Fort Mims site commemorates the Fort Mims battle which took place August 30, 1813. The attack on Fort Mims is considered a leading cause of the Creek War of 1813-1814.

In 1813, people on America’s southwestern frontier were fearful.   The Redstick faction of the Creek Indian Nation opposed growing U.S. influence in the area and had voted for war.  However, Creeks living in the Tensaw area had intermarried with the European and American settlers and were close allies.

Early in the summer, local American militia and allied Creeks attacked a group of Redsticks at Burnt Corn Creek. Tensions grew and many families along the Tensaw, Alabama and Tombigbee rivers took refuge in quickly fortified sites. 

On this site they built a stockade around Samuel Mim’s plantation.  Later, volunteer troops from  Mississippi helped enlarge it.  But as weeks passed without an attack, the people at Fort Mims grew complacent.

At midday, August 30, about 700 Redstick warriors attacked the fort.  They entered through an open gate and fired into the fort through poorly designed gunports. 

The commander, Major Daniel Beasely, died in the first wave, but part-Creek Dixon Bailey rallied the defenders. The attack continued for five hours and ended with more than 300 attackers and defenders dead, including most of the women and children at the fort. 

News spread quickly throughout the South. Troops from surrounding states and territories joined to crush the “Creek War” by the following summer.”   On August 9, 1814, the Creek leaders met  at Fort Jackson near Wetumpka and ceded 23 million acres of their  land to the United States. 

This site is owned and operated by the Alabama Historical Commission and the Fort Mims Restoration Association.  The Alabama Historical Commission also owns and operates Fort Toulouse/Fort Jackson near Wetumpka.

The site has picnic tables and an interpretive walkway, but no staff or facilities.

The five acre site of Fort Mims is located 7 miles west of Tensaw in Baldwin County off State Road 59. To reach Fort Mims take County Rd 80 off of State Rd 59 north of Stockton, Baldwin County.

For more information call 251-937-5710, or e-mail claudia_cmpbll@yahoo.com.

No admission fee.

No scheduled tours at this time.