Jekyll Island, GA: Tracing The History And Best Things To Do

Jekyll Island, a spot off the coast of Georgia, is a place where the history is absolutely fascinating. It was once known as the richest and most inaccessible club in the world. This is where some of America’s most influential and powerful men, including, J.P. Morgan, Joseph Pulitzer, William Vanderbilt, John Rockefeller and other elite lived seasonally on the island. As members of the exclusive Jekyll Island Club, it became a place for an escape and winter retreat with entertainment like hunting, shooting, tennis and biking. Here, these men worked on gas, railroad and steel deals and it’s even where draft legislation was written to create the U.S. Federal Reserve.
Today, you can see 34 of the structures that remain, including cottages that belonged to America’s wealthiest. A Tram tours is one of the best ways to see the area, and includes a look inside Rockefellers' Indian Mound, where I was most captivated by the wrap around porch on the three-story home.

It’s also a place to visit for the beaches because the island has miles of coastline. But the coolest part is that all 5 of the beaches here have their own personality. Anyone you talk to in town will tell you not to leave without visiting Driftwood Beach and one step onto the sand here and I could instantly see why. Here, massive washed up live oaks and pines consumed by the sea line the beach, showing the effects of erosion on the barrier island.

Aside from beaches, sea turtles are one of the most distinguishing factors on the island and the Sea Turtle Center aims to increase awareness of habitat and wildlife conservation for the endangered animal through educational exhibits.

Other spots worth checking out are the Horton House Historic Site. A military aide, William Horton, home built the 18th century plantation. The site also includes the cemetery of the DuBignon Family, which owned Jekyll from 1790 to 1886 and lived in the Horton home until they sold the island to a group of Northern investors.

Видео Jekyll Island, GA: Tracing The History And Best Things To Do канала Carri Wilbanks