Cumberland Island National Seashore facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cumberland Island National Seashore |
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IUCN Category II (National Park)
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 Cumberland Island National Seashore
Location in Georgia (U.S. state)
Cumberland Island National Seashore
Location in the United States
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| Location | Camden County, Georgia, USA |
| Nearest city | St. Marys, Georgia |
| Area | 36,415.39 acres (147.3679 km2) 18,700.34 acres (75.6776 km2) federal |
| Established | October 23, 1972 |
| Visitors | 40,291 (in 2005) |
| Governing body | National Park Service |
| Website | Cumberland Island National Seashore |
Cumberland Island National Seashore is a special place that protects most of Cumberland Island in Camden County, Georgia. It's the biggest of Georgia's beautiful Golden Isles. This national seashore has amazing beaches, sand dunes, marshlands, and calm freshwater lakes. It also keeps many important historical places and buildings safe.
Groups like the Sierra Club and the Georgia Conservancy helped a lot to create and protect this seashore.
You can only get to the island by boat. The main visitor center, a museum, and the ferry to the island are all in the town of St. Marys, Georgia. The ferry has limited space, so it's a good idea to book your spot early! You can even go camping on the island. A large part of the seashore, about 9,886-acre (40.01 km2), is a special Cumberland Island Wilderness area.
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History of Cumberland Island Seashore
The Congress decided to create the national seashore on October 23, 1972. The National Park Service takes care of it. A special wilderness area was added on September 8, 1982. This wilderness area includes the High Point-Half Moon Bluff Historic District, which became a recognized historical site in 1978.
Nature and Wildlife on Cumberland Island
Cumberland Island National Seashore is home to many different kinds of plants and animals. The National Park Service has wildlife experts and scientists who work here. They also welcome other researchers. The park has at least 23 unique natural areas. This makes it the largest and most diverse of Georgia's barrier islands. Many birds, especially those that migrate, have been studied here.
Fun Things to Do at Cumberland Island
The National Park Service manages the public areas of Cumberland Island. They limit how many people can be on the island at one time to 300. Campers can stay for up to seven nights. Remember, you can only reach the island by boat!
The Cumberland Queen ferry runs three times a day from March 1 to September 30. From October 1 to November 31, it runs twice a day. From December 1 to February 28, the ferry runs twice a day only from Monday to Thursday. You cannot bring cars on the ferry, and there are no paved roads on the island.
You can rent bikes at the Sea Camp Dock, but they are first-come, first-served. You can also bring your own bike on the ferry for an extra fee. There is one camping area with running water and cold showers. Other camping spots do not have these facilities. You need to bring all your own food, ice, and supplies from the mainland, as there are no stores on the island.
Cumberland Island National Seashore Museum
The Cumberland Island National Seashore Museum is in St. Marys, Georgia, on the mainland. It's right across from the park's visitor center. The main part of the museum tells the story of the island's past. You can learn about the Timucua Indians, old plantations, and the homes of the Carnegie family. It also shares facts about famous people like General Nathanael Greene and cotton-gin inventor Eli Whitney. You can see information about the ruined mansion Dungeness and the Plum Orchard estate.
There's also a special exhibit about transportation in coastal Georgia. It shows old wagons, carriages, and fancy travel gear. A newer exhibit called "Forgotten Invasion" talks about when Cumberland Island and Camden County were taken over during the War of 1812. Volunteers help run the museum, and it's open on weekday afternoons.
Ice House Museum
The Ice House Museum used to be one of the Carnegie family's service buildings. Now, it shows real items and copies from the island's very old history, its time as a colony, early American days, and the Gilded Era.
Plum Orchard and Dungeness Mansions
The Dungeness and Plum Orchard areas were named National Historic Districts in 1982 and 1984. The Dungeness area has the ruins of the Carnegie family's Dungeness mansion, its old buildings, and gardens. It also has the Tabby House, which is very old, and a cemetery.
The Plum Orchard Historic District has the Plum Orchard mansion, which was built in the 1890s and is still in good shape. There's also a shell midden, which is a pile of ancient shells over 4,000 years old. You can also see the mansion's support buildings, like an electrical house.
Climate on Cumberland Island
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