Once called Savannah Beach, now we stand at Tybee Island. This barrier island is a world away from ordinary. It sits just 18 miles east of Savannah. Tybee Island’s name likely comes from the Euchee word for salt.
Imagine Spanish explorers landing here in 1520. Lucas Vasquez de Ayllon claimed Tybee for Spain. He called it part of La Florida. This area stretched from the Bahamas to Nova Scotia.
Later, the French came seeking sassafras roots. They thought these roots were a miracle cure. The Spanish fought them offshore to keep control.
For decades, pirates hid treasures here. Tybee offered them a safe haven. They also found fresh water and game.
In 1733, General James Oglethorpe led the settlement of Savannah. He named it Savannah because of the marshlands. The colony was named Georgia after King George of England.
Tybee’s location at the Savannah River’s mouth was crucial. In 1736, Oglethorpe built a lighthouse and fort. This ensured control of the river. Also in 1736, John Wesley prayed here. He was the Father of Methodism. It was his first prayer on American soil.
During the Revolutionary War, French Admiral D’Estaing staged his siege of Savannah from Tybee. In the War of 1812, the Tybee Island Lighthouse signaled Savannah about possible British attacks.
During the Civil War, Confederates first occupied Tybee Island. But in December 1861, they withdrew to Fort Pulaski. Union forces then took control. They built cannon batteries facing Fort Pulaski.
On April 11, 1862, these cannons fired rifled cannon at Fort Pulaski. This changed coastal defenses forever. The rifled guns devastated the brick fort within 30 hours. Fort Pulaski surrendered and forts like it became obsolete.
After the Civil War, Savannah residents sought Tybee’s cool ocean breezes. Clear saltwater air was believed to cure ailments. Steamships carried patients and tourists to Tybee Island.
In 1887, the Central of Georgia Railroad reached Tybee Island. Summer tourists flooded in. The railroad built the Tybrisa Pavilion in 1891.
In 1897, Fort Screven was built for modern coastal defense. Gun batteries were named for American war heroes. Fort Screven was vital to America’s coastal defense system until 1947. Then it was sold to Tybee Island, and tourism returned.
U.S. Route 80 connected Tybee Island to the mainland in the 1920s. Big Band tours stopped at the Tybrisa Pavilion. By 1940, the island had four hotels. In 1961, Battery Garland became the Tybee Island Museum.
Today, Tybee Island has much to offer. Climb the Tybee Island Lighthouse. Visit the Tybee Island Marine Science Center. Explore the five beaches. Each beach has its own personality. Enjoy fresh seafood at local restaurants. Watch dolphins play offshore. Tybee Island offers a unique blend of history and relaxation. It is a place where the past and present meet.