Near Beach View Drive, 0.1 miles north of South Riverview Drive.
In the early morning hours of November 28, 1858, the Wanderer arrived off the coast of Georgia. The vessel had just arrived from forty-two days at sea. The ship had come from Africa, en-route from a more sinister voyage. Far from its earlier . . . — — Map (db m168398) HM
Near Beach View Drive, 0.1 miles north of South Riverview Drive.
Imagine going back to an African home much like Jekyll Island where the brush is low and the trees twist and turn into each other. Coming ashore in 1858, a young boy named Cilucangy remembered the conditions in which he was forced to leave his . . . — — Map (db m168400) HM
Near Beach View Drive, 0.1 miles north of South Riverview Drive.
1808 The importation of Africans to the United States for use as slaves is banned by Congress. 1820 Congress works to end the illegal importation of Africans by making the crime punishable by death. The British Navy begins patrols of . . . — — Map (db m168396) HM
Near Beach View Drive, 0.1 miles north of South Riverview Drive.
December 1859 — Wanderer crewman J. Egbert Farnum is arrested in New York and sent to trial. He is acquitted on June 4, 1860. December 24, 1860 — The badly damaged Wanderer arrives in Boston after the crew mutinied . . . — — Map (db m168397) HM
Near Beach View Drive, 0.1 miles north of South Riverview Drive.
1 African was owned by a free black barber in Augusta, GA. 1 African, known as the "Wild African Boy" was arrested from John duBignon's land and taken to a slave hostel in Savannah owned by George Wylly where he attracted many onlookers for . . . — — Map (db m168401) HM
Honoring the Survivors of the Slave Ship Wanderer
The Wanderer survivors were among the last known groups of enslaved Africans smuggled into America. Their footsteps still echo along the Georgia coast and throughout America . . . — — Map (db m149405) HM
Near Beach View Drive, 0.1 miles north of South Riverview Drive.
I worked from early morning to late night, with no rest. I did what I had to do to survive. African captives with the knowledge, skills, and strength to work on a plantation were sold at a high price. Most Wanderer survivors were . . . — — Map (db m168801) HM
Near Beach View Drive, 0.1 miles north of South Riverview Drive.
We were trapped with no room to move. Everyone on the ship was sick and hungry and horribly sad. Owners of slave ships did their best to hold as many enslaved people as possible to make travel more profitable. Those forced onboard were . . . — — Map (db m168799) HM
On Pier Road east of Hopkins Avenue, on the right when traveling east. Reported missing.
Under the original
landscape plan, 50 plots of land were laid out around the Clubhouse in a very community-oriented fashion. However, not all of the members chose to build their own cottages on these plots.
Over the years a thriving . . . — — Map (db m234944) HM
On Riverview Drive, 0.2 miles north of Stable Road, on the right when traveling north.
With only drive and ambition, Frank Henry Goodyear rose from a $35-per-month bookkeeper to the head of a vast lumber, coal, iron, and railroad empire.
Far from viewing Jekyll Island as a place to escape the stresses of business, Goodyear took . . . — — Map (db m115120) HM
Near Riverview Drive north of Stable Road, on the left when traveling north. Reported permanently removed.
They came by water.
Long before the present-day causeway was built, the only way to reach Jekyll Island was by boat. Large steam-powered vessels from the North such as the Mallory Steamship Line delivered Club staff and sundry personal items . . . — — Map (db m115064) HM
Near James Road, 0.1 miles north of Hopkins Avenue, on the right when traveling north.
Horses, carriages, livery, and tack were all integral to the leisurely horseback rides and peaceful carriage drives enjoyed by Jekyll Island Club members. Many members brought their own supply of horses and carriages along with the coachmen and . . . — — Map (db m227643) HM
Near South Beachview Drive, 2.3 miles south of Jekyll Island Causeway (Georgia Route 520), on the left when traveling south.
From the late-1800s until the mid-1960s, Jim Crow laws enforced racial segregation in the South. These laws prevented African Americans from enjoying equal access to the same public spaces as white people, including restaurants, buses, schools, . . . — — Map (db m115140) HM
On Pier Road just west of Stable Road, on the right when traveling west.
