There are many historical sites on and around SSI for you to explore.
St. Simons Island Lighthouse, one of only five in Georgia, still serves as a navigation aid to ships today. It is located near the village and pier. There is a museum and gift shop located in the original Keeper’s Dwelling. Climb the 129 circular steps to the top for an amazing view!
Cannon’s Point is a an undeveloped 608-acre wilderness preserve on the northern end of St. Simons Island. It is a peninsula with more than six miles of salt marsh, tidal creek and river shoreline that has the last intact maritime forest on the island. Cannon’s Point Preserve is one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in the world and provides important habitat for many coastal wildlife and plant species. Shell middens dating back to 2500 BCE are on the site, as are the remains of the large plantation home and slave quarters built by John Couper in the 1800s.
Fort Frederica National Monument, on St. Simons Island, preserves the archaeological remnants of a fort and town built by James Oglethorpe between 1736 and 1748 to protect the southern boundary of the British colony of Georgia from Spanish raids. About 630 British troops were stationed at the fort.
Cumberland Island is Georgia’s largest barrier island and home to a variety of wildlife and with wonderful wide beaches and trails for hiking and biking.
Darien,the second oldest planned city in Georgia, was settled in 1736 by Scottish Highlanders serving under James Oglethorpe. It is a lovely fishing town located on a high bluff overlooking the Darien River. You can visit Fort King George, the first English fort built in 1721, and Vernon Square, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which features many of the old homes and churches reflective of the times.
This beautiful plantation represents the history and culture of Georgia’s rice coast. Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation offers a variety of activities and educational tours perfect for the whole family.
Trolley tours of St. Simons Island covers many historic points of interest shown on this page. This is the original historical trolley tour, operating for 23 years in nostalgic, vintage 1930’s wooden trolleys.