BRUNSWICK, GA - EXPLORING JEKYLL ISLAND AND ST. SIMONS ISLAND

Tuesday, April 14th to Wednesday, April 15th, 2015

Day 253-254
Miles Traveled: 0
Total Miles Traveled: 3093


  Tuesday we went site-seeing at nearby St. Simons Island and Jekyll Island.

  In the late 1800's and early 1900's, Jekyll Island was the winter playground for some of the wealthiest families in American history.  Newton Finney and his brother-in-law, John Eugene DuBignon, were the early developers whose plan for a hunting club for wealthy northerners hatched into the most exclusive social club in the United States.  DuBignon purchased the island and then sold it to the newly incorporated Jekyll Island Club and its original 53 members for $125,000.  Among Jekyll Island Club members were J.P Morgan, Joseph Pulitzer, William Vanderbilt, and William Rockefeller.  The first building built was the Jekyll Island Clubhouse in 1888.  It currently is being used as a hotel.  One of the first condominiums in the United States, which was called Sans Souci, was built here on Jekyll Island.  

Sans Souci - one of the first condos in the U.S.

  Later, the families began building their own winter cottages.  Cottage by definition is a small home.  "Small" must have a different meaning to these families.  Most of these cottages had over ten rooms and were well over 5,000 square feet.

DuBignon Cottage

Moss Cottage

  The Club built their own servants quarters, recreation hall, school (for the servants children), and church on the Jekyll Island Club campus. 

Faith Chapel

  The demise of the Jekyll Island Club began with the Great Depression.  Many of the members lost their wealth and were unable to afford the dues.  Those that remained, stopped coming during World War II due to the fear of attack from the German U-boats that frequented the eastern shores of Georgia.  The state of Georgia was able to obtain the land and the remains of the cottages of the Jekyll Island Club.  Several have been restored and are being used as hotels, offices, event centers, and museums.  Others are still in the process of being restored.
To read more history about the Jekyll Island Club go to: http://www.jekyllclub.com/about-us/club-history/


  St. Simons Island is home to a maritime museum and the St. Simons Lighthouse.  The Maritime Museum is housed in an old historic Coast Guard Station.  This station was built in 1935 as a WPA (Works Progress Administration) project during the Roosevelt era.  It was commissioned in 1937 and decommissioned in 1995.  Ollie, a "Coastie", helps guide you through the museum.  

Maritime Center in the Historic Coast Guard Station

Dan with Ollie, the "Coastie"

  Next, we visited the St. Simons Lighthouse.  This is still an active lighthouse helping ships to navigate safely into the harbor.  The initial lighthouse on St. Simons Island was destroyed by the Confederates during the Civil War.  They were afraid that the Union would gain control of the area and did not want want them to have the aid of the lighthouse.  The current lighthouse and Keeper's Dwelling were built during 1868-1872.  The lighthouse is 104 feet tall and still uses a third order Fresnel lens.  There are 129 steps up a spiral staircase to reach the top.  The view from the top was worth the effort of the climb. 

St. Simon Lighthouse and Keeper's Dwelling

view from top of lighthouse

  Wednesday was shopping and laundry day in preparation for departure from Brunswick, GA.  It rained off and on all day, so not a great day for exploring or traveling.  It also made it challenging getting the clean and DRY clothes back to the boat.  Some garbage bags helped out.  We were a bit wet, but, the clothes were still dry.  The rental car was returned in the afternoon and rain continued into the evening, so, dinner was aboard Seahorse this night.