Dear Foundation Friends,
When you visit Jekyll Island, it’s almost impossible NOT to take great pictures. You probably have a few on your smart phone of yourself with Jekyll’s pristine beauty or historic buildings in the background. If this is indeed the case, why not share? Post them to Facebook and Instagram using #JekyllIslandFoundation. Chances are you’ll see them here, and help us make even more friends!
Thanks,
Dion Davis
Executive Director
The Dolphin Club & Motor Hotel was more than a place to stay—it was a vibrant gathering spot for African American families during segregation. Under the leadership of Dave Jackson, it became a safe and joyful retreat filled with music, dancing, and shared moments.
Did you or someone you know ever visit the Dolphin Club? What memories or stories have you heard about this special place? We’d love for you to share them in the comments below!
© @mosaicmuseum
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Happy Mother’s Day from the Jekyll Island Foundation team!
Today we honor the women whose steadfastness, strength, and grace are even more inspiring than the beauty of Jekyll Island. We’re grateful for the way you preserve traditions, conserve what matters, and educate future generations.
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The Jekyll Island Conservation team has exciting news: More Muhly Grass Meadows on the Horizon!
With support from grant funding, a new 2,000-square-foot greenhouse is now producing more native plants than ever—right here on the island. This major upgrade is strengthening the Muhly Meadow Restoration Project, which has already surpassed its original goals.
But there’s still more to do. Join us to help protect, expand, and restore these vital coastal habitats.
Read more at the For the Record link in our bio.
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Jekyll Island Historic District, a National Historic Landmark administered by the state of Georgia, is situated on the southeast side of Jekyll Island. It`s a 240-acre site with 34 historic structures and one of the largest ongoing restoration projects in the southeastern United States, attracting curious guests from around the world.
Originally occupied by the Guale Indians who called the area Ospo, the island was a popular hunting and fishing site. Gen. James Edward Oglethorpe, founder of Georgia, maintained an outpost on the island, and a plantation was established by one of his officers, Maj. William Horton. In 1794 a French family, the du Bignons, bought the island. They retained possession until 1886 when the island was sold to the newly formed Jekyll Island Club.
It soon became recognized as “the richest, most inaccessible club in the world.” Club members included such notable figures as J.P. Morgan, Joseph Pulitzer, William K. Vanderbilt, and Marshall Field.
Members prized the island for its “sense of splendid isolation,” beautiful landscape, and moderate climate. Jekyll Island, with its cottage colony and clubhouse, was viewed as a little paradise, where members and guests pursued “a life of elegant leisure.”
From 1967-1968, Savannah landscape architect Clermont Huger Lee created a master development plan with the goal to restore the area known as “Millionaire’s Village” to its 1910-1929 era. Though not fully implemented, Lee’s plans served as a foundation in the redevelopment of today’s Jekyll Island Historic District.
Jekyll Island Club Historic District was added to the NRHP on January 20, 1972, and was designated a National Historic Landmark District on June 2, 1978.
Ongoing historic preservation efforts in Jekyll’s Historic District are made possible through visitation to the @mosaicmuseum and through donations to the Jekyll Island Foundation.
Give today at the link in our bio.
© Mosaic, Jekyll Island Museum
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Help keep Jekyll Island a place of wonder for generations to come.
By becoming a member or renewing your membership, you are directly supporting the conservation, preservation, and education efforts that help make Jekyll Island unique.
Join or renew at the link in our bio.
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As we approach the Jekyll Island | Gilded & Wild event, we want to extend a huge thank you to our Sustainer Sponsors for their incredible generosity and support of Jekyll Island | Gilded & Wild. Your commitment to preserving and enhancing Georgia’s beautiful barrier island makes this event a reality, and we are grateful for your partnership. We look forward to celebrating with you May 2-4!
For more information on becoming a sponsor or attending Gilded & Wild, visit gildedandwild.com.
