Tybee Island
South Beach
History of Tybee Island, GA
Spanish explorers were looking for wealth in the New World. In 1520, Lucas Vasquez de Ayllon claimed Tybee as part of Spain’s “La Florida,” which stretched from the Bahamas to Nova Scotia.
In 1605, the French came to Tybee searching for Sassafras roots, believed to be a miracle cure back then. The Spanish fought the French in a naval battle near Tybee to regain control of the area.
For many years, pirates visited the island to find a safe place to hide and store their treasure. Tybee and other nearby islands also provided fresh water and food.
Eventually, stronger French and British settlements forced Spain to give up its claim on Tybee and other islands. In 1733, General James Oglethorpe led the settlement of this area, which was named Savannah because of the large marshes and tall grass. The new colony of Georgia was named after King George of England.
Tybee was very important because it was located at the mouth of the Savannah River. In 1736, Oglethorpe built a lighthouse and a small fort there to control access to the river. That same year, John Wesley, known as the “Father of Methodism,” said his first prayer in America at Tybee.
During the Revolutionary War, Tybee served as a base for French Admiral D’Estaing’s unsuccessful attack on Savannah in 1779, when international forces tried to defeat the British. In the War of 1812, the Tybee Island Lighthouse was used to warn Savannah of possible British attacks. Although no attacks happened, a “Martello Tower” was built on Tybee to help protect the Savannah River. On the western side of the island, an area called a “Lazaretto” (an Italian word for a place to care for the sick) was set up to quarantine slaves and other travelers who might have diseases. Many people quarantined there never left.
Tybee also played an important military role during the start of the American Civil War. First, Confederate troops took over the island. In December 1861, they moved to Fort Pulaski to defend Savannah and the river. Union forces led by Quincy Adams Gilmore took control of Tybee and built cannon batteries on the west side of the island, facing Fort Pulaski, which was about a mile away.
On April 11, 1862, those cannons turned out to be a new type of weapon called a “Rifled Cannon” firing at Fort Pulaski, changing how coastal areas were protected forever. Within 30 hours, the powerful guns caused so much damage to the brick fort that it surrendered. Suddenly, all forts like Pulaski became outdated.
South Beach
After the Civil War, people from Savannah started visiting Tybee Island to escape the city's heat and enjoy the cool ocean breezes. Before the 1870s, there were not many people living there year-round, but by the 1890s, over 400 beach cottages and other buildings had been built for summer visitors. The fresh saltwater air was thought to help with health issues like asthma and allergies. After the Civil War, steamships began bringing patients and tourists to Tybee Island.
In 1887, the Central of Georgia Railroad built a train line to Tybee Island, making it easier for summer tourists to visit. The railroad also constructed the Tybrisa Pavilion in 1891, and by the end of the 1890s, many summer cottages were on the island.
In 1897, Fort Screven was built at the north end of Tybee to improve coastal defense. It had six low-profile gun batteries and a minefield, along with many other military buildings. The gun batteries were named after American war heroes. From 1897 to 1947, Fort Screven was important for America's coastal defense. After it closed in 1947, it was sold to Tybee Island, and tourism became a big part of the island's history again.
In the 1920s, U.S. Route 80 was finished, connecting Tybee Island to the mainland by road. The Tybrisa Pavilion became a popular place for Big Band tours, and more development occurred at the island's southern end. By 1940, Tybee had four hotels, including the DeSoto Hotel and Hotel Tybee, along with many smaller lodges. The Tybrisa Pavilion burned down in 1967 and was replaced by the Tybee Pier and Pavilion in 1996. Cecil B. Day opened the first Days Inn on Tybee Island in 1970.
In 1961, Battery Garland, which was once used for storing weapons, became the Tybee Island Museum. The rooms that used to hold heavy projectiles and gunpowder now showcase over 400 years of Tybee Island history.
Carbo House 80-year old boarding house on on Tybrisa Street, Tybee Island, GA
1916-19: Nan and Joseph D. Carbo of Waycross build the first Carbo House. 1931: The Carbo House, along with 20 other buildings in the boarding house district, is destroyed by fire. Circa-1932: Nan and Joseph D. Carbo build another Carbo House. This one has 16 rooms accessed by a two-tier, recessed wrap-around porch. 1950s: As new motels begin to line Butler Avenue, the Carbo House is remodeled. Bathrooms are installed in all the rooms, and kitchenettes are placed in most of them. 1970s: A few of the bathrooms and several boarding rooms were remodeled. 1990s: Roof dormers were added when the attic was converted into a penthouse. This has been the only major alteration to the building's exterior. 1998 to present: James Eldo Hartz purchases the property, renames it "The Carbo House" and continues to operate it as a boarding house. 2010: The Carbo House wins inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. SOURCE: Historic preservation consultant Robert A. Ciucevich on the National Register of Historic Places Registration Form.
Back River Beach
Back River Beach
Mid Beach