St. Catherines Island facts for kids
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St. Catherine's Island
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Salt marsh on the island
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 Location in Georgia (U.S. state)
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | South Newport, Georgia |
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| Area | 22,265 acres (90.10 km2) |
| Built | 1566 |
| Architect | Multiple |
| NRHP reference No. | 69000332 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | December 16, 1969 |
| Designated NHLD | December 16, 1969 |
St. Catherines Island is a beautiful sea island located off the coast of Georgia, about 42 miles (68 km) south of Savannah. This special island is about 10 miles (16 km) long and 1 to 3 miles (1.6 to 4.8 km) wide. It covers a large area of about 22,265 acres (90.10 km²), with about half of it being salt marsh and the rest covered in forests. The island has lovely beaches on its northeast and south sides. St. Catherines Island is owned by the Saint Catherines Island Foundation and is mainly used for scientific research and conservation. Because of this, it is not generally open to the public, except for the beach areas below the high tide line.
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Exploring St. Catherines Island's Landscape
St. Catherines Island is one of the unique Sea Islands found along the Atlantic coast of the southeastern United States. Unlike typical barrier islands, which are long sand ridges that constantly change, sea islands have a more complex history. They include older parts formed during the Pleistocene Ice Age and newer parts that developed more recently.
Imagine a time when sea levels were much higher! The older parts of St. Catherines Island were once islands then. As sea levels dropped during the Wisconsin glaciation, these islands became ridges connected to the mainland. Then, a few thousand years ago, sea levels rose again, turning these ridges back into islands. New beaches formed on the ocean side, creating the St. Catherines Island we see today. Around 3700 to 2100 BC, large salt marshes grew to the west of the island as sea levels settled.
The island's center, called the Pleistocene core, was originally covered by a maritime forest. This forest provided lots of food like acorns and other nuts. The island also has many artesian springs that provide fresh water. These natural resources made it a great place for early people to live and grow crops like Maize.
Ancient Mysteries: The Shell Rings of St. Catherines
St. Catherines Island is home to two amazing ancient sites called shell rings. These rings were built by people living here during the Late Archaic period, around 2000 BC. The two main rings are the St. Catherines Shell Ring and the McQueen Shell Ring. They are located on different sides of the island, near freshwater creeks and with easy access to saltwater creeks. This location was perfect for hunter-gatherers who relied on both land and sea resources.
The rings are very similar in how they were built. They are large, circular or crescent-shaped mounds made mostly of seashells. Archaeologists believe these rings were important gathering places or even homes for these ancient communities.
Exploring the St. Catherines Shell Ring
The St. Catherines Shell Ring was first identified in 1979. It is shaped like a crescent and can be up to 1.5 meters (about 5 feet) high in some places. Scientists used radio-carbon testing on materials from the ring, showing it was used for many years, possibly all year round. This ring is so important that it helped St. Catherines Island become a National Historic Landmark.
Excavations have shown that the ring was originally round, about 70 meters (230 feet) across. Over time, some parts were flattened by farming. Inside the central area of the ring, archaeologists found many circular pits. These pits might have been postholes for buildings or other structures. They also found many pieces of fiber-tempered pottery, mostly from the St. Simons style. Stone tools, like Savannah Stemmed projectile points, were also common. Other interesting finds include baked clay objects, bone pins, shell tools, and beads.
Uncovering the McQueen Shell Ring
The McQueen Shell Ring was discovered more recently in 2006. It is almost perfectly round, about 70 meters (230 feet) in diameter, with a clear central area free of shells. This ring is about 30 centimeters to one meter (1 to 3 feet) high. Similar pits were found in its central area, just like in the St. Catherines ring.
Archaeologists also found evidence of ancient burials within the central area of the McQueen ring. This helps us learn about the people who lived there. Dating of shells and human remains from the McQueen ring shows it was used around the same time as the St. Catherines ring. Interestingly, archaeologists found different layers of shells, sometimes with sand in between. This suggests the ring was built up over time.
While both rings have lots of St. Simons pottery, the McQueen ring had more decorated pieces. Stone tools were also found here, but fewer baked clay objects compared to the St. Catherines ring. These differences help scientists understand the unique stories of each community.
A Journey Through St. Catherines Island's Past
Archaeological studies tell us that people have lived on St. Catherines Island for at least 5,000 years! The first inhabitants settled in the best areas of the island. Their population grew steadily, even after Europeans arrived in the 1500s. These early islanders ate a lot of white-tailed deer, fish, and shellfish.
First People and Early Life
In recent years, archaeologists have been excavating a 4,000-year-old burial site on the island, near the McQueen shell ring. They found copper objects that look like those from ancient sites near the Great Lakes. This suggests that people might have traveled long distances to trade with the islanders! It shows how connected these early communities were.
Spanish Missions and Guale Culture
By 1576, there was a Guale settlement on St. Catherines Island. In 1587, the Spanish established their northernmost permanent outpost on the Atlantic Coast here. During the 1600s, the Santa Catalina de Guale mission became a very important center for the Spanish in Spanish Florida.
Archaeologists have spent decades studying the remains of this Spanish mission. They found parts of churches, living quarters for friars, a kitchen, wells, and even a cemetery. Inside the church of Santa Catalina de Guale, they discovered the burials of at least 431 people. Objects found with these burials, like crosses and small medals, give us clues about their lives and beliefs. In 1680, English raiders attacked the mission, and the Spanish and Guale defenders were outnumbered.
From Plantations to Preservation
Later, in 1759, Mary Musgrove, a woman of Muscogee and English heritage, received a grant for St. Catherines Island from the Spanish crown. In 1766, Button Gwinnett, who later signed the Declaration of Independence, leased the island. It was used as a plantation for almost a century.
After the American Civil War, the island became a place where newly freed people tried to build new lives. A leader named Tunis Campbell Sr. helped establish schools and a community for them. However, land ownership changed again, and the island was returned to its previous owner, Jacob Waldburg, after the war.
A terrible event happened in 1893 when the 1893 Sea Islands Hurricane hit the island. It caused massive destruction, sweeping seawater across the entire island. Almost all buildings were destroyed, and only one person who stayed on the island survived the storm.
Protecting Nature Today: The Lemurs of St. Catherines
In 1943, Edward John Noble bought the island and used it to raise cattle. After his death, the island was transferred to the Edward J. Noble Foundation in 1968. Today, the St. Catherines Island Foundation owns the island. Their main goal is to protect its natural resources, help endangered species survive, and preserve its historic sites. They also support scientific research in areas like ecology, botany, zoology, and archaeology.
A great example of their conservation work is the introduction of ring-tailed lemurs in 1985. Six lemurs were brought to the island as part of a special breeding program. Now, dozens of these endangered animals live freely on the island, and they are used to seeing humans. In 1969, St. Catherines Island was recognized as a National Historic Landmark, highlighting its importance in American history and nature.
Images for kids
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A beautiful beach on St. Catherines Island.
See also
