort. 

The United States military took advantage of the blind eye of the Confederacy's military command. First came the U.S. Navy, blockading the Savannah River for a 112-day siege of the fort. But that was not enough. The U.S. Army built up troops and batteries by night at Tybee Island, hidden, on Fort Pulaski's facing shore of the Savannah River. 

On April 10, 1862, U.S. troops struck out. Rolling back their camouflage, they bombarded Confederate-occupied Fort Pulaski and won. The Confederate commander unconditionally surrendered, noting his isolation from any Confederate backup and that a breached wall exposed his entire garrison to the possibility of a catastrophic explosion from the ammunition storage area. He stated:

"We were absolutely isolated beyond any possibility of help from the Confederate authorities, and I did not feel warranted in exposing the garrison to the hazard of the blowing up of our main magazine -- a danger which had just been proved well within the limits of probability."†

The reclaimed fort would remain under U.S. control for the remainder of the Civil War.

The Confederacy did not emphasize the loss of Fort Pulaski because of clearer tactics or strategy employed by their foe that capitalized on the Confederate military's blindspots but rather because of the Union's state-of-the-art technology that Confederate commanders did not anticipate to be used against their impenetrable fort, i.e. new rifled-bore cannons of the Union shot further and more accurately than traditional smooth-bore cannons. The new cannon fire could now reach the fort from the opposite shore to bring down its walls. 

<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Pulaski_National_Monument" rel="noreferrer nofollow">Wikipedia observes</a> the strategic loss for the Confederacy and the strategic gain of Fort Pulaski for the United States: "all shipping into and out of Savannah ceased. The loss of Savannah as a viable Confederate port crippled its war effort."

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†Source– <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Pulaski_National_Monument" rel="noreferrer nofollow">Wikipedia</a>: Quote from Colonel Charles H. Olmstead, commander of Fort Pulaski's Confederate garrison, Fort Pulaski brochure, National Park Service, United States Department of the Interior
Civil War at Fort Pulaski: bam! Credit: sniggie

The Coastal Discovery Museum is a non-profit organization located in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. The museum is dedicated to the preservation and exploration of the Lowcountry's natural history and cultural heritage. The museum spans over 68 acres of natural and historic property, making it an ideal destination for educational tours, field trips, and family outings.

The museum features a range of exhibits and interactive displays that showcase the natural beauty and unique history of the Lowcountry. Visitors can learn about the region's wildlife, including alligators, sea turtles, and a variety of coastal birds. The museum also hosts a number of historical exhibits, including displays on the region's Gullah culture, the Civil War, and the area's early European settlers.

The Coastal Discovery Museum also offers a variety of educational programs, including guided nature walks, history tours, and workshops on topics like bird-watching and photography. The museum's grounds also feature several historic buildings, including a 19th-century schoolhouse and a restored 18th-century plantation house.

Overall, the Coastal Discovery Museum is a must-see destination for anyone interested in exploring the natural beauty and rich history of the Lowcountry.

COASTAL DISCOVERY MUSEUM is a Uncategorized or General Museum in HILTON HEAD ISLAND SC. US MID #8404500254

The museum is classed as GMU (Uncategorized or General Museums). It comes under American Alliance of Museums (AAM) region: Southeastern (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia). Total revenue from most recent IRS 990 Form: $ 928,796 from tax period 201206 (YYYYMM).

Contact COASTAL DISCOVERY MUSEUM

COASTAL DISCOVERY MUSEUM
7O HONEY HORN DRIVE
HILTON HEAD ISLAND
SC
29926

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COASTAL DISCOVERY MUSEUM Information

MID # 8404500254
Name COASTAL DISCOVERY MUSEUM
Alternate Name
Classification Uncategorized or General Museums, , Southeastern
Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) 570801415
NTEECC A50
Tax period of the latest return filed (YYYYMM) 201206
INCOME 1,024,407
REVENUE 928,796
LAT/LONG 32.211921, -80.743609
CODES FIPS State Code: 45
FIPS County Code: 013
US Census Tract: 010400
US Census Block: 2002