Cumberland Island National Seashore Tours

Washed ashore sea star. #travel #seastar #beach #welovetoexplore

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Dungeness on Cumberland Island, Georgia, is a ruined mansion that is part of a historic district that was the home of several families significant in American history. James Oglethorpe first built on Cumberland Island in 1736, building a hunting lodge that he named Dungeness. Oglethorpe named the place after Dungeness, in England. The next Dungeness was the legacy of Revolutionary War hero Nathanael Greene, who had acquired 11,000 acres of island land in exchange for a bad debt. His widow built a four-story tabby mansion in 1803, over a Timucuan shell mound. During the War of 1812 the island was occupied by the British, who used the house as a headquarters.
In 1818 Henry “Light-Horse Harry” Lee, a dashing cavalry commander during the Revolutionary War and father of Robert E. Lee, stayed at the house until his death on March 25, 1818, cared for by Greene's daughter Louisa, and was laid to rest in nearby cemetery with full military honors provided by an American fleet stationed at St. Marys, Georgia. The house was abandoned during the U.S. Civil War and burned in 1866.
In the 1880s the property was purchased by Thomas M. Carnegie, brother of Andrew Carnegie, who began to build a new mansion on the site. The 59-room Queen Anne style mansion and grounds were completed after Carnegie's death in 1886. His wife Lucy continued to live at Dungeness and built other estates for her children, including Greyfield for Margaret Carnegie, Plum Orchard for George Lauder Carnegie, and Stafford Plantation. By this time, the Carnegies owned 90% of the island.
The Carnegies moved out of Dungeness in 1925. In 1959 the Dungeness mansion was destroyed by fire, alleged to be arson. The ruins are today preserved by the National Park Service as part of Cumberland Island National Seashore. They were acquired by the Park Service in 1972.

I am going to go with this is a Marbled godwit. Cumberland Island National Seashore lives up to its name and for wildlife photographers the island offers so much more than just horses.

Visit Cumberland Island National Seashore

Activities

Popular places to visit

Plum Orchard Mansion

You can spend time browsing the exhibits at Plum Orchard Mansion during your trip to Cumberland Island. Wander the beautiful beaches and seaside in this relaxing area.

A walk on the beach for a beautiful sunrise

Americana Beach

Why not spend a lazy afternoon at Americana Beach during your trip to Jekyll Island? Stroll along the seaside in this family-friendly area, or seek out the biking trails.

Jekyll Island State Park

Enjoy a trip to Jekyll Island State Park and popular activities like biking in Jekyll Island. Wander the beautiful beaches and seaside in this family-friendly area.

First African Baptist Church

Find out about the history of Cumberland Island with a stop at First African Baptist Church. Discover the area's museums and shops.

McIntosh Sugarmill Park

McIntosh Sugarmill Park is just one of the places to see in St. Marys, so why not enjoy the other things to explore during your travels? While in this family-friendly area, you can enjoy the restaurants.

Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay

Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay is just one of the places to see in Kings Bay, so why not enjoy the other things to explore during your travels? Wander the beautiful beaches and seaside in the area.

Best Lodging Options Near Cumberland Island National Seashore

SureStay Plus Hotel by Best Western St Marys Cumberland

2710 Osborne Rd St. Marys GA

Hampton Inn & Suites Jekyll Island

200 S Beachview Dr Jekyll Island GA

Seaside Amelia Inn

2900 Atlantic Ave Fernandina Beach FL

Spencer House Inn Bed & Breakfast

200 Osborne Street St. Marys GA

Riverview Hotel

105 Osborne Street St. Marys GA

Goodbread House Bed & Breakfast Inn

209 Osborne Street St. Marys GA

Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Kingsland Naval Base I-95

1325 East King Ave. I-95 Exit 3 Kingsland GA

Mariners Suites

2343 Village Dr Kingsland GA

Days Inn & Suites by Wyndham Jekyll Island

60 S Beachview Drive Jekyll Island GA

See all 3,960 properties in Cumberland Island National Seashore

Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.