It required an array of workers and a dedicated attention to detail to provide the superior service and Life of Luxury expected by the members of the Jekyll Island Club. The Club bookkeeper served an essential role in fulfilling those expectations . . . — — Map (db m227733) HM
Near Riverview Drive, 0.3 miles south of Stable Road, on the left when traveling south.
Gateway and supplier to Jekyll Island was the busy port of Brunswick.
Located at the mouth of the East River and accessible to even the largest ocean-going vessels, its docks and warehouses were laden with cargo.
Railways eager to distribute . . . — — Map (db m115057) HM
Near Old Plantation Road at Stable Road, on the right when traveling south.
Loyalty & Untiring Devotion
James Clark was Captain of boats for the Jekyll Island Club. Over his 40 year tenure he saw many changes that shaped his life. People relied upon him and his launch to transport them and their supplies to and . . . — — Map (db m155955) HM
On Beachview Drive at Captain Wylly Road, on the right when traveling north on Beachview Drive.
There were two Captain Wyllys in the history of Jekyll. It is believed the road was named for Charles Spalding Wylly (1836- 1923), Captain in the Confederate Army, 1st Georgia Regulars, a descendant of Clement Martin, who was granted on April 5, . . . — — Map (db m17228) HM
Near Old Plantation Road north of Schoolhouse Lane, on the right when traveling north.
Constructed in 1904, this Italian Renaissance style cottage, which contained 20 rooms and 6 baths, was designed and built for Dr. George Frederick Shrady and his wife, Hester. In 1925 Hester Shrady sold the cottage to Walter B. James, then president . . . — — Map (db m164471) HM
On Pier Road east of Hopkins Avenue, on the right when traveling east.
The corridor of Pier Road was not only the hub of service for the Jekyll Island Club, it was also the heart of the community for countless employees.
Yes, here you would find a taxidermy shop, upholstery shop, coal storage, woodsheds and . . . — — Map (db m115093) HM
On Riverview Drive, on the right when traveling south.
In 1861, Confederate battery positions on Jekyll Island were equipped with one 42-pounder gun and four 32-pounder navy guns en barbette, each having about 60 rounds of shot and shell. Casemates, hot shot furnace and magazines are recorded, also. Of . . . — — Map (db m17187) HM
Near Riverview Drive, 0.1 miles north of Stable Road, on the right when traveling north.
Joseph Pulitzer was one of the first 53 charter members of the Jekyll Island Club. He purchased his shares from Newton Finney, the Clubs mastermind.
Among the members of the Club, Pulitzer was an anomaly. He was a Democrat, whereas . . . — — Map (db m155911) HM
Near Pier Road at Riverview Drive, on the right when traveling west. Reported permanently removed.
At the heart of any luxury resort or vacation retreat is sumptuous lodging. When the Jekyll Island Club incorporated in 1885, they knew that the success of the Club depended on a splendid but simple elegant Clubhouse. The Dubignon farmhouse . . . — — Map (db m17262) HM
Near Pier Road east of Riverview Drive, on the right when traveling north.
The brick outline that you see in front of you marks the former Location of Fairbank Cottage.
When Chicago manufacturer Nathaniel Kellogg Fairbank purchased the lot in 1889, he was excited about the possibilities of his new cottage. Fairbank . . . — — Map (db m115121) HM
On Riverview Dr., on the right when traveling north.
First Transcontinental Telephone call was submitted by a telephone of this type January 25, 1915. Mr. Theodore N. Vail, President American Telephone and Telegraph Company talked from Jekyll Island, Georgia to Mr. Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of . . . — — Map (db m18494) HM
Near Beach View Drive, 0.1 miles north of South Riverview Drive.
nyam Geechee for eatMany of the foods we enjoy today were first cultivated in the United States by enslaved people. Their recipes have become a part of our collective foodways. Turn the 'prisms' and match the colors. . . . — — Map (db m168804) HM
Near Beach View Drive, 0.1 miles north of South Riverview Drive.
We still share the stories of our ancestors. We will never forget them or what they sacrificed. How can we pass on the traditions and memories that are most important to us? What legacy will you share? The Wanderer survivors . . . — — Map (db m168959) HM
On Great Dunes Lan, 0.1 miles west of Beachview Drive N., on the right when traveling west. Reported permanently removed.
