Friends of Fort Clinch

Friends of Fort Clinch The Friends of Fort Clinch State Park's mission is the preserving of natural & cultural resources, and providing recreational & educational opportunities. Lee.

Through fund raising and grant acquisitions, the Friends enable restoration projects at historic Fort Clinch, support special events and educational programming, provide tools and equipment to assist park rangers, and expand and improve the park's renowned living history program. The Friends of Fort Clinch work closely with the local community and proudly endeavor to be an integral part of Amelia

Island, Fernandina Beach and Nassau County. Fort Clinch State Park preserves, protects and showcases natural and historical resources. Covering more than 1200 acres on Amelia Island, Fort Clinch State Park is one of Florida's first and finest state parks. With both river and ocean beach fronts there is over 2 miles of Atlantic coastline for swimming, fishing, shelling, sunbthing, and excellent bird watching. There is picnicking, campgrounds, youth camping facitities, off-road biking, Geo-seeking, hiking and Nature trails, as well as a living history interpretation at historic Fort Clinch. The natural communities in the park include maritime hammock, ancient dunes, extensive salt marshes, coastal grasslands, fresh water ponds, and miles of beautiful beaches. Alligtors, deer, bobcats, many small animals and a varied bird population live in the park. This is Florida as it originally was, in its natural state. Construction on historic Fort Clinch started in 1847 by the federal government and continued during the Civil War. occupied by Confederate forces when the war begain in 1861, it was taken by federal troops one year later, following a withdrawal order by General Robert E. The garrison operation was greatly reduced in the years folloing the Civil War and eventually ceased altogether. In 1898, the fort was reactivated for several months during the Spanish-American War. Today, Fort Clinch remains in a remarkable state of preservation. A museum details its history and each day volunteers join park rangers in bringing the fort to life through first-person interpretation. As a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, all contributions are deductible as permitted by the Internal Revenue Service.

Great day with the volunteer soldiers taking down the old flagpole in the parade field!
06/16/2026

Great day with the volunteer soldiers taking down the old flagpole in the parade field!

Fort Clinch volunteer soldiers reenact chopping down the old wooden...

Helping hands! Thank you to everyone who joined us for our 1st Annual Friends Volunteer Day (V-Day) at Fort Clinch State...
05/31/2026

Helping hands! Thank you to everyone who joined us for our 1st Annual Friends Volunteer Day (V-Day) at Fort Clinch State Park!

From Friends members and board members to park staff, rangers, and volunteers, your hard work and dedication made a visible difference throughout the park. We are grateful for your time, effort, and commitment to preserving this special place for future generations.

We appreciate each and every one of you and look forward to making this a cherished annual tradition!

Also, thanks to Frank Ofeldt for the impromptu tour for our volunteer guests.

You can become a member of Friends of Fort Clinch too! Visit: www.FortClinch.org

Sincerely,
FOFC Board of Directors
www.FortClinch.org

Photography: Melanie Waits - Next Slide Studio
& Board of Directors for www.FortClinch.org

05/29/2026

The Friends of Fort Clinch would like to sincerely thank everyone who has donated so far toward the new flag pole at Fort Clinch State Park. šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø

As our nation prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, this project serves as a meaningful reminder of the history, sacrifice, and patriotism that unite us as Americans. Thanks to your generosity, we are one step closer to seeing the American flag proudly flying once again over Fort Clinch, historic symbol of strength, freedom, and remembrance.

Every donation helps preserve this important landmark and ensures future generations can continue to experience and appreciate the rich history of Fort Clinch State Park.

Thank you for your support, your patriotism, and for helping us honor Americaā€™s past as we look ahead to this historic milestone for our nation.

To donate and learn more about Fort Clinch State Park, visit: www.fortclinch.org

Sincerely,
FOFC Board of Directors
www.fort clinch.org

05/13/2026

Red-shouldered hawks are awe-inspiring birds that demonstrate remarkable nesting, parenting, and hunting behaviors. Their dedication to nest building, egg-la...

As our nation approaches its 250th anniversary, we are proud to help preserve and enhance the history, atmosphere, and v...
05/08/2026

As our nation approaches its 250th anniversary, we are proud to help preserve and enhance the history, atmosphere, and visitor experience at Fort Clinch State Park. Weā€™re grateful to the volunteers, members, donors, and community supporters who continue to make projects like this possible.

Thank you to the News-Leader for featuring this important initiative and helping share the story with our community.

Those interested in supporting the project or learning more can visit: FortClinch.org/flagpoleļæ¼.

Watch this informative video created by our FOFC President, Bob Sell: https://youtu.be/gYs12u_a5Jc

www.fortclinch.org

The Friends of Fort Clinch exist to support the preserving of Florida's natural and cultural resources while providing outstanding recreational and educational opportunities to the public in Fort Clinch State Park.

https://youtu.be/4Bq26zGBsOQFriends of Fort Clinch partnered with the Fort Clinch State Park Rangers and other park volu...
05/02/2026

https://youtu.be/4Bq26zGBsOQ
Friends of Fort Clinch partnered with the Fort Clinch State Park Rangers and other park volunteers to create the float and participate in the 2026 Isle Of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival. We were awarded 2nd place in the category of Non-Profit/Civic Group. Congratulations to all the participated!

1 like. "2026 Isle Of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival Parade - Friends of Fort Clinch"

Be on the lookout for us in the Shrimp Festival parade this evening!Weā€™re excited to be part of this great community tra...
04/30/2026

Be on the lookout for us in the Shrimp Festival parade this evening!

Weā€™re excited to be part of this great community tradition and celebrate alongside everyone. If you see us, give a wave!

Interested in getting involved? You can become a member of Friends of Fort Clinch and help support the preservation and history of this special place.

Visit: www.fortclinch.org

Enjoy the parade and weā€™ll see you out there! šŸ¦šŸŽ‰

Thanks to the generosity of participants at our recent Astronomy Night, Friends of Fort Clinch donated over 300 pounds o...
04/20/2026

Thanks to the generosity of participants at our recent Astronomy Night, Friends of Fort Clinch donated over 300 pounds of food to Barnabas Center right here in Fernandina Beach.

This incredible contribution will help support local families facing food insecurity and reminds us what can happen when a community comes together with purpose.

Sincerely,
FOFC Board of Directors
www.fortclinch.org

For more information about Barnabas Center, visit:
www.barnabasnassau.org

Board members of Friends of Fort Clinch, along with family and friends, had the pleasure of touring the fort this past S...
04/20/2026

Board members of Friends of Fort Clinch, along with family and friends, had the pleasure of touring the fort this past Saturday, led by Frank Ofeldt, a highly passionate historian and published author. Frank brings the history in the walls and the stories of the soldiers to life.

It reminds us how important it is to support the spaces that keep history alive. Thatā€™s why organizations like Friends of Fort Clinch matter so much. They help protect, maintain, and share this history with all of us.

Hereā€™s the video of the tour, created by FOFC President, Bob Sell.

If youā€™ve never been, I highly recommend going, and if you can, consider donating. It truly makes a difference.

šŸŒæInterested in becoming a member of Friends of Fort Clinch? Visit: www.fortclinch.org

Sincerely,
FOFC Board of Directors

https://youtu.be/g9SvUcjoaPE

2 likes. "2026 Walking Tour With Frank Ofeldt "

Address

2601 Atlantic Avenue
Fernandina Beach, FL
32034

Telephone

(904) 277-6777

Website

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