This is a definite 'must-visit' historic district when visiting Jekyll Island, Georgia. The…read moreatmosphere is amazing and it has an awesome collection of historic cottages as well as uniquely curated shops in addition to a few cool restaurants and eateries. We took the Landmark Trolley Tour to begin our visit and this gave us a great foundation of where to go and what to do. After the Trolley tour, we walked back beginning with Wake up coffee and ending with Faith Chapel. Such an amazing atmosphere and historical significance from the Georgia Gilded Age. A self-guided tour is free and the Landmark Trolley Tour is $20 per person.

Walking or biking around the historic district is just perfection, no other way to describe it…read more While it's a good distance to walk, it's manageable. I'd suggest buying a ticket to the Mosaic Museum and trolley tour (buy the trolley ticket and you get in the museum and chapel free) and tour the district first. After the tour you can stroll at your leisure along the homes and decide which ones you want to visit with some knowledge in your pocket. The trolley tour also gains admission into the Rockefeller home, Indian Mound that is just amazing.

Great selection of top quality art in a large variety of media. One artist was available to speak…read moreto about her art that she was showing. Another cashier was also available to talk to. They also had books from local authors. The prices were very reasonable for smaller pieces of art. (Doesn't carry art supplies.)

Jekyll Island Arts Association is housed in historic Goodyear Cottage in the Historic District on…read moreJekyll Island. The JIAA hosts art festivals and other events throughout the year, in addition to offering classes in a variety of art mediums. They have a pottery guild on the basement level, a store on the first floor, and classes upstairs. JIAA's store offers art created by its members, and they completely empty and restock the gallery every few months. There are dozens of artists' work on display; paintings, sculpture, fiber arts, pottery, even origami. It is so inspiring to walk through and look at everything. Prices range from as little as $5 or $10 for a crafty item, all the way up to the thousands for large paintings. Most of the art pays homage to the Golden Isles region, which makes it a special place to find a one-of-a-kind souvenir. I bought pottery pieces at the JIAA spring festival 2023, and a painting in Jan 2024. I smile every time I see these pieces in my home. JIAA members run the store, and often there is a member at a demonstration table working on their art during store hours, which is a very cool touch. Many members are retirees who live on the island and bring artistic experiences from all over the world, so for an arts center, this place draws from a diverse pool of talent, and a caucus of expertise. In other words, this place is beautifully appointed and well run!

I highly encourage folks who have time to take a break and walk through this historical landmark…read more I cant overstate how important this piece of history is for the island. Its solemn and eye opening, you can ride your bike within 15 minutes from most hotels to the trail. There are interactive pieces (music, instruments), life size visuals (slave house and mortal/pestle for rice milling), as well as several informational boards to view the history of the kidnapped Africans and the background of the vessel itself. The trail overlooks a bluff that you can sit on, and there is plenty of shaded seating for a snack break or picnic. Take the trip, you won't regret it. I am still moved.

This is a must-see whether you are African-American or not. It's part of our history and the…read morehistory, specifically of Jekyll Island. This is a "trail" or self guided walking tour located at the St Andrews Park. It is easy to walk through and read/see all the items. The sand path, the "trail" has exhibits at each stop telling the history of the Wanderer, one of the last slave ships to arrive stateside. The ship arrived illegally in 1858 -- after slave ships were banned. On the ship there were 409 slaves. The ship landed near this site on the Jekyll River. In addition to the ship history, you get to see and hear the history of the one of the young African boys who was enslaved. And follow him from the ship through slavery to emancipation. There are interactive displays here to enjoy as well. It's informative and interesting.

This marker stands on the north end of Jekyll Island and points out some of the earliest settlement…read morehistory that dates back to before the English colonies arrived. The marker is in good condition considering that it's under the trees. It reads, "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 booming and his few soldiers appearing and reappearing on the south beach, professed a strength he did not have. "In 1736, Spanish Commissioners Don Pedro Lamberto and Don Manuel d'Arcy, sent by Governor Sanchez of St. Augustine to discuss rival claims to the Georgia coast, were feted on Jekyll. On board the Sloop Hawk in Jekyll Sound, kilted Highlanders from Darien with clanging broadswords, Tomo-Chi-Chi and Hyllispilli with about 30 of their "chiefest" Indians in war paint and regalia loudly denounced the Spanish and helped Oglethorpe impress the visitors with strength and good will of the colonists. Agreeing to leave all questions to the courts of Spain and England, the emissaries returned to St. Augustine pleased with their mission. Angered by the decision, Spain recalled and executed Governor Sanchez. "After the Battle of Bloody Marsh, the Spaniards burned the buildings on Jekyll Island." It was erected in 1959 by the Georgia Historical Commission. [Review 19338 overall - 577 in Georgia - 308 of 2023.]