The game of golf was originally mentioned among a variety of outdoor recreations when the Jekyll Island Club was formed in 1866. The first rounds were finally played on Jekyll Island in 1899. It was only the beginning of a long tradition of the . . . — — Map (db m119533) HM
On Great Dunes Lane, 0.1 miles north of Shell Road.
In 1897, the game of golf was listed among a variety of outdoor recreations and improvements planned to entertain "the younger set" at the Jekyll Island Club. The game continued to gain popularity on the island throughout the 1910s. Because . . . — — Map (db m227721) HM
On Riverview Drive, 0.2 miles south of Stable Road, on the left when traveling south.
With a wife and nine children, Charles Stewart Maurice quickly decided accommodations at the Clubhouse would not suffice. In 1890, he built Hollybourne as a home away from home for their winter stays here on the island. Maurice was a bridge . . . — — Map (db m227671) HM
On Riverview Drive north of Major Horton Rd., on the right when traveling north.
William Horton, " Undersheriff of Herefordshire,"
England came to Georgia in 1736. He built this
building for his plantation residence and it was
his home until his death in 1749. Major Horton
succeeded Oglethorpe as Commander of the
Regiment . . . — — Map (db m18431) HM
Near Riverview Drive, 0.1 miles south of Clafin Road, on the right when traveling north.
Jekyll Islands plentiful resources provided what was needed to feed and support those who lived here. When Major William Horton first arrived on Jekyll Island in 1736 to inspect his land grant, he “found the land exceedingly rich.” . . . — — Map (db m156861) HM
On Riverview Drive at Major Horton Road, on the right when traveling north on Riverview Drive.
William Horton worked and lived on this island until his death in 1748. He made numerous improvements to the land, unfortunately many of these buildings have been lost to time, and hidden by the sandy soil.
Horton completed the tabby . . . — — Map (db m17263) HM
On Riverview Drive near Major Horton Road, on the left when traveling north.
By the end of the 18th century, William
Horton's small farm had become a large and
prosperous plantation. After Horton's death, the
island had several owners prior to the arrival
of Christophe Anne Poulain du Bignon in 1791.
Christophe . . . — — Map (db m17338) HM
On Riverview Drive, on the right when traveling north.
William Horton decided to travel to Georgia with General James Oglethorpe in 1735. Unlike many passengers on the ship, Symond, he paid for his passage to America from England. Horton was granted 500 acres in return for paying for his . . . — — Map (db m17342) HM
On Riverview Drive, on the right when traveling south.
Jekyll Island was vey isolated from St.
Simons and Brunswick in the 18th & 19th
centuries. Due to this isolation the du Bignon
family was mostly self-sufficient, as were
previous owners of the island such as William
Horton. What is now . . . — — Map (db m17445) HM
Near Riverview Drive, on the right when traveling south.
The plantation that Christophe Du Bignon
established at the beginning of the nineteeth
century had its good and bad years.
When Christophe's youngest son, Henri,
married Ann Amelia Nicolau in 1808, they were
given 40 acres of planted . . . — — Map (db m18617) HM
Near Riverview Drive, 0.2 miles south of Clafin Road, on the left when traveling north.
The history of the island is tied very closely to the land. From the very beginning of William Hortons occupation on the island the land was cultivated – first by indentured servants, then later under Christophe du Bignons ownership, . . . — — Map (db m156843) HM
Near Riverview Drive, 0.1 miles south of Chafin Road, on the left when traveling north.
In the 1500s Europeans began to document and explore the area around Jekyll Island. Though the French were the first to claim the area from Jacksonville, FL to Port Royal, SC, it was the Spanish who began making an enduring imprint on this . . . — — Map (db m156925) HM
On Riverview Drive, on the right when traveling south.
There is very little photo documentation of
exactly what the Boathouse looked like during
the Club era. Club members rarely would have
been found in this area, It was typically used
by year-round employees.
The only visible evidence of . . . — — Map (db m115065) HM
On Stable Road just south of Pier Road, on the left when traveling south.
From the beginning of the Jekyll Island Club, members realized they would need stables on the island for the use of its members and staff. In 1887, landscape architect H.W.S. Cleveland suggested plans for a stable to be located behind the . . . — — Map (db m227653) HM
Here anchored the most luxurious pleasure craft in the world during the existence of the Jekyll Island Club, 1886-1942. No other yacht was comparable to John Pierpont Morgan's several Corsairs. Corsair II, too large to dock, anchored in the . . . — — Map (db m17405) HM
On Riverview Dr. near Major Horton Dr., on the right when traveling south.