#gildedandwild #jekyllisland #jekyllislandfoundation #goldenisles #exploregeorgia #preserve #conserve #educate #georgiacoast
As part of Jekyll Island | Gilded & Wild, you can choose from a variety of unique excursions on Saturday, May 3. One option is Middens to Millionaires, where you’ll follow the journey of the island’s first inhabitants to its last private owners before becoming a cherished state park.
Learn more about the role Georgia’s first governor, James Oglethorpe, invested in the island, and how Major Horton settled the northern end and established Georgia’s first brewery.
For more information about Jekyll Island | Gilded & Wild and to register, visit gildedandwild.com.
#gildedandwild #jekyllisland #jekyllislandfoundation #goldenisles #exploregeorgia #preserve #conserve #educate #georgiacoast
The Wanderer Memory Trail on Jekyll Island is recognized as a site of memory within the UNESCO Slave Route project. This global initiative works to break the silence surrounding the history of slavery and place its impact into universal memory.
The trail, located at the St. Andrews Picnic Area, uses interactive, self-guided exhibits to share the story of the enslaved Africans brought to Jekyll Island aboard the illegal slave ship Wanderer. Visitors can explore the survivors’ transatlantic journey, their experiences in slavery, their pursuit of freedom, and their cultural contributions that endure today.
Have you walked the Wanderer Memory Trail? What reflections or insights did you take away from your visit? We’d love to hear your thoughts below.
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Stay up-to-date with all things Jekyll Island Foundation by joining our email list to receive our monthly newsletter.
Subscribe today at the link in our bio.
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As we approach the final countdown to Jekyll Island | Gilded & Wild, we want to extend our gratitude to our Sustainer and Steward Sponsors. Your support has been instrumental in ensuring the event’s success, and we are incredibly grateful for your partnership.
Let’s make May 2-4 a celebration of Jekyll Island’s natural and historic treasures!
For more information on becoming a sponsor or attending Gilded & Wild, visit gildedandwild.com.
#gildedandwild #jekyllisland #jekyllislandfoundation #goldenisles #exploregeorgia #preserve #conserve #educate #georgiacoast
Hollybourne Cottage was built in 1890 by Club member Charles Stewart Maurice. In its original condition, the vacation retreat was a much-loved haven for Mr. and Mrs. Maurice and their nine children. The Maurice family made an annual pilgrimage to Jekyll Island, where they enjoyed a whirlwind of entertainments and explored the island’s simple pleasures.
The architectural style of Hollybourne Cottage was called Jacobethan or pseudo-Jacobean and was an early example of an eclectic Tudor style popular from 1890 until 1940. The home features Flemish gables, paired chimney flues, and patterned stonework.
It is the only home built during the Club era with tabby. And it was constructed with a steel support system, solid base of 19 brick piers in the basement, and a system of trusses to help distribute the weight and support the living and dining room ceilings without the use of beams.
Today, the cottage remains a diamond in the rough, with ongoing efforts to preserve the structure.
Ongoing historic preservation efforts in Jekyll’s Historic District are made possible through visitation to the @mosaicmuseum and through donations to the Jekyll Island Foundation.
Give today at the link in our bio.
#jekyllisland #jekyllislandfoundation #goldenisles #exploregeorgia #preserve #conserve #educate
© Mosaic, Jekyll Island Museum
Your ticket to Jekyll Island | Gilded & Wild includes a choice of excursions on Saturday, May 3. One excursion option, Out of the Archives, offers a behind-the scenes look at the National Historic Landmark District. You`ll learn what goes into preserving its 34 structures and hear from the island’s preservation team on what makes safeguarding Jekyll’s history so unique.
Join our archive team inside our most recently restored cottage to learn how artifacts are collected and protected. Get a glimpse at some of the “never before seen” treasures of the past and a peak behind the curtain of restoring centuries-old structures.
For more information about Jekyll Island | Gilded & Wild and to register, visit gildedandwild.com.
#gildedandwild #jekyllisland #jekyllislandfoundation #goldenisles #exploregeorgia #preserve #conserve #educate #georgiacoast
Don`t miss your chance to get tickets for Snakes of the Southeast!