This is a cool museum to learn about the history of Jekyll Island. It is the Mosaic Museum of JI…read more We visited the museum at the end of our time in the Historic District. A great way to cool off. There's also a wonderful Mosaic Gift Shop with plenty of offerings. The same building serves as a base for the Landmark Trolley tour. The Trolley tour includes admission to both the Mosaic Museum and Faith Chapel.

This place was excellent and very good interactive exhibits that talked about the beginnings of…read moreJekyll Island

Dubignon Cottage was such a charming little piece of Jekyll Island history!…read more I loved stopping by and getting a glimpse into the island's fascinating past. The cottage dates back to Jekyll Island's glamorous Jekyll Island Club era, when some of America's wealthiest families would spend their winters on the island. It's such a beautiful reminder of just how exclusive and luxurious Jekyll Island once was. The cottage itself has so much character, surrounded by those gorgeous live oaks and Spanish moss that give Jekyll Island its dreamy Southern-coastal feel. There's something so special about standing in a place with so much history and imagining what life must have looked like here more than a century ago. I'm a sucker for historic architecture and little hidden gems, so this was definitely a fun stop during our Jekyll Island adventure. It's peaceful, picturesque, and full of old-school Southern charm. A lovely little glimpse into Jekyll Island's past and definitely worth adding to your island exploration!

Spanish over St Simons Island. 7 July 1742. The Spanish defeat lead them to evacuate the island a…read morecouple of weeks later. Overlook as the British would have seen Spanish crossings the marsh. Parking, 3 picnic tables, monument. Often overlooked major historical site. Good for a quick break.

If you like history, you'd enjoy seeing this battle site. Maybe bring a picnic lunch. This is…read morewhere the British stopped the Spanish, and secured the land to the north from Spain.

Steeped in centuries of history, the Lover's Oak in Brunswick, Georgia stands as a testament to…read moretimeless affection and enduring strength. Legend speaks of this magnificent 900-year-old Southern live oak as a rendezvous spot for Native American lovers, whispering their vows beneath its sprawling branches. Located in the heart of the Brunswick Old Town Historic District, this living monument has witnessed countless stories of love and devotion. This tree is easy to find in the Historic District in downtown Brunswick. You'll see signs with directions to the tree throughout the area.

Lovers Oak is a very old Live Oak tree (dated to the 12th C), in the Historic District of…read moreBrunswick. It's in a residential neighborhood, at the corner of Albany and Prince Streets. There is kind of a median strip in the middle of the street, where the tree lives. It has a plaque and a small sign. The lore is that Native American lovers "met under the tree." Hmmm... and then what? Ate pizza? Anyway, it's a beautiful old majestic tree, with a trunk diameter of 13 feet!!!! Worth a look-see, and a photo. It's a lot more public now than it once was, but you could probably eat some pizza under it with your sweetheart.

I never knew any of the history that we stumbled upon here!…read more First of all, the building is nicely done with great museum like displays and a cute gift shop. There was also an extremely knowledgeable person inside who gave us a ton of info about the history and the fort. We then ventured outside (bug spray may be a good idea here!) and looked at the various spots with info and the history of the butcher, baker, candlestick maker as well as the other jobs around the fort. The actual building ruins are interesting and picturesque by the water. You could easily spend a while here meandering and learning. 100% worth a visit if you are nearby!

This afternoon, my mom and I went to go tour the Fort Federica national Monument on Saint Simons…read moreIsland. It is a free fort so you don't pay a parking fee or an entrance fee. They have a museum inside along with a small gift shop as well as the fort grounds that you can walk around and read the Historical information. To get on Saint Simons Island you don't have to pay an island fee. The lady at the desk, her name is Barbara. She was very nice and assisted me with purchasing my passport guide. A passport to the national parks has little areas where you can take the stamps from the different national parks and stamp in your booklet. The passport books includes national parks all over the country. In the gift shop, they have a regular passport, an expert passport and a junior guide for a junior Rangers. 10/10