Georgetown in Georgetown County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Morgan Park

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 22, 2026

1. Morgan Park Marker

Inscription.

Morgan Park. . , Historically Significant , A strategic site of protection for the city and harbor., Presently , This beautiful public park offers excellent vistas of upper Winyah Bay's marshes, beaches, waterways, and harbor., Plans for the Future , Pedestrian-friendly improvements to encourage fun and safety with enhancements that will include landscaped trails, educational signage, waterside walkways, fishing piers, elevated viewing platforms, and a visitors' center., A Short History ,

1776: Militia and volunteers erected an earthworks fort. A garrison occupied it during the early part of the Revolutionary War., 1780: Georgetown was seized and occupied by the British. The fort was possibly refurbished., 1781: Francis Marion retook part of Georgetown in January and took the "bastion" in June. British and loyalists raided the fort in late summer and left it in ruins., 1782: Georgetown was rebuilt. Indigo production declined and rice became the primary crop., 1794: Fort Winyah was designated part of the "Second Systems of Fortifications" by the U.S. Government. A battery was started near the tip of Waites Point, but abandoned due to the "unhealthfulness" of the site., 1807: U.S. Government paid $7000 for seven acres of what was then known as "Blyth's Point," part of Dr. Blythe's rice plantation, now largely East Bay Park., 1809: Construction of Fort Winyah began in the spring. Some 240,000 bricks and other materials costing $13,670 were used to construct the brick and clay structure on a foundation of piles and thick boards. A drawbridge across a canal linked the fort to what is now East Bay Park. The fort was completed by summer, but no guns or carriages were installed and no garrison was assigned., 1810: A garrison of eighteen men occupied the structure. Twelve pound cannons were installed in 1811. Some were replaced by eighteen pound guns after that., 1811: On the morning of December 16, shocks from an earthquake that affected much of the eastern US caused enough trembling in Georgetown to cause Fort Winyah to sink about two inches, 1813: The moist environment took its toll and guns were removed from the rotting platform. In August, a gale force storm rendered the fort useless., 1816: The brick walls fell due to erosion from the bay water and extensive looking, and the fort was listed as destroyed in 1819. The adjacent area (East Bay Park), was apparently filled and used by a lumber company, but was abandoned by the early 1900's., 1924: The seven acre site was sold by the U.S. to the City of Georgetown with the provision that it remain in public use. In 1929, a jetty was erected in the Sampit River to slow erosion., 1936: The American Legion Building was constructed over the rubble of Fort Winyah; it was demolished in the 1960's., 1984: The point was renamed "Morgan Park.", 2007: Archeological digs were performed and a Master Plan was developed.

, Environmental Features ,

. Low salinity tidal waters where the Sampit and Black rivers meet Winyah Bay estuary , . Forested interior surrounded by tidal marshes , . Native live oak, longleaf pine, eastern red cedar, sweet gum, and other mature trees
. Natural giant Spartina cordgrass marshes (being invaded by Phragmites marsh grass) , Sandy beach (not a swimming beach; water quality not fit for swimming) , . Abundant fish populations: mullet, menhaden, red drum, black drum, catfish, and flounder. , . Fish species of special interest: American shad, Atlantic sturgeon, longnose gar, and striped bass. , . Over 140 bird species – year-round residents and seasonal migrants – including bald eagle, osprey, brown pelican, woodcock, warblers, and various hawks and owls , . Blue crabs and white shrimp inhabit the bay and comprise important commercial fisheries.

