Georgia's Online
Outdoor Recreation and Adventure Guide - www.n-georgia.com
Discover Georgia's
beautiful parks, wildlife, mountains, waterfalls, lakes, coast and
islands, Civil War and historic sites, gardens, trails, festivals, and
other fun places to visit. Whether you are going out for a day or
vacationing in Georgia, this site is full of outdoor recreational ideas
and maps at your fingertips. Relax, browse around and get ready
for good times in Georgia.
Welcome
to Tybee Island, Georgia!
Experience Tybee Island. Sand, sea and
salty
breezes have a charm all their own, but when combined with a dash of history, fresh local cuisine and an array of outdoor adventures, there's a guaranteed
draw for a family vacation to Tybee Island.
Tybee Island is a history buff's dream! Tybee's location in the southern coast made the island an important defense during many Americ wars.
The north end offers Fort Screven - the site of Spanish-American
War-era fortifications.
Looking
for a fun vacation rental on Georgia's coast and islands?
HomeAway Tybee Island Vacation Rentals has a great selection of rentals at St. Simons
Island, Tybee Island, Savannah, Jekyll Island, Blackshear and
the Satilla River.
Historic
Sites & Museums
Tybee
Island Pier & Pavilion
Shown below is the new Tybee Island Pier and
Pavilion recently rebuilt. It is freely open to the public. Besides its
spectacular view and great fishing location, it also a is a meeting place used
for dances, musical performances and special events. On the premises are picnic
tables, snack bar, and public restrooms.
The original Tybee Island Pier and Pavilion was a
very popular location in the early 1900's before it had burned down in a great
fire in the 1920's.
The
Tybee Museum
Located off U.S. Highway 80 in an 1898 coastal artillery battery at Fort Screven
circa 1875.The Tybee Museum has historical exhibits showing
island life from colonial days and on through World War II. The Tybee Museum is open year round to the
public. Even during the winter month visitors frequent trips to come and view
artifacts, and to learn more about the history of our island, with a particular
focus on the civil war era.
Surfacing
in a converted historic movie theater on the St. Marys waterfront, the Museum is
one attraction not to be missed! Get ready to see firsthand a working periscope,
models of torpedoes, and many displays made from actual submarines. See a
deep-sea diving suit and submarine uniforms, command plaques, photographs and
models of submarines, an area for watching movies on submarines, working sonar
panels, a history of submarines, a reading area, a reference area, gift shop and
a display dedicated to the eight submariners who received the Medals of Honor.
Walls and walls of memorabilia track the history of the submarine.
The
Fort Pulaski National Monument Located on U.S. Highway 80 and named for
Cassimere Pulaski, this fort was built between 1829 and 1844 on Cockspur Island
(located just before entering Tybee Island) to guard the sea approach to
Savannah. Towering walls, artillery tunnels, to
moats and a wide drawbridge are special features. One of the engineers for the
fort was a special features. One of the engineers for the fort was a young West
Point graduate: Robert E. Lee.
The defining events of Fort Pulaski occurred
during the American Civil War. In April of 1862, Union troops directed rifled
cannon fire at the fort breaching the southeast angle. The quick success
of this experimental cannon surprised military strategists. The accuracy and range of the rifled cannon rendered brick fortifications
obsolete.
On October 15, 1924, by Executive Order, Fort
Pulaski became a National Monument. In 1933, the National Park Service accepted
transfer of the site from the War Department.
To view a video tour of Fort Pulaski in Tybee
Island, click on one of the images below. Movie files are small and large,
and are stated below the images.
1884 KBs
5636 KBs
For
a video tour of Fort Jackson in Tybee Island, click on the image below.
3.4 Megs
For
a whimsical video tour of birds in Tybee Island and coastal Georgia, click on
one of the images below.
3.4 Megs
10 Megs
The
Tybee Lighthouse
Located off U.S. Highway 80 at Fort Screven, visitors can climb 178 steps to the
top of America's third oldest, and Georgia's lighthouse that is still working
today. Enjoy a spectacular view of the entire island!The original Tybee Island lighthouse
was built in 1736.
At 90 foot high, it was the tallest structure
of its kind in America.
A storm destroyed the original, A new one
standing 94 feet high was completed in 1742. It was replaced in 1773, standing
100 feet high, but was almost destroyed by Confederate troops from Fort Pulaski
in 1862. The lower 60 feet however was undamaged, and the lighthouse was rebuilt
from that point. In 1869 the lighthouse was moved back a 164 feet from it's
original location to protect it from increasing tides. It became damaged by
storms, and a earthquake which broke the lens of the light.
It was prepared as a relay warning of the British
during the war of 1812. The American Revolution, The War Between the States,
World War 1, and World War 2. Today the Tybee Island lighthouse stands at a
hundred and fifty-four feet, and has recently undergone extensive renovation.
The
Cockspur Lighthouse
The Cockspur Lighthouse marks the South
Channel of the Savannah River. It was originally constructed in 1848 and
stood 25' above sea level and possessed 5 lamps which enabled it to be
visible for nine miles.In 1854 the structure was destroyed by
a hurricane. The tower was rebuilt and enlarged on the same foundation the
next year.
During the battle at Fort Pulaski in 1862
the Cockspur Beacon was constantly directly in the line of fire, but
miraculously, the little beacon suffered a minimal amount of damage. Theories
abound as to why the tower escaped destruction. The reason being, it is
assumed, is because the Union artillerists had to fire shots at such a high
angle to hit the fort that the artillery flew over the tower!
On June 1, 1909, the Cockspur Lighthouse retired
from service to the military. By presidential proclamation, the Cockspur
Beacon was transferred from the United States Coast Guard to the National Park
Service in 1958, and dedication to preservation of this historic landmark began.
The
Tybee Island Marine Science Center -
(912) 786-5917
Marine education programs began on Tybee Island in 1987 with beach walks and
seining. The Tybee Marine Science Center opened its doors in May of 1988. Both
efforts were to provide marine education programs for the public.
Join us every summer at the Tybee Island Marine Science Center for Sea Camp!
Each Sea Camp program involves a variety of hands-on activities centered around
a specific ocean theme. Our marine educators use nets, microscopes, a touch
tank, crafts and more to engage your child in a fun-filled learning experience.
Each class meets two hours per day for one week. Programs are available for
children ages three through twelve.
Our marine educators lead one-hour guided Discovery Walks on the Tybee Beach.
All ages are welcome to join in for shoreline discoveries. Learn about shells,
sand dunes, geology, tides, and inhabitants of the beach on Tybee Island.
Participants will sift the wet sand to find creatures that live beneath their
feet and pull a seine net (weather dependent) to see what lives in the surf.
Call for more information on these events.
Old Savannah-Tybee Railroad
Trail
Located along US Highway 80, this historic 6.5 mile crushed-stone trail follows
a portion of the roadbed of a rail line that connected Tybee Island to Savannah
during the late 1800's. Walkers, joggers and bicyclists enjoy a scenic
tree-lined trail with excellent river views and wildlife along the waterway and
adjacent marsh.
Experience Tybee Island. Sand, sea and
salty
breezes have a charm all their own, but when combined with a dash of history, fresh local cuisine and an array of outdoor adventures, there's a guaranteed
draw for a family vacation to Tybee Island.
