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
Kick off your summer with a walk through history. Adventures in Architecture – A Scavenger Hunt invites you to explore the exteriors of Jekyll Island’s Historic District and uncover the architectural details that often go unnoticed.
From Gilded Age grandeur to hidden craftsmanship, each stop reveals something new for the sharp-eyed visitor. Start your self-guided journey at Mosaic, Jekyll Island Museum, where maps are available to begin the hunt.
Whether you’re a history buff or just looking for a unique way to spend the day, this is one adventure you won’t want to miss.
Get tickets at the link in our bio.
#jekyllisland #jekyllislandfoundation #goldenisles #exploregeorgia #preserve #conserve #educate #georgiacoast
Help us say thank you to the @westinjekyllisland, a longtime supporter of the Jekyll Island Foundation, for being a corporate sponsor!
This four-star luxury resort offers direct beach access and breathtaking ocean views. Next door is the Beach Village with shopping, dining and The Jekyll Island Convention Center.
The Westin Jekyll Island Beach Resort`s support allows us to fund projects promoting education, conservation and preservation on Jekyll Island.
Learn more about The Westin Jekyll Island Beach Resort at the Meet Our Corporate Sponsors link in our bio.
If you are interested in becoming a corporate sponsor, learn more at the Become a Corporate Sponsor link in our bio.
#jekyllisland #jekyllislandfoundation #goldenisles #exploregeorgia #preserve #conserve #educate
What was Indian Mound Cottage like before it became the Rockefeller retreat?
Built in 1892 by Gordon McKay, the home originally had a much simpler design. It featured just one public room—the parlor near the front door—with the rest of the house dedicated to bedrooms, each with its own private bath. This unique layout still influences the home today, with a bathroom opening onto the Reception Room.
By 1905, William Rockefeller purchased the property and began transforming it into the remarkable home you see today.
Ongoing historic preservation efforts in Jekyll’s Historic District are made possible through visitation to the Jekyll Island Museum and through donations to the Jekyll Island Foundation.
Support preservation efforts at the link in our bio.
©Jekyll Island Museum
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Honor your friends and loved ones by adopting a palm tree in one of Jekyll Island`s most scenic areas. 🌴
Existing tree adoptions help to fund conservation and preservation efforts on Jekyll Island. Learn how to adopt a palm tree on Jekyll Island at the link in our bio.
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From beachside adventures to quiet moments in nature, fathers shape our stories in ways big and small.
Wishing all the dads a beautiful and joy-filled Father’s Day.
#jekyllisland #jekyllislandfoundation #goldenisles #exploregeorgia #preserve #conserve #educate #georgiacoast #happyfathersday #fathersday
Remember to keep your eyes peeled when driving on the causeway!
Thanks to the ongoing conservation program led by the @georgiaseaturtlecenter automobile-induced mortality has been steadily declining the past several years.
From sea turtles on Jekyll’s oceanfront beaches, to freshwater turtles and box turtles on the island’s interior, to diamondback terrapins that inhabit our marshes, each one is studied by the Georgia Sea Turtle Center team and Jekyll Island Authority conservationists.
Support this great work through a tax-deductible contribution: https://bit.ly/3HWy1jh
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Jekyll Island`s sea turtle nesting season is off to a strong start with the first nest of 2025 found near the Glory Beach Boardwalk. Thanks to the efforts of volunteers and the Sea Turtle Patrol team, this nest, and every one that follows, will be getting the care they deserve.
With new, easy-to-read beach signs and a real-time sea turtle tracker, it`s easier than ever to follow the season and see how your support makes a difference. Volunteers are the heartbeat of this work—and every gift helps keep the momentum going.
Get the full story and see the live tracker at the link in our bio.
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Who makes it possible to preserve the beauty and history of Jekyll Island? The incredible team at the @jekyll_island Authority!
To all the board members, staff, and volunteers, thank you for your dedication to supporting education, conservation, and preservation projects.
