(58) Fort Screven, 17 m, is an army post (L) at which is stationed a battalion of the 8th Infantry, US Army. From the entrance arch a provate road bordered with palmettos leads to a small brick guardhouse where a sentry is always on duty. along a circular driveway, which encloses a large green with the post flag and reville guns in its center, are the compant barracks and officers' quarters and a building and parade ground for each company. Between the officers' quarters and the sea is the post parade ground, wherebattalion and regimental parades are held. The post exchangs, commissary, and sables stand on the western side of the post and are not encircled by the road. At a right angle turn near the completion of the circle, a road branches southeastward toward the ocean and Tybee. Near the junction of these roads (R) are the post hospital and the new theatre.
The Fort Screven Reservation was acquired by the Federal government from John Screven and JC Rowland by Congressional acts of 1808 and 1820. Fort Screven, known at first as Camp Graham, became an active army post on March 3, 1898.
From the non-commissioned officers' quarters the circular drive leads to the Tybee Lightnouse, which marks the mouth of the Savannah River. (arrangements can be made to climb the spiral staircase to see the beacon at close range) This lighthouse dates from Colonial times for here in 1733 General Oglethorpe built a tower "constructed of the best pine, strongly timbered, raised upon cedar piles, a brickwork around the bottom." Before 1755 a brick tower was erected but was not lighted, and it was not until 1791 that alterations were made and a light installed. Partly destroyed and its light extinguished by Confederate forces in 1862, the lighthouse was rebuilt five years lates.
-Georgia: A Guide to Its Towns and Countryside, 1940
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The Legislature of Georgia in 1786 passed a law providing for a fort on Cockspur or Tybee Island to be named in honor of General James Screven, Revolutionary War hero, it was never built by the state. In 1808 the Fedreal government obtained jurisdiction over the property on Tybee Island now known as Fort Screven Reservation. Actual title was acquired in 1875 and the post, established in 1898, was in continuious arc from the Spanish-American War through both World Wars. Primarily a Coast Artillery fort, at one time Fort Fremont in South Carolina was under its jurisdiction. It became an infantry post and finally a school for deep-sea diving. Many distinguished officers saw duty here, including General George C. Marshall as colonel in command. In 1945 Fort Screven was declared surplus by the War Department and acquired by the town of Savannah Beach.
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Tybee Island, Georgia
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Fort Screven historic district
Fort Screven was first commissioned in 1899 and was named for General Joseph Screven, a Revolutionary War hero who was killed in action near Midway, Georgia, in 1778. The Fort served as a valuable part of coastal defense until it was decommissioned in 1947. Fort Screven is most notable for one of its former commanding officers, General of the Army George C. Marshall, later the architect of the Marshall Plan that helped rebuild Western Europe after World War II. Very little remains of the original fort due to redevelopment of the area for housing. One of the most important remaining structures is the Tybee Post Theater which was constructed in 1930. It was one of the first theaters in Georgia to have sound features and was the highlight of recreational activities for the fort. Other remaining buildings include the recently restored guard house, the bakery (now a private home), and barracks (now apartments). The ruins of the beach fortifications are also extant, and of the six original batteries, Battery Garland (built in 1899) is accessible to the public. Battery Garland houses the Tybee Museum and several cannons and other military hardware are on display. Another remaining area is Officer's Row, an impressive group of original homes that had a sweeping an ocean view. One of these homes is now a bed and breakfast.
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