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EPWORTH BY THE SEA:
(Gascoigne Bluff - Sea Island Road at St. Simons Island Causeway.) Now a United Methodist retreat center, Epworth is the site of Hamilton Plantation, one of the largest and most famous of St. Simons' antebellum plantations. Slave cabins still occupy the site and are open to the public. The center operates the Arthur J. Moore Methodist Museum. Bordering Epworth to the south is Gascoigne Bluff. Located on Frederica River, the bluff was the scene of much commercial shipping and military troop movement during the 18th and 19th centuries. Live oak timbers cut from this site were used in building the first vessels of the U S Navy, including "Old Ironsides," the U S frigate Constitution. Also cut from here, was timber for the Brooklyn Bridge.
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FORT FREDERICA:
(Frederica Road, north approximately 5.5 miles from Epworth.) When General James Oglethorpe laid claim to the Georgia territory for England, it was important to build settlements and establish defenses. He found the ideal site for both along the river banks on the western edge of St. Simons Island. He named it Frederica. In 1736, three years after the founding of Savannah, 44 men and 72 women and children arrived to build the fort and town, and by the 1740s, Frederica was a thriving village of about 500 citizens. When Spanish troops sought to capture St. Simons in 1742, Oglethorpe's men won a decisive victory in what is now called "The Battle of Bloody Marsh." For a time, Frederica prospered and grew. However, the declining military threat to the Georgia coast saw the Fort's regiment disbanded in 1749. Today, you can visit the site of Fort Frederica, a National Monument, and see the ruins of the fortifications, barracks and homes. A museum, film, dioramas, tours and demonstrations bring the settlement vividly back to life. The gates open at 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The museum is open 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Closed Christmas Day. Admission is $5 per vehicle; $3 per person on foot, bike or bus. Telephone: 912/638-3639 for more information. World Wide Web address: http://www.nps.gov/fofr/.
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CHRIST CHURCH:
(.3 miles south of Fort Frederica). The Christ Church congregation traces its origins to 1776, and to the very earliest days of St. Simons Island. However, the first religious services were held on the site of the church some forty years earlier. The original church services for the settlers and soldiers of Frederica were conducted by John and Charles Wesley, who came with Oglethorpe to establish the Church of England in the colony of Georgia. These two brothers are considered the fathers of Methodism in America. The first church structure was built in 1820, but was partially destroyed by occupying Union troops during the War Between the States. In 1884, Reverend Anson Phelps Dodge, whose life has been immortalized by author Eugenia Price in her novel "Beloved Invader," built the present structure in memory of his wife, Ellen, who died during their around -the-world honeymoon. The church is constructed of wood in the cruciform design with a trussed Gothic roof and steeple. The graveyard is a fascinating spot to trace island history through the members of the founding families who rest there. Today, this beautiful church with its magnificent stained glass windows and heavily wooded grounds is one of St. Simons' most treasured landmarks. Open daily 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM except Christmas. For more information call 912/638-8683. www.christchurchfrederica.org.
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BLOODY MARSH BATTLE SITE:
(Demere Road). This vista of marsh commemorates a surprise attack by Oglethorpe's men on a Spanish invasion party, on July 7, 1742. An outnumbered force of British troops ambushed and defeated the Spanish troops, halting an attack on Fort Frederica. The battle proved to be the turning point in the Spanish invasion of Georgia. The English language and customs were thus established permanently in the Southeast. The battle site, operated by the National Park Service, is well marked and open to the public, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Park exhibits tell the story of the battle
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ST. SIMONS LIGHTHOUSE MUSEUM AND A.W. JONES HERITAGE CENTER: (Village area) The historic site of the St. Simons Lighthouse dates back to Fort St. Simons, a colonial fort built under General James Oglethorpe's command to protect the southern tip of the island. Fort St. Simons was destroyed by retreating Spanish soldiers in the Battle of Bloody Marsh in 1742. In the early 1800s, John Couper acquired the land and named it Couper's Point. Couper sold the land for $1 to the government in 1804 to build the St. Simons Lighthouse, which opened in 1810. During America's Civil War, Confederate troops constructed Fort Brown on the lighthouse property. The fort was abandoned and the lighthouse blown up by the Confederate forces in 1862 to prevent its use by Federal troops. A second lighthouse was constructed in 1872, the light you see today. One of only five surviving light towers in Georgia, the rehabilitated lighthouse on St. Simons Island, with its original 3rd order Fresnel lens shining 18 miles out to sea, remains a navigational aid for traffic entering the St. Simons Sound. Unlike many other operational lighthouses, visitors are welcome to climb the 129 steps leading to the top of the St. Simons Lighthouse. Though no keeper awaits you, since the lighthouse is now fully automated, the vast panorama of the Golden Isles does. The keepers dwelling contains exhibits on the history of the St. Simons Lighthouse and the way of life of a turn-of-the century lighthouse keeper and his family. The Museum Store features coastal Georgia publications and unique lighthouse related items. The operational lighthouse is under the jurisdiction of the United States Coast Guard. Hours: Monday-Saturday 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM; Sunday 1:30 PM to 5:00 PM. Closed selected holidays. Admission fee charged. Group rates available with advanced reservations. Call 912/638-4666 or write P O Box 21136, St. Simons Island, GA 31522. Visit their home page: www.saintsimonslighthouse.org.
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ST. SIMONS VILLAGE, PIER and VISITORS INFORMATION CENTER:
The Village is made up of restaurants and many small shops offering everything . . . clothing, shells, antiques, books, local arts and crafts. The Pier area has been the focal point of social and recreational activity since the 19th century when ferry boats operated regularly between St. Simons Island and the mainland. The Casino houses the St. Simons Island Visitors Center - a must stop for detailed information on the island's history, attractions and recreational facilities. Several times a year, the Island Players perform live theatre productions in the Casino Theatre. Also located in the immediate area is the library, miniature golf course, public restrooms and public swimming pool. A picnic area and children's playground and mini-golf course are adjacent to Neptune Park.
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