Learn more about their impactful work at the Meet Our Corporate Sponsors link in our bio.
Want to make a difference, too? Explore corporate sponsorship opportunities at the Become a Corporate Sponsors link in our bio.
#jekyllisland #jekyllislandfoundation #goldenisles #exploregeorgia #preserve #conserve #educate
#DidYouKnow—Henry Kirk Porter, a locomotive manufacturer and United States Senator, built Mistletoe Cottage in 1900. It was designed by Charles Alling Gifford as a Dutch Colonial Revival, with elements of both shingle style and classical style.
John Chaffin leased the home from Porter`s estate in 1924 and two years later bought it. At his death was the last living character member of the Club.
In more recent years, preservation staff consulted with specialists from the Northeast Document and Conservation Center to rehabilitate the cottage’s sunroom to its Jekyll Island Club-Era appearance. Efforts included:
—conducting a historic paint analysis to return the walls of the sunroom to their original blue paint color
—reproducing the hand-painted ceiling treatment featuring images of birds and leaves in brilliant colors
—framing the original Chinese silk wallpaper for display in the cottage
Ongoing historic preservation efforts in Jekyll’s Historic District are made possible through visitation to the Jekyll Island Museum and through donations to the Jekyll Island Foundation.
Give today at the link in our bio.
#jekyllisland #jekyllislandfoundation #goldenisles #exploregeorgia #preserve #conserve #educate
The Wanderer Memory Trail on Jekyll Island tells the powerful story of the enslaved Africans brought here in 1858 on one of the last known illegal slave ships. Walking the trail offers a moment of reflection on their strength and the legacy they left behind.
Have you walked the Wanderer Memory Trail? What thoughts or feelings did it evoke for you? Share your reflections—we’d love to hear your perspective.
#jekyllisland #jekyllislandfoundation #goldenisles #exploregeorgia #preserve #conserve #educate
The Skeet House was originally built in the 1930s for recreational use by the Jekyll Island Club. Skeet shooting was a popular activity at the island resort, which first formed in 1886 as a hunting club.
In 2016, thanks to fundraising assistance by the Jekyll Island Foundation, the building became the focus of preservation efforts by the @mosaicmuseum. It was taken apart piece by piece and reassembled in its current location along Pier Road.
In its new home in the heart of the historic district, the Skeet House now provides a centralized activity space for educational programs and entertainment within the historic district.
Ongoing historic preservation efforts in Jekyll’s Historic District are made possible through visitation to the Jekyll Island Museum and through donations to the Jekyll Island Foundation.
Give today at the link in our bio.
#jekyllisland #jekyllislandfoundation #goldenisles #exploregeorgia #preserve #conserve #educate
In 1960, Dr. James Clinton Wilkes, president of the Black Dental Association of Georgia, made a bold request: to hold the Association’s annual convention on Jekyll Island. While the Dolphin Club and Motor Hotel could accommodate guests, there was no space for a convention. Using the “separate but equal” principle, Dr. Wilkes advocated for the construction of a proper facility, forcing Jekyll Island to build the St. Andrews Auditorium.
The Auditorium became a vital space for the Black community, hosting reunions, dances, and even performances by legendary artists like Otis Redding. But Dr. Wilkes’ impact went far beyond the Auditorium. A resident of Jekyll Island, he was a steadfast advocate for desegregation in Brunswick and the Golden Isles, even appearing in the documentary The Quiet Conflict, which chronicled the local journey toward integration.
Although the St. Andrews Auditorium no longer stands, markers across the Dolphin Club site honor its history and Dr. Wilkes’ civil rights work.
Do you or your family have memories of the Dolphin Club, the St. Andrews Auditorium, or Dr. Wilkes? We’d love to hear your stories—share them below!
© @mosaicmuseum
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Members are an integral part of the work of the Jekyll Island Foundation, and we are always excited to welcome more individuals to this special group!
Foundation membership is a very simple process and allows you a number of wonderful privileges as you visit Jekyll Island. Membership privileges expand with the amount of your gift and include annual island parking passes, guest amenity passes, gift shop discounts, and more.