Horton - Du Bignon House
Du Bignon Burial Ground
Beginning with Poulain du Bignon, five du Bignon generations made Jekyll Island one of Georgia's most romantic Golden Isles. This tabby ruin and burial ground alone remain from Jekyll Island's . . . — — Map (db m18497) HM
On Riverview Drive near Old Village Road, on the right when traveling north.
Melvin E. Thompson, Acting Governor, 1947-1949, was born in Millen, Jenkins County, Georgia, in 1903. After a career as educator and public servant, Thompson was elected Lieutenant Governor for the term beginning January, 1947. Following the death . . . — — Map (db m17207) HM
On Riverview Drive near Major Horton Drive, on the right when traveling north.
Born in England Came to Georgia in 1736 Died at Savannah in 1748
These are the remains of Horton's tabby house. Major Horton of Oglethorpe's Regiment, the first English resident of Jekyll Island, erected on the north end of Jekyll a . . . — — Map (db m17577) HM
Near Beach View Drive, 0.1 miles north of South Riverview Drive.
We walked for days along the river. I had no idea what would happen to me. I was scared. The enslaved people were taken to be sold to the European and American slave traders who stayed on the coast. This often meant a long march bound . . . — — Map (db m168798) HM
On Riverside Drive, 0.2 miles north of Plantation Road when traveling north.
McEvers Bayard Brown Oak
Centenarian Tree recognized by the Live Oak Society of the Louisiana Garden Club Federation, Inc.
This tree consists of a cluster of five trunks growing from the stump of a single live oak harvested between . . . — — Map (db m155960) HM
Near Beach View Drive, 0.1 miles north of South Riverview Drive.
The old folks told me stories of our life in Africa. I had forgotten, but they hadnt. A famous Gullah Geechee proverb says: If oonuh ent kno weh oonuh dah gwine, oonuh should kno weh oonuh come fum. Translation: If you don't . . . — — Map (db m168803) HM
What to do when you require privacy from the overflowing crowds of guests at the Clubhouse, but want to take advantage of its world-class French chef, new billiards wing, and the cheerful fireplace of the main parlor ? The answer for Henry B. . . . — — Map (db m75571) HM
On Old Plantation Road at Pier Road, on the right when traveling north on Old Plantation Road.
By 1905, tennis was gaining popularity on the island over hunting. Robert Pruyn, chairman of the committee on golf and sports, said, "For two years, tennis has been the most popular outdoor sport," and requested additional courts to be . . . — — Map (db m115118) HM
Near Beach View Drive, 0.1 miles north of South Riverview Drive.
Enslaved workers often relied on music to make their tasks more bearable. African musical instruments they were familiar with were mostly banned. Drums were banned because slave owners were afraid they would be used to communicate and possibly lead . . . — — Map (db m168802) HM
On Pier Road west of Stable Road, on the right when traveling west. Reported permanently removed.
Keeping the peace
as well as providing superior service was a difficult task. These two skills and countless other responsibilities were entrusted to the Club superintendent. Men such as J. P. Morgan, Joseph Pulitzer and Henry Hyde knew . . . — — Map (db m115112) HM
On Riverview Drive near Major Horton Drive, on the right when traveling south.
This burying ground contains the bodies of several members of the du Bignon family, descendants of Le Sieur Christophe Poulain de la Houssaye du Bignon, native of Saint-Malo in Brittany. One of four Frenchmen, former residents of Sapelo Island, . . . — — Map (db m17509) HM
On Old Plantation Road north of Schoolhouse Lane, on the right when traveling north.
Chartered by the State of Georgia to be trustworthy stewards of the island, the Jekyll Island Authority has been very active in the preservation of the National Historic Landmark District. The rehabilitation of Crane Cottage and Cherokee in . . . — — Map (db m115119) HM
Near Beach View Drive, 0.1 miles north of South Riverview Drive.
Mr. Lincoln says we are free. We can live our own lives. God bless Mr. Lincoln. In 1863, as a strategy to end the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation declaring that "all persons held as slaves, . . . — — Map (db m168805) HM
On Old Plantation Road south of Pier Road, on the right when traveling south.
