Cumberland Island was purchased in the 1880s by Thomas and Lucy Carnegie. They were excluded from Jekyll Island (the next island north on the coast), so decided to show they could one up Jekyll, and they did. They built the Dungeness, an estate winter residence. Then as each of the nine Carnegie kids came of age, they received a mansion for their very own and $10,000. Not a bad thing!
In 1972, the Carnegie family decided to donate their holdings to help create Cumberland Island National Seashore. This stopped plans for development that would have made this rustic island into a clone of Hilton Head.
Today, this island is almost untouched. There are a few remaining private residences on the island, but for over 90% of the land, nature has taken it back. There are pristine beaches, palmettos-live oaks-pines and more with the vegetation back, 150 wild horses, and some former mansions including the Dungeness (now in ruin) and Plum Orchard.
We were fortunate to be part of only 300 people to be allowed daily, to tour the island. Took the ferry along with many backpackers who were even luckier to have secured camping permits for a couple of days in this island wilderness. Booked the Lands and Legacy tour, where we drove the island's narrow sand road to visit the remains of earlier times.
Stopped at Plum Orchard mansion where Margaret, one of the daughters of Lucy Carnegie, spent her winters. A pretty amazing and very intact home, still displaying all of the original wall coverings, lamps, and some of the furniture from the gilded era. We even went into the basement where there was an ice maker and refrigerator (not icebox), long before most people even had electricity.
Following, we headed south to the ruins of the Dungeness mansion. A haunting but wonderful place. Too bad this mansion was destroyed by fire.
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