Learn more about our membership benefits at the link in our bio.
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Today, we pause in gratitude.
To those who gave all—and to the legacy they left behind—your sacrifice is not forgotten.
This Memorial Day, we honor and remember with reverence.
#MemorialDay #RememberAndHonor #jekyllisland #jekyllislandfoundation #goldenisles #exploregeorgia #preserve #conserve #educate #georgiacoast
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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Let`s thank our corporate sponsor the @jekyllclub!
Their support furthers dozens of education, conservation, and preservation projects on Jekyll Island.
Learn more about the Jekyll Island Club Resor at the Meet Our Corporate Sponsors link in our bio.
If you are interested in becoming a corporate sponsor, learn more at the Become a Corporate Sponsor link in our bio.
#jekyllisland #jekyllislandfoundation #goldenisles #exploregeorgia #preserve #conserve #educate
How did Indian Mound Cottage become the architectural treasure it is today?
After purchasing the home in 1905, William Rockefeller transformed it with extensive renovations between 1912 and 1917. He added eight family rooms, six service rooms, and even built the sea wall in 1916 to protect the property—a feature that still stands today.
Ongoing historic preservation efforts in Jekyll’s Historic District are made possible through visitation to the and through donations to the Jekyll Island Foundation.
Support preservation efforts at the link in our bio.
#jekyllisland #jekyllislandfoundation #goldenisles #exploregeorgia #preserve #conserve #educate
Check out how one visit to the @georgiaseaturtlecenter changed everything for Natalie Tipsword!
Natalie, pictured above with a handmade plushie, shares, "After visiting Jekyll Island and being inspired by the Georgia Sea Turtle Center`s work rehabilitating turtles, my life changed, leading me to pursue a career as a wildlife veterinarian.
As the service director of Omega Phi Alpha at @kennesawstateuniversity, I organized a fundraiser for the Georgia Sea Turtle Center. My sorority sister, Hope, made crochet plushies of turtles and ocean creatures, which we sold alongside sea turtle stickers, raising $165 on campus."
You can support the Georgia Sea Turtle Center too! Donate at the link in our bio.
#jekyllisland #jekyllislandfoundation #goldenisles #exploregeorgia #preserve #conserve #educate #georgiacoast
Join us in saying a HUGE thank you to the @jekyll_island Authority! All board members, staff and volunteers, we`re grateful you`re stewards of Jekyll Island’s past, present and future and dedicated to maintaining the delicate balance between nature and humankind.
We`re proud to partner together to raise funding for Authority-driven projects supporting education, conservation, and preservation on Jekyll Island.
Learn more about the work of the Jekyll Island Authority at the Meet Our Sponsors link in our bio.
If you are interested in becoming a corporate sponsor, learn more at the Become a Corporate Sponsor link in our bio.
#jekyllisland #jekyllislandfoundation #goldenisles #exploregeorgia #preserve #conserve #educate
Support the @georgiaseaturtlecenter ! It provides state-of-the-art emergency care to sick and injured sea turtles and other wildlife.
In addition to their rehabilitation efforts, the Center features patient viewing areas, interactive exhibits, daily educational programs, field trips, guided tours, and beach walks.
Housed in the former Power Plant, the facility is also a contributing structure within the Jekyll Island National Landmark Historic District and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Donate today at the link in our bio.
#jekyllisland #jekyllislandfoundation #goldenisles #exploregeorgia #preserve #conserve #educate
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.
#jekyllisland #jekyllislandfoundation #goldenisles #exploregeorgia #preserve #conserve #educate #georgiacoast
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.
#jekyllisland #jekyllislandfoundation #goldenisles #exploregeorgia #preserve #conserve #educate #georgiacoast
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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P.O. Box 13002, Jekyll Island, GA 31527
Phone: (912) 635-4100
Looking to contact the Jekyll Island Authority? Please click here.