Constructed in 1896, this structure housed the steamplant that provided heat in the Sans Souci apartments. The actual components were housed in a concrete basement and the steam passed through underground piping. This photograph was taken from the . . . — — Map (db m164474) HM
On South Beachview Drive, 2.3 miles south of Jekyll Island Causeway (Route 520), on the right when traveling south.
On October 23, 1958, a coal mining disaster in Springhill, Nova Scotia trapped 174 men underground. The coverage of this disaster was the first international event to be broadcast live on television.
In the hope of harnessing the media . . . — — Map (db m115128) HM
Near Old Plantation Road, 0.1 miles north of Schoolhouse Lane, on the left when traveling north.
The beautiful Queen Anne cottage Solterra burned to the ground in 1914. The only thing remaining as the sun set on March 9, 1914, was a brick chimney and a small outbuilding — the Dovecote. The Dovecote became a multipurpose building after . . . — — Map (db m164494) HM
On South Beachview Drive, 2.3 miles south of Jekyll Island Causeway (Georgia Route 520), on the right when traveling south.
On March 6, 1948, Jekyll Island opened as a state park for the citizens of Georgia. However, the new public seashore was not available to everyone, at first. Because of segregation, African Americans could not visit many areas of Jekyll Island, . . . — — Map (db m115135) HM
Near Beach View Drive, 0.1 miles north of South Riverview Drive.
I was given clothes and food and sold to a white man. His family called me Lucius Williams. I was no longer called Umwalla. When a slave ship docked, the enslaved were washed and oiled to make them look healthier. They were then sold at . . . — — Map (db m168800) HM
Near Beach View Drive, 0.1 miles north of South Riverview Drive.
Around 409 captive men, women, and children were illegally smuggled aboard the Wanderer for sale in the United States. A large number of Wanderer Survivors are not named on this list, because we do not have enough information about . . . — — Map (db m168783) HM
On Riverview Drive near Major Horton Drive, on the right when traveling north.
Tabby was the building material for walls, floors, and roofs widely used throughout coastal Georgia during the Military and Plantation Eras. It was composed of equal parts of sand, lime, oyster shell and water mixed into a mortar and poured into . . . — — Map (db m17578) HM
Near Beach View Drive, 0.1 miles north of South Riverview Drive.
My parents named me Umwalla. I was 10 when strangers took me away in ropes to be sold. I never saw my family again. The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade was the largest forced migration of people in world history. For 350 years slave . . . — — Map (db m168794) HM
On Riverview Drive, 0.2 miles south of Stable Road, on the left when traveling south. Reported permanently removed.
With a family of eight Charles Stewart Maurice quickly decided accommodations of the Club House would not suffice. In 1890 he built Hollybourne, with plenty of large open, informal spaces, a home away from home during their winter stays here . . . — — Map (db m115056) HM
On Riverview Drive, 0.3 miles south of Stable Road, on the left when traveling south.
Edwin Gould purchased Chichota cottage within 5 days of his first visit to Jekyll Island in December of 1900. He quickly began modifying the cottage for his familys arrival in March. Edwin made a commitment to the Island, purchasing several . . . — — Map (db m72663) HM
Near South Beachview Drive, 2.3 miles Jekyll Island Causeway (Georgia Route 520), on the left when traveling south.
The Beach Pavilion in front of you opened on September 25, 1955 to great fanfare, as St. Andrews Beach became the first public beach in Georgia to welcome African Americans. Celebrations included a motorcade, dedication ceremony, and music by the . . . — — Map (db m115137) HM
On Riverview Drive, on the right when traveling south.
This is the site of the Jekyll Island Club Boat House where the 100 foot steamer The Jekyll Island was stored during the off season. (The Club season was usually from after New Years until before Easter).
There was no Jekyll Creek . . . — — Map (db m17462) HM
Near Riverview Drive, 0.3 miles north of Stable Road, on the left when traveling north.
The gateway to Jekyll Island, the Club Wharf provided a perfect location for members to gather and socialize upon arrival, or to say long goodbyes after a pleasant winter season. The only way that a person was allowed onto Jekyll Island from 1886 . . . — — Map (db m214889) HM
Near Riverview Drive just north of Pier Road, on the left when traveling north.