This new, all-ages experience highlights some of the most beautiful and misunderstood animals of the Southeast: our native snake population. Participants can have a hands-on encounter with our non-venomous education ambassadors while learning about the extensive conservation research done with venomous snakes on Jekyll Island, tips for encounter identification, and how you can help ensure these unique animals remain safe in our environment.
Support conservation on Jekyll Island and get tickets today at jekyllisland.com.
#jekyllisland #jekyllislandfoundation #goldenisles #exploregeorgia #preserve #conserve #educate #georgiacoast
A huge thank you to our Sustainer, Steward, and Guardian Sponsors for your extraordinary support of Jekyll Island | Gilded & Wild. Your commitment to Jekyll Island’s conservation and preservation efforts is what makes this event so impactful.
We are honored to have you as part of this journey and can’t wait to celebrate with you on May 2-4!
For more information on becoming a sponsor or attending Gilded & Wild, visit gildedandwild.com.
#gildedandwild #jekyllisland #jekyllislandfoundation #goldenisles #exploregeorgia #preserve #conserve #educate #georgiacoast
Not able to join us for the whole weekend? You can still make an impact.
Attend the Gilded & Wild black-tie gala, celebrating the work of the Jekyll Island Foundation and the stewardship of Jekyll Island through conservation, preservation, and education initiatives. Attendees will enjoy live entertainment, a multi-course dinner, a live auction, and recognition of our generous sponsors.
Auction items include:
- A 5-Day Safaris Namibia Hunt + Observer
- Tyler Childers Concert Suite Package for 16
- A Norway vacation
- Dinner for 12 Under the Stars at Horton House
- And more!
Join us for an unforgettable evening in support of Georgia’s most intriguing barrier island.
For more information about Jekyll Island | Gilded & Wild and to register for the black-tie gala, visit gildedandwild.com.
#gildedandwild #jekyllisland #jekyllislandfoundation #goldenisles #exploregeorgia #preserve #conserve #educate #georgiacoast
In 1963, Genoa and Mamie Martin became the first residents of Jekyll Island’s St. Andrews Subdivision—a set of segregated vacation homes at St. Andrews Beach. The Martins were already well-known leaders in Glynn County, and their beach house was the beginning of a thriving community.
St. Andrews Subdivision and St. Andrews Beach—the first public beach in Georgia accessible to Black visitors—offered a unique place for families to live, gather, and enjoy the beauty of the island.
What memories or stories do you have about St. Andrews Subdivision or its early days? We’d love to hear them!
© @mosaicmuseum
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The @georgiaseaturtlecenter is expanding visitor engagement with new virtual tools, including a livestream camera and an interactive tablet. These innovations bring our rehabilitation efforts to life, allowing both in-person and remote visitors to connect with our mission of sea turtle conservation.
Read more about virtual learning at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center at the For the Record link in our bio.
#jekyllisland #jekyllislandfoundation #goldenisles #exploregeorgia #preserve #conserve #educate #georgiacoast
We are deeply grateful for our Sustainer and Steward Sponsors whose support is vital to the success of Jekyll Island | Gilded & Wild. Your dedication to preserving Jekyll Island’s natural and historic treasures ensures that future generations will be able to enjoy its beauty and significance.
Thank you for making this event possible! We can’t wait to come together May 2-4.
For more information on becoming a sponsor or attending Gilded & Wild, visit https://pulse.ly/cqgffsvq4c.
#gildedandwild #jekyllisland #jekyllislandfoundation #goldenisles #exploregeorgia #preserve #conserve #educate #georgiacoast
Villa Ospo was designed in 1927 for Walter Jennings. Jennings had joined the Club in 1926, and quickly rose to a leadership role, assuming Presidency after the death of Walter James (his brother in-law).