, American Shad , American shad adults live in the ocean but migrate to freshwater to spawn in the early spring. Gill netters manage shad in the nearby rivers and market the roe (eggs). Like salmon, shad return to their rivers of origin after spending years at sea, with many of them summering as far north as Maine., Grass Shrimp , Grass shrimp rarely grow to more than about one-inch in length, but play an important role in the estuary's food web because fish and birds eat them. They often occur in large numbers at the water's edge. With the white shrimp, grass shrimp are prominent elements of Winyah Bay., Red Drum , Red drum is probably South Carolina's most popular marine game fish. Young fish up to four years old (30 inches, 12 lbs.) are common in upper Winyah Bay, but older adults live and spawn in the lower Bay and shallow ocean. Fishermen need to follow state regulations on size and harvest limits. Systematic release of caught red drum is always encouraged., White Ibis , The white ibis is one of several types of white wading birds in the area, with long, downcurved bills suited for probing filter-mud bottoms. Large flocks and several nesting colonies occur from spring to fall. Other common white birds are the common egret, which is taller than the ibis, and has a straight yellow bill, and the snowy egret, which is shorter and has a straight black bill., Blue Crabs , Blue crabs is one of the most important commercial fisheries in South Carolina. Pots marking traps can be seen in the area all year. Blue crabs in the upper Bay are males (jimmies); after mating, females move toward the ocean, where they release their planktonic larvae. Currents carry them out into the ocean and then juveniles move back into the estuary, giving rise to adults which spend the rest of their lives in the Bay. Blue crabs live for a few years., Artifacts from Fort Winyah ,

a) Porcelain doll fragment (back of head) , b-c) White clay smoking pipe fragments , d) Porcelain doll fragment (foot/shoe) , e) Rockingham glazed yellowware hollow ware handle , f) Whiteware with blue transfer print decoration , g) Whiteware with blue shell edge decoration

, Shovel test probes of one meter by one meter test units and several meter-deep trenches were dug to expose parts and artifacts with the hope of locating the original fort. At the bottom of one trench, clay bricks aligning and piling loosely, measuring approximately one-foot by six-inches were exposed in a pattern consistent with typical 1800-era spots for foundations constructed to support brick walls. These findings along with bricks and other material indicates that there were remains of Fort Winyah.,

a) Horse shoe fragment , b-d) Large cut nails , e) Salt glazed stoneware , f) Machine-made glass beer bottle base

Historically Significant
A strategic site of protection for the city and harbor.

Presently
This beautiful public park offers excellent vistas of upper Winyah Bay's marshes, beaches, waterways, and harbor.

Plans for the Future
Pedestrian-friendly improvements to encourage fun and safety with enhancements that will include landscaped trails, educational signage, waterside walkways, fishing piers, elevated viewing platforms, and a visitors' center.

A Short History

1776: Militia and volunteers erected an earthworks fort. A garrison occupied it during the early part of the Revolutionary War.

1780: Georgetown was seized and occupied by the British. The fort was possibly refurbished.

1781: Francis Marion retook part of Georgetown in January and took the "bastion" in June. British and loyalists raided the fort in late summer and left it in ruins.

1782: Georgetown was rebuilt. Indigo production declined and rice became the primary crop.

1794: Fort Winyah was designated part of the "Second Systems of Fortifications" by the U.S. Government. A battery was started near the tip of Waites Point, but abandoned
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due to the "unhealthfulness" of the site.

1807: U.S. Government paid $7000 for seven acres of what was then known as "Blyth's Point," part of Dr. Blythe's rice plantation, now largely East Bay Park.

1809: Construction of Fort Winyah began in the spring. Some 240,000 bricks and other materials costing $13,670 were used to construct the brick and clay structure on a foundation of piles and thick boards. A drawbridge across a canal linked the fort to what is now East Bay Park. The fort was completed by summer, but no guns or carriages were installed and no garrison was assigned.

1810: A garrison of eighteen men occupied the structure. Twelve pound cannons were installed in 1811. Some were replaced by eighteen pound guns after that.

1811: On the morning of December 16, shocks from an earthquake that affected much of the eastern US caused enough trembling in Georgetown to cause Fort Winyah to sink about two inches

1813: The moist environment took its toll and guns were removed from the rotting platform. In August, a gale force storm rendered the fort useless.

1816: The brick walls fell due to erosion from the bay water
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 22, 2026

2. Morgan Park Marker
and extensive looking, and the fort was listed as destroyed in 1819. The adjacent area (East Bay Park), was apparently filled and used by a lumber company, but was abandoned by the early 1900's.

1924: The seven acre site was sold by the U.S. to the City of Georgetown with the provision that it remain in public use. In 1929, a jetty was erected in the Sampit River to slow erosion.

1936: The American Legion Building was constructed over the rubble of Fort Winyah; it was demolished in the 1960's.

1984: The point was renamed "Morgan Park."

2007: Archeological digs were performed and a Master Plan was developed.

