While in Fort Gaines, Georgia, you can do many different things. If you love history, you can visit Heritage Farm Park, which has log cabins, a corn crib, a tobacco barn, a cane mill, and a cypress swamp. The park also includes many other historic buildings.
George T. Bagby State Park
Located on 700 acres along the Walter F. George Lake in southwestern Georgia, George T. Bagby State Park offers a wide range of activities and amenities. The park has a 60-room lodge, conference center, restaurant, cottages, and a marina. Visitors can go fishing, swimming, or boating.
The park is a popular getaway for fishermen who want to spend a day fishing. The park features a marina and a full-service marina, which allows boaters easy access to the 48,000-acre lake. It is home to several trophy species of fish, including a state record blue catfish. The lake also boasts a large variety of southern freshwater fish, including bass, crappie, and walleye.
While on vacation, you may want to take a hike along the lake trail. The trail winds through three different natural communities: a second-growth pine-oak forest in the uplands, a wetland that surrounds a sinkhole depression, and a dwarf oak forest along a dry sand ridge. While hiking, watch for changes in the forest, including signs of past human activity.
This state park offers a variety of activities for all ages. Located in southwestern Georgia, the park includes a 60-room lodge, conference center, restaurant, and marina. Visitors can enjoy the scenic 48,000-acre lake, as well as championship golf. Golf Digest noted the course as the sixth-best public course in America.
Historic Westville
Historic Westville is a living history museum that reflects the life of a 19th century Georgia town. Located in Columbus, Georgia, the historic site features 17 fully furnished antebellum buildings. Fourteen more are slated to be relocated to a new site in the future. The museum teaches visitors about life in 19th-century South Georgia, displays artifacts and crafts, and organizes special events. There are also interpreters dressed in period costume, a courthouse, churches, and stores.
Historic Westville was established in 1966 and provides a fascinating look at early Georgia history. It has served as the setting for major movies, including Ken Burns’s The Civil War. This film was shot on location, allowing it to accurately portray the time period. The historic site also received the Governor’s Award in the Humanities in 1988.
Originally located in Lumpkin, Georgia, the living history museum moved to Columbus in June of 2017. Due to the economic recession and the aging population, ticket sales began to decline. The board then began exploring relocation options. In 2015, the historic site closed temporarily while the new location was being constructed. In 2017, the first historic buildings were transported. The new location is set to open in June of 2019.
CCSSC
The CCSSC in Fort Gibson, Georgia is a unique and fascinating museum that celebrates the Civil War era in a unique setting. The site features a log stockade, which was rebuilt under the Works Progress Administration in 1937. The building underwent a major restoration in 2013 and reopened to the public in 2016. The CCSSC’s $1.5 million restoration process was supported by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s TEA-21 program, and the National Park Service’s Save America’s Treasures program.
Fort Gibson was established in 1824 and played a significant role in the Indian removal. Many of our nation’s leaders were stationed at Fort Gibson during this time, and it was a staging point for military expeditions to the west. After the Indian removal, the fort sat abandoned and was reactivated during the Civil War. The Union Army used Fort Gibson to act as their base of operations in Indian Territory during the Civil War. The Union Army stayed until the end of the Civil War and the Indian Wars, and even stayed through the Reconstruction.
Birdsong Nature Center
Nestled on 565 acres, the Birdsong Nature Center in Fort Gibson, GA offers visitors a chance to see many different species of birds and wildlife. Visitors can walk on twelve miles of trails and experience the natural beauty of this place. The center is dedicated to conservation and education. The center features habitats such as an old field, pine and hardwood forest, and ponds. The site also has a butterfly garden. Visitors can enjoy seeing butterflies from April through November. Visitors can also see the colorful Purple Martins during the winter months.
One of the most popular birding spots at the Birdsong Nature Center is the Betty Komarek bird window, which overlooks a beautiful garden and the center’s 130-plus species. Visitors can see both local and rare species of birds from the window. In addition to the birds that make the area home, the center is also home to several species of snakes, turtles, and alligators. Visitors can even hike to the Listening Place, which overlooks the Big Bay Swamp.
Civil War memorabilia
Fort Gibson was a military post that served during the Civil War. Its duties included peacekeeping between settlers and Indian tribes. After the war, the Army dismantled the post in 1890. The area was home to three military cemeteries, which were neglected after the post was abandoned. The Cherokee people eventually established a village on the site and were recognized as an independent federally recognized tribe.
Fort Gibson was originally constructed in 1824 and served as a base for many expeditions. It was abandoned and reactivated during the Civil War, but it was also used for post-war Reconstruction activities. A reconstructed log garrison and a hiking trail are still standing today. The 1871 hospital is also being restored.
The area’s military history dates back to the mid-1830s, when Fort Gibson’s garrison was one of the largest in the nation. Famous soldiers included Robert E. Lee and Zachary Taylor. Later, Jefferson Davis would become the president of the Confederate States of America. Another famous soldier in the area was Nathan Boone, son of famous explorer Daniel Boone. After leaving Tennessee, Sam Houston also operated a trading post in the area.
Dickey’s collection of Civil War relics began in a shoe box while he was still in college. As he grew older, he developed a more refined interest in collecting artifacts. Soon, new metal detectors allowed him to search deeper for artifacts. Dickey was able to find a wide range of artifacts.
Fort Gibson was the site of a major battle during the Civil War. It was briefly captured by the Confederate Army in 1863 but the Union regained Fort Gibson, which was an important location near the Arkansas River and a major north-south road. The Union reformed the fort’s defenses. Although the Confederate Army did not attack the fort, the Union troops were involved in the Battle of Honey Springs, the largest Civil War battle in the Indian Territory.