An Overview of Historic Brunswick: Our City by the Sea

Local historian Buddy Sullivan is focusing on the City by the Sea in a special two-part lecture series presented jointly by the Coastal Georgia Historical Society and the Friends of the Brunswick-Glynn County Library. Lectures will be held on Tuesdays, October 5 and 12 from 4–6 p.m. at the Brunswick-Glynn County Library, 208 Gloucester Street.

Sullivan will cover the history of Brunswick from the earliest colonial settlement of Georgia to the late 20th century. The presentation will concentrate on the story of Brunswick’s growth and development as a commercial center and seaport. Brunswick’s transportation facilities, including the railroads and the port, saw their greatest growth in the late 19th century when the town became one of the leading producers and exporters of naval stores in the world. While the emphasis will be on economic history, the story of education in Brunswick will also be discussed, particularly that of African American schools established after the Civil War.

Twentieth Century topics will include Brunswick’s important Home Front contributions, such as its major shipbuilding initiative, and the thriving commercial seafood industry which developed after the war. Dozens of historical images and Brunswick scenes will be used to illustrate the city’s rich history and make this a program not to be missed!

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Photo provided by the Coastal Georgia Historical Society

Liberty Ship JB Duke

“I was excited when the Society approached me with the idea of a new history course focusing on Brunswick. During my research, I was continually amazed at how much I did not know about the history of Brunswick. It was a rewarding personal experience for me, especially learning so much about the churches and schools. I look forward to sharing these findings and, just as importantly, adding to my own understanding of Brunswick’s past from participants in the lecture series.”

Sullivan is a noted author, historian, and lecturer, as well as Senior Historian for Coastal Georgia Historical Society. He has published over 30 books and monographs and specializes in the history of Georgia’s coast. Every January and February he presents a six-part history course, “An Overview of Georgia’s Barrier Islands,” at the Society’s A.W. Jones Heritage Center on St. Simons Island.

The cost for the pair of lectures is $35. Registration is required by visiting coastalgeorgiahistory.org.