Tybee Island is one of the northernmost of Georgia’s barrier islands, the small areas of land that separate Georgia’s mainland coast from the open ocean. Tybee Island is also one of the largest and most popular of Georgia’s barrier islands, and many families visit the island for their summer vacation. Tybee Island has several nice attractions in addition to its beaches, including a national monument and a lighthouse.

Fort Pulaski National Monument is actually on Cockspur Island, which is right next to Tybee Island (if you go to Tybee Island, you have to drive right by the national monument). Fort Pulaski was a large masonry-constructed fort built along the mouth of the Savannah River after the War of 1812. The fort was held by the Confederates after they seceded in 1861, but the fort was captured by the Union in 1862. The fort was thought to be a fortress when it was built, but the invention of the rifled cannon rendered the fort largely obsolete.

The national monument’s visitor center gives a nice history of the fort, shows an informative film of its significance in history, and artifacts from the fort. Visitors can tour the impressive fort by walking around the interior, looking at the different areas and rooms that made up a working fort in the 19th century. We were fortunate enough to tour the fort on a day on which there were reenactments, so we got to witness the firing of a Civil War cannon (it was loud). Visitors can also walk around the outside of the fort, which allows visitors to see the large cannon holes in the wall.

Note: From the fort walls, visitors can see Cockspur Island Lighthouse, a small light marking the entrance to the Savannah River.

To see a larger lighthouse, continue on to Tybee Island, where the Tybee Island Light Station and Museum stands.

Visitors are able to walk the grounds of the lighthouse, which includes many of the outbuildings related to the lighthouse. Each of these buildings contains artifacts from the lighthouse, informational displays that detail the history of the lighthouse and what it was like be a lighthouse keeper, and historical representations of what the buildings would have looked like at the time the lighthouse was active. We took our time going to each of the buildings and learned a lot from the displays. We saved the best part for last-we walked all the way up to the top of the Tybee Island Lighthouse and got to stand along the small walkway around the light itself. It was quite a thrill to be at the top, and the views from the top were worth the climb, although the wind and the rather rickety railing made us a bit wary of getting too close to the edge. We enjoyed very much our time at the lighthouse and museum, and highly recommend the experience.

 

We weren’t able to go to the beach during our short time at Tybee Island, but it is quite popular among locals and tourists alike. Overall, our experience on Tybee Island and nearby Cockspur Island were pleasant, fun, and informative. Especially if you are visiting Savannah (which is about an hour away), we recommend visiting Tybee Island, particularly if you are a fan of lighthouses, national parks, or a history nerd.