The gleaming white tower of the St. Simons Island lighthouse is perhaps the most visible symbol of the island’s history. No visit here is complete without a climb to the top. Take the 129 stairs up to the observation deck to get a birds-eye view of the island and learn more about the history of this special island icon in the museum operated by the Coastal Georgia Historic Society that is housed in the brick lightkeeper’s cottage. A few interesting facts: the current lighthouse is not the original light, which was built by James Gould in 1807; this lighthouse, constructed by renowned Georgia architect Charles Cluskey in 1872, is actually the third structure; it uses a third-order Fresnel lens. While many hundreds of lighthouses are operational along sea and lake shores in the U.S., only 85 cast and concentrate their beams through a Fresnel lens. Our lighthouse is one of only 15 that operate using an authentic, third order Fresnel lens. At night, ships navigating our coastal waters can see its brilliant beam from up to 20 miles away. The lighthouse is identifiable to mariners by its flash pattern of one strong flash every 60 seconds. It’s also rumored to be haunted!
Another site operated by the Coastal Georgia Historical Society is the World War II Home Front Museum where you can learn more about the island’s earlier days through interactive exhibits and recorded recollections of people who lived and worked here in those times. For more information, see coastalgeorgiahistory.org.
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Historic Fort Frederica in St Simons Island, Georgia
Fort Frederica National Monument takes you back in time as one of Georgia’s earliest English settlements, founded by General James Oglethorpe with the fort built in 1736. By 1743, the town had nearly 1,000 residents. The site was established as a national monument in May 1936. Ranger-led tours are offered daily and there are also living history demonstrations and special events at the fort. Admission is free. For more information, visit nps.gov/fofr and follow the Fort Frederica Facebook page.
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Brick Path to Christ Church
The old Christ Church on Saint Simons Island, Georgia
Other sites of historic significance include Christ Church Frederica and its cemetery, Wesley Memorial Gardens, Historic Harrington Schoolhouse Cultural Center, the Bloody Marsh battle site, and the Ibo (Igbo) Landing marker. Board one of the trolleys that operate from the Pier for a guided tour around the island and the sites mentioned here.
