Ossabaw Island facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Ossabaw Island
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 Location in Georgia (U.S. state)
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Savannah, Georgia |
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| Architect | Wallin, Henrik; Shipman, Ellen Biddle |
| Architectural style | Mission/Spanish Revival, Stick/Eastlake, saddlebag |
| NRHP reference No. | 96000468 |
| Added to NRHP | May 06, 1996 |
Ossabaw Island is a beautiful island off the coast of Georgia, in the Atlantic Ocean. It's about 20 miles south of Savannah. It's one of Georgia's biggest barrier islands. Ossabaw has 9,000 acres of forests and freshwater ponds. Plus, there are 16,000 acres of marshlands with winding creeks.
You can find it between Wassaw Island to the north and St. Catherines Island to the south. There are no bridges to Ossabaw, so you can only get there by boat. At 26,000 acres, it's the third-largest barrier island in Georgia!
Contents
Discovering Ossabaw's Past
People have lived on Ossabaw Island for at least 4,000 years. We know this from old pottery pieces found in piles of oyster shells. The Guale Indians lived here when Spanish explorers arrived in the early 1500s. The Guale people sometimes traded with the Spanish and sometimes fought them.
When the English took over the area in the 1730s, the Guale had moved away. This was likely because of diseases or attacks from the Spanish. Early English agreements set aside the island for hunting and fishing by the Creek Indians.
Early Owners and Plantations
In 1758, some Creek leaders agreed to give the island to King George II of Great Britain. By 1760, the island was privately owned. People used enslaved labor to farm and cut timber. The island was eventually split into four large farms called plantations.
After the American Civil War, people farmed the island on a smaller scale. This continued until the early 1900s. In 1907, Henry D. Weed bought over 9,000 acres. By 1916, he owned the entire island. After 1916, rich businessmen used it as a hunting spot. Then, in 1924, Dr. Henry Norton Torrey and his wife Nell Ford Torrey bought it.
A Place for Artists and Scientists
In 1961, Eleanor Torrey West and Clifford B. West started The Ossabaw Foundation. They created the Ossabaw Island Project. This project was a special place for artists and scholars to work. Many famous people visited the island for its quiet beauty.
Some visitors included composers Aaron Copland and Samuel Barber. Writers like Ralph Ellison, Annie Dillard, and Margaret Atwood also found inspiration here. Sculptor Harry Bertoia and scientist Eugene Odum also spent time on Ossabaw. The Foundation also hosted scientific research and educational programs.
Becoming a Heritage Preserve
By 1978, Mrs. West could no longer afford to support the island's programs. She and her family decided to sell the island to the State of Georgia. They turned down offers to build resorts. Instead, they wanted Ossabaw to be a "Heritage Preserve." This meant the island would be used for nature, science, and education. It would also be protected and managed carefully.
Ossabaw Island Today
Today, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) manages Ossabaw Island. They work with The Ossabaw Island Foundation. This non-profit group helps manage who can visit the island's historic areas. The foundation and the DNR work together to allow public educational programs on Ossabaw.
The Ossabaw Island Foundation's Mission
The Ossabaw Island Foundation was started in 1994. Its goal is to work with the State of Georgia. They want to inspire and manage amazing educational, cultural, and scientific programs. These programs help people experience Ossabaw Island. At the same time, they make sure to protect the island's natural resources.
To visit Ossabaw, groups must apply. The Foundation follows the rules set in 1978. The island is open to groups focused on study, research, and education. This includes young people, adult groups, colleges, teachers, artists, and researchers.
Wildlife Research on Ossabaw
Scientists do important research on the island. For example, they study loggerhead sea turtle nesting. They also track migratory bird patterns. Other studies look at deer fawns' teeth and the genes of wild donkeys.
The Ossabaw Island Comprehensive Management Plan says that wild hogs and donkeys should be removed. The plan also suggests removing wild horses. The Ossabaw Island website states that "all remaining donkeys have been sterilized." This means they cannot have babies.
Images for kids
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Ossabaw Island beach.jpg
Ossabaw Island beach
