Due to the overwhelming response to Astronomy Night, we have reached our maximum capacity for the fort.

Thank you for your tremendous interest and for the many contributions supporting this event.

We are planning a Solar Viewing event later this year in partnership with the Northeast Florida Astronomical Society. Please keep an eye out for announcements about this upcoming program.

The Florida Park Service – District 2 has recognized several outstanding community partners in Fernandina Beach for their exceptional support of Fort Clinch State Park. District leadership specifically will honor RYAM, Smurfit/WestRock, and Lignotech as exemplary community partners whose ongoing contributions make a meaningful impact on the park and its programs.

In addition, the newly completed accessible Fort Clinch Playground has been selected as the district’s Best Park Project.

The three community partners and the playground project will be formally recognized next month during a district ceremony. An Appreciation & Awards Luncheon will be held at O’Leno State Park.

I had the great opportunity to visit with Fort Clinch State Park Specialist and historian Frank Ofeldt. Frank has been with the FPS for 33 years. He has extensive knowledge of Fort Clinch, having written two books with a third book due out later in 2026.

As a benefit for being a member of the Friends of Fort Clinch, the Board of the Friends of Fort Clinch (FOFC) cordially invite you to a Candlelight Tour on Saturday, December 6, 2025 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Appetizers and beverages will be provided.  

Civil War Reenactors will be in the Fort and will interpret how life was during the time it was used as a Civil War era fortification.

At 7:15 p.m. we will have a brief Annual Meeting to review accomplishments and expenditures for the year 2025. Meeting attendance is optional. A visual presentation will highlight this year’s accomplishments and expenditures, along with an overview of the board candidates and their backgrounds. During the meeting, members will have the opportunity to vote for candidates to serve a two-year term on the Friends of Fort Clinch Board. 

There will be no park and fort entry fees for the evening.  Please register by Thursday, December 4th, 2025.

Not a member, then become one. Join by Friday, November 29th and join us for this reception. 

A brand-new, state-of-the-art accessible playground right here at Fort Clinch State Park! Check out the Video on YouTube!

View slideshow on YouTube 

A heartfelt thank you to our members, volunteers, and community partners for making this year’s Cars and Cannons Vintage Car Show such a great success! We welcomed 667 visitors to the Fort and received 485 People’s Choice ballots. The 2025 People’s Choice Award was presented to Art Cusick for his 1945 Army Jeep. Congratulations Art! We’ll be sharing a photo slideshow of the event next week, so stay tuned.

We also want to give special recognition to the park rangers and staff of Fort Clinch State Park, the Visitor Center team, Auto Legends Amelia, Laid Back Band, photographer David Beverly, and Pinay Island Kitchen for their incredible support.

Finally, we’re always looking for more Friends! Membership helps fund restoration projects, educational programming, special events, and the park’s renowned living history program. If you’d like to join us in preserving and enhancing this historic treasure, please visit our Membership Page!

As we prep for the 2025 Car Show, here a look at 2024: