The Golden Isles are located near Brunswick, GA. The islands of Jekyll and St. Simons are accessible by causeway. Each is as different from each other as Universal Studios is from Disney World.
Jekyll Island was our first stop. In order to preserve the historical significance of the island, real estate development has been limited to thirty percent of the island. This leaves miles of beaches and bicycle trails (a easy ride because of the level ground). Touring the historic district is the primary focal point of this island. During the late 1800s, the island was sold to a group of Northern business men, who formed the Jekyll Island Club, one of the most exclusive clubs in the world. Some of the members included Frank Goodyear, Edwin & George Gould, J.P. Morgan, Joseph Pulitzer, and William Rockefeller, who used the island for their summer "cottages". First they built the Jekyll Clubhouse, a sprawling four-story club. Today it serves as a four star hotel. You might even sleep in the same room as a Vanderbilt. The cottage owned by Crane (the plumber) is also available. Some of the cottages are undergoing restoration, but most of the outside work has been done.
Nothing much happened while these millionaires stayed there. The first draft of the Federal Reserve Act was drawn up in 1910. The president of AT&T made the first transcontinental telephone to Woodrow Wilson in DC, Alexander Graham Bell in New York, and Thomas Watson in San Francisco. After World War II, they sold the island to Georgia to use as a state park. Today it is a playground for all and is not as exclusive as once was.
The historical museum gives a history of the island from the early days of the Native Americans, through the history of the Revolution until the present day. Of particular interest are the exhibits on the restoration of the cottages: the use of various materials and architectural designs.
A trip around the island reveal the ruins of the Horton house, and his brewery, which gave comfort to the soldiers stationed on St. Simons island, just north of Jekyll Island.
To arrive at St. Simons Island you have to drive back over the causeway, drive through Brunswick, home of the Brunswick Stew, and then over another causeway to the island. The first impression of the island is the large amount of traffic and the number of houses and shopping malls.
Our first stop was to the Northern section of the island and Fort Frederica National Monument. In 1736 Gen. James Oglethorpe began an earthwork fortress to defend British interests from the Spanish encroachment from the South. Beside the fort grew the town of Frederica which thrived until the troops left the fort in 1749 after having defeated the Spanish at the Battle of Bloody Marsh. A fire a few years later leveled the town and any remaining settlers left for greener pastures. Today the visitor can see the earthworks, the foundations of the homes and stores along tree lined avenues and the ruins of the bastion. A movie at the visitors center depicts the life of the settlers of the town. It is based on actual records found at the site. When walking around the town you can envision the families and their feuds. The cemetery contains the remains of many of the early settlers. No names remain, only memories.
From the town leads six mile long Military Road, built in three days by Oglethorpe and his men. This road leads to Bloody March, the site of the battle. Along the road is Christ Episcopal Church, where John and Charles Wesley preached to the early settlers. After time they grew tired of the moral laxity of their congregation, packed up their bags, and headed back to England. There, they found people of like mind and moral standards, which resulted in Methodism.
At the South end of the island is the lighthouse and museum. The original lighthouse was destroyed by Confederate troops during the Civil War. Visitors are allowed to climb to the top for the view of the surrounding area. Around the lighthouse is the old town of St Simons, which grew up to support the inhabitants of the lighthouse.
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