Jennings contracted with John Russell Pope in 1927 to design his Jekyll retreat. Pope has been considered one of America’s finest classical architects, whose important works included the Jefferson Memorial, the National Gallery of Art, Constitution Hall, the National Archives, the Temple of the Scottish Rite in Washington, D.C., mansions for William K. Vanderbilt and Marshall Field, and campus plans for Yale and Johns Hopkins Universities.
Villa Ospo is a slight departure from Pope’s typical classical form but does hint at elements of classicism bleeding through. Typical of Pope’s work, most of Villa Ospo was probably designed by members of his firm after initial discussions between Pope and his client (Jennings). Pope would leave the details to his staff, and then add final touches to the final product before presenting the plans.
Ongoing historic preservation efforts in Jekyll’s Historic District are made possible through visitation to the @mosaicmuseum and through donations to the Jekyll Island Foundation.
Give today at the link in our bio.
#jekyllisland #jekyllislandfoundation #goldenisles #exploregeorgia #preserve #conserve #educate
As part of Jekyll Island | Gilded & Wild, attendees will have the opportunity to choose from a variety of exciting excursions on Saturday, May 3. One option is Scutes and Scales—a journey into the world of reptiles. Unravel the mysteries and misconceptions surrounding the incredible species calling Jekyll Island home.
Get up close with a hands-on experience featuring the American Alligator, as well as native snakes and turtles. Dive deep into their unique biology, history, and the vital conservation efforts underway to protect them in their natural habitat. You`ll also wander through an active habitat restoration site and gain insights into the management planning that ensures these amazing creatures thrive for generations to come.
For more information about Jekyll Island | Gilded & Wild and to register, visit https://pulse.ly/jov9usbzx3.
#gildedandwild #jekyllisland #jekyllislandfoundation #goldenisles #exploregeorgia #preserve #conserve #educate #georgiacoast
It`s Turtle Crawl, Y`all!
📅 April 26, 2025 at Beach Village
Race with us on Jekyll Island as we mark the start of sea turtle nesting season on the Georgia coast. This important fundraising event supports the lifesaving work of the Georgia Sea Turtle Center.
Whether you`re up for the 10K, 5K, 1K fun run or just want to be a virtual ghost crawler, your support helps continue the Center’s mission of sea turtle rehabilitation, research, and education.
Register today 👇
https://www.jekyllisland.com/signature-events/turtle-crawl/
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A heartfelt thank you to our Sustainer Sponsors for their incredible generosity and support of Jekyll Island | Gilded & Wild. Your commitment to preserving and enhancing Georgia’s beautiful barrier island makes this event a reality, and we are grateful for your partnership. We look forward to celebrating with you May 2-4!
For more information on becoming a sponsor or attending Gilded & Wild, visit gildedandwild.com.
#GildedAndWild #jekyllisland #jekyllislandfoundation #goldenisles #exploregeorgia #preserve #conserve #educate #georgiacoast
Jekyll Island | Gilded & Wild kicks off on Friday, May 2, with the Millionaire`s Mixer! Step back in time and join us for a progressive cocktail reception through the Historic District. Mingle with America’s turn-of-the-century tycoons, including JP Morgan and other well-to-do Club members.
You’ll move through three unique cottages—Indian Mound, Mistletoe, and Moss Cottages—sampling era-inspired hors d`oeuvres and cocktails while hearing fascinating stories of the Gilded Age.
For more information and tickets, visit gildedandwild.com
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The St. Andrews Auditorium was a vital part of Jekyll Island’s African American community in the 1960s. It hosted weddings, reunions, and celebrations that brought people together in joy and connection.
Do you have a memory of attending an event at the St. Andrews Auditorium, or do you know someone who does? Share your experience or their story with us—we’d love to hear about the moments that made this space special!
© @mosaicmuseum
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Stay up-to-date with all things Jekyll Island Foundation by joining our email list to receive our monthly newsletter.
Subscribe today at the link in our bio.
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P.O. Box 13002, Jekyll Island, GA 31527
Phone: (912) 635-4100
Looking to contact the Jekyll Island Authority? Please click here.
