Day 160 - March 22, 2013: Cumberland Island, Georgia

We have heard so many boaters rave about Cumberland Island, so we were excited to see this historic place. Cumberland is the largest of the barrier islands at 17.5 miles long and is accessible only by water. It has been occupied for thousands of years, with the Timucuan people living here when America was discovered, and later the British controlling the territory. Civil War hero, General Nathanael Greene loved this place, and after he died, his wife built a home here in 1783. Later, Thomas Carnegie (brother of Andrew Carnegie) and his wife, Lucy, acquired much of this land, and in 1884, built the famous Dungeness estate, a vacation spot for the rich and famous. The island eventually had homes for many of the Carnegie descendants. Unfortunately, in 1959, the Dungeness estate was destroyed by fire, possibly by angry poachers denied access to the island.

In 1971, after years of negotiation, the U.S. government persuaded the descendants to donate their land in order to preserve this unique area, and in 1972 Congress created the Cumberland Island National Seashore. Today, besides the Dungeness ruins, there are campgrounds, fishing and hunting locations, bicycle trails, a museum, and park tours and lectures. Most of the island remains largely as it was hundreds of years ago.

Great Laker on the visitor dock

The Museum and Headquarters back in the trees

There are no public cars allowed on the island, but there are many hiking trails, and bikes can be ridden on a few of the unpaved roads. The massive oak trees covered by Spanish moss are everywhere, and there are small herds of feral horses left to roam by the Carnegies.

Miles of walking/biking trails

Feral horses

The Dungeness shows its magnificence even in ruin, and it was easy to imagine the families and guests enjoying the home, grounds, recreation areas, and views out over the St. Mary's River and North Atlantic. Even today, people camping or visiting the island gather and enjoy spending the day here at the estate.

Entrance gate to Dungeness

View of the side and rear veranda