Environmental Features

• Low salinity tidal waters where the Sampit and Black rivers meet Winyah Bay estuary
• Forested interior surrounded by tidal marshes
• Native live oak, longleaf pine, eastern red cedar, sweet gum, and other mature trees
• Natural giant Spartina cordgrass marshes (being invaded by Phragmites marsh grass)
Sandy beach (not a swimming beach; water quality not fit for swimming)
• Abundant fish populations: mullet, menhaden, red drum, black drum, catfish, and flounder.
• Fish species of special interest: American shad, Atlantic sturgeon, longnose gar, and striped bass.
• Over 140 bird species – year-round residents and seasonal migrants – including bald eagle, osprey, brown pelican, woodcock, warblers, and various hawks and owls
• Blue crabs and white shrimp inhabit the bay and comprise important commercial fisheries.

American Shad
American shad adults live in the ocean but migrate to freshwater to spawn in the early spring. Gill netters manage shad in the nearby rivers and market the roe (eggs). Like salmon, shad return to their rivers of origin after spending years at sea, with many of them summering as far north as Maine.

Grass Shrimp
Grass shrimp rarely grow to more than about one-inch in length, but play an important role in the estuary's food web because fish and birds eat them. They often occur in large numbers at the water's edge. With the white shrimp, grass shrimp are prominent elements of Winyah Bay.

Red Drum
Red drum is probably South Carolina's most popular marine game fish. Young fish up to four years old (30 inches, 12 lbs.) are common in upper Winyah Bay, but older adults live and spawn in the lower Bay and shallow ocean. Fishermen need to follow state regulations on size and harvest limits. Systematic release of caught red drum is always encouraged.

White Ibis
The white ibis is one of several types of white wading birds in the area, with long, downcurved bills suited for probing filter-mud bottoms. Large flocks and several nesting colonies occur from spring to fall. Other common white birds are the common egret, which is taller than the ibis, and has a straight yellow bill, and the snowy egret, which is shorter and has a straight black bill.

Blue Crabs
Blue crabs is one of the most important commercial fisheries in South Carolina. Pots marking traps can be seen in the area all year. Blue crabs in the upper Bay are males (jimmies); after mating, females move toward the ocean, where they release their planktonic larvae. Currents carry them out into the ocean and then juveniles move back into the estuary, giving rise to adults which spend the rest of their lives in the Bay. Blue crabs live for a few years.

Artifacts from Fort Winyah

a) Porcelain doll fragment (back of head)
b-c) White clay smoking pipe fragments
d) Porcelain doll fragment (foot/shoe)
e) Rockingham glazed yellowware hollow ware handle
f) Whiteware with blue transfer print decoration
g) Whiteware with blue shell edge decoration

Shovel test probes of one meter by one meter test units and several meter-deep trenches were dug to expose parts and artifacts with the hope of locating the original fort. At the bottom of one trench, clay bricks aligning and piling loosely, measuring approximately one-foot by six-inches were exposed in a pattern consistent with typical 1800-era spots for foundations constructed to support brick walls. These findings along with bricks and other material indicates that there were remains of Fort Winyah.

a) Horse shoe fragment
b-d) Large cut nails
e) Salt glazed stoneware
f) Machine-made glass beer bottle base

Erected by Georgetown

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County, South Carolina; City of Georgetown, South Carolina.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Forts and Castles • Parks & Recreational Areas • War, US Revolutionary. A significant historical date for this entry is December 16, 1776.

Location. 33° 21.27′ N, 79° 16.719′ W. Marker is in Georgetown, South Carolina, in Georgetown County. It is on East Bay Street south of River Road, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 401 E Bay St, Georgetown SC 29440, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in South Carolina’s Pee Dee

and on Waccamaw Neck.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: William Doyle Morgan (a few steps from this marker); John and Mary Perry Cleland House (approx. 0.6 miles away); Old Market Building (approx. 0.7 miles away); 601 - 603 Front Street (approx. ¾ mile away); Winyah Indigo Society (approx. ¾ mile away); a different marker also named Winyah Indigo Society (approx. ¾ mile away); South Carolina Champion Oak (approx. ¾ mile away); Rice is King (approx. ¾ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Georgetown.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 27, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 27, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 11 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 27, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.