They came by water. Long before the present-day causeway was built, the only way to reach Jekyll Island was by boat. Large steam-powered vessels from the North, such as the Mallory Steamship Line, delivered Club staff and sundry personal items . . . — — Map (db m227718) HM
On Pier Road at Riverview Drive, on the right when traveling west on Pier Road.
The Executive Committee hired architect Charles Alexander to design the Clubhouse. He designed the building in a Queen Anne style that complemented the natural beauty of the island and emphasized the rustic simplicity that the Jekyll Island Club . . . — — Map (db m115117) HM
Near South Beachview Drive, 2.3 miles south of Jekyll Island Causeway (Georgia Route 520), on the left when traveling south.
From 1959 to 1966, the Dolphin Club Lounge provided lively entertainment for visitors to the historically black St. Andrews Beach.
Juke joints like this one once stretched across the southeastern United States. On remote Jekyll Island, the . . . — — Map (db m115141) HM
Near South Beachview Drive, 2.3 miles south of Jekyll Island Causeway (Georgia Route 520), on the left when traveling south.
The St. Andrews Beach Corporation formed in early 1956 to build a motel and restaurant here on Jekyll Island's once segregated South End. The company included many successful black business owners from Brunswick. In partnership with the Jekyll . . . — — Map (db m115139) HM
On Old Plantation Road west of Stable Road, on the right when traveling west.
On the Move
When first constructed in 1890, Furness Cottage stood as a lone sentry in the southern portion of the Club compound.
The growing popularity of cottage construction led to its first move, off of Riverview Drive.
. . . — — Map (db m115114) HM
The Czar of Jekyll Island
What to do when you require privacy from the overflowing crowds of guests at the Clubhouse, but want to take advantage of its world-class French chef, new billiards wing, and the cheerful fireplace of the main . . . — — Map (db m155904) HM
On Pier Road, 0.5 miles east of Old Plantation Road, on the right when traveling west.
The Skeet House is not in its original location, but stands as a symbol of the core philosophy that the Jekyll Island Club was founded upon outdoor recreation.
The Skeet House, along with the Skeet and Trap Range, was constructed in . . . — — Map (db m234943) HM
On Beachview Drive at Clam Creek Road, on the right when traveling west on Beachview Drive.
Within sight and sound of St. Simons Island, Jekyll Island was ideal for entertaining Spanish visitors to the settlement at Frederica. Major William Horton, resident of the island, received the guests while Oglethorpe on St. Simons, with cannon . . . — — Map (db m17281) HM
Near Old Plantation Road at Stable Road, on the left when traveling north.
were planted October, 1976, during our Bicentennial Celebration by the Jekyll Island Garden Club in commemoration of the Thirteen Original Colonies — — Map (db m227663) HM
Near Old Plantation Road at Hopkins Avenue, on the right when traveling south.
Early in the morning, early in the century, it happened: Solterra caught fire. Built by charter member Frederick Baker in 1890, the house was an emblem of the nineteenth century: proper, discrete, upright. The old century seemed to be going . . . — — Map (db m72668) HM
Near Old Plantation Road, 0.1 miles north of Schoolhouse Lane, on the right when traveling north.
At the Jekyll Island Club's peak of activity there were many more support structures and cottages than you see today. Some buildings were destroyed by natural events, while others fell into disrepair and were demolished - and much of the story of . . . — — Map (db m164519) HM
Near Old Plantation Road at Stable Road, on the right when traveling south.
A Warm Welcome
Walter Jennings, a former Standard Oil director, built Villa Ospo, as a winter getaway for his family in 1927.
Walter and his wife, Jean, were very involved with the Jekyll Island Club and often greeted newcomers and . . . — — Map (db m155954) HM
Near Ocean Way at Main Street, on the right when traveling north.
Great Dunes Park is named for the historic Great Dunes Golf Course, designed by Walter Travis. Travis was considered the most successful amateur golfer in the United States during the 1900s and 1910s. The golf course was an 18-hole course placed . . . — — Map (db m115154) HM
Near Main Street at Ocean Way, on the left when traveling east.
Great Dunes Park is named for the historic Great Dunes Gulf Course, designed by Walter Travis. Travis was considered the most successful amateur golfer in the United States during the 1900s and 1910s. The golf course was an 18-hole course built . . . — — Map (db m157008) HM
