“Exploration is really the essence of the human spirit.” ~ Frank Borman
Tybee Lighthouse
Shockingly it was only ten when we left Surf and Song, but it felt like it was noon time. Our next adventure was taking place at Tybee Island Light Station and Museum at Fort Screven.
I have a love affair with lighthouses. The stoicness they represent as they stand against the battering of storms and the guidance they give to sailors is symbolic to my life in many ways. I was incredibly excited to explore this one which was originally built during Colonial times.
In fact the Tybee Island Lighthouse which was commissioned by Georgia Colony founder General James Oglethorpe (sidenote: His name reminds me of a character out of Harry Potter…I swear it is a wizard name!) in 1732, has been rebuilt three times, due to storms and the partial burning by Confederate soldiers.
At one hundred and forty-five feet tall, it is Georgia’s tallest, as well as oldest, lighthouse. It is open to visitors to not only view, but actually go in and climb the 178 steps to the top.
Excitedly, yet also filled with trepidation as someone who does NOT do heights, especially when windy, we made the climb to the top which showcased gorgeous views of Tybee Island.
I’ll admit it was not as bad as I had anticipated, and I actually walked all the way around the platform, though I did hold the railing the entire time. It was my “Oh shit” handle.
Fort Screven and Museum
After we made the trek up to the top, we were able to go into some of the small cottages that the lighthouse keepers and military personal use to live in.
One of them was still preserved as it would have been in the early 1900s, and gave great insight to what it was like to man the lighthouse. It was not an easy task, especially in a time when modern technology had not come into being yet.
Adjacent to the lighthouse is Fort Screven which was built in 1899. It is a very tiny fort and most of it is unfortunately closed off to the public.
One small battery was taken over by the historical museum in conjunction with the lighthouse and it has been turned into a museum giving visitors a vivid tale of the colorful and sometimes scandalous history of Tybee, which included piracy.
Fort Pulaski
After spending a few hours at the lighthouse we drove to Cockspur Island which sits between Tybee and Savannah.
Located there is Fort Pulaski National Monument. Concerned about British invasion after the War of 1812, construction for Fort Pulaski was ordered by then president, James Madison. It was named after a former Polish commander who fought along side General Washington during the Revolutionary War and was constructed out of tabby, a mixture of concrete and shell.
It saw much action in the under hundred years it was in operation, and played a pivotal role during the Civil War as the Union was able to gain command from the Confederacy in what was the Siege of Fort Pulaski and helped turn the tide of the war in the Union Army’s favor with the control of shipping in and out of Savannah. Despite repairs, you could still see where the Union Army bombarded the fort and did damage to the walls.
One amazingly cool aspect to this fort is that it has a moat that goes all the way around the fort with access only being through draw bridges and hidden underground tunnels. It also had an actual prison, that held hundreds of Confederate soldiers during the War.
I was like a kid in a candy store. I have a love affair with old forts and this is one of my favorites that I have visited. Not only was very little off limits in the fort itself, the rich history made it an intriguing place to explore.
The only downside to the trip was that due to Irma, the island sustained quite a bit of damage, so many of the walking paths that go along the outside of the fort and around the island were closed due to repairs. With so much to explore in the actual fort itself, it really did not matter.
Tybean and the Pier
After the walking we did, we were ready for a second round of coffee at the Tybean and to poke around the shops at the center before we made our way to the more touristy side of Tybee where there is a pier and more shops.
The pier was stunning with a huge covered pavilion in the middle of it. It was quite windy, but that did not stop me from enjoying the sound of the ocean nor the gorgeous Georgia views.
I collect sweatshirts from many of the beach towns I visit and of course I needed one from Tybee so we went into a couple shops until I found the perfect one.
With dusk approaching, it was time to pay adieu to Tybee and head to our next Island.
Have you ever been to Tybee? What was your favorite thing to do?
This is the 3rd time that we have posted near each others times of posting 🙂 World record #40934903489034 lol. Anyways I love this Wanderlusting series because it gives me ideas of where certain places are and what cool places their are to visit! Nice post! 😀
Hahaha We must be related then ;p Thanks so much sweets. It was part of the reason i did it. I love traveling 🙂 I hope you have an amazing day! <3
You too!
Georgia is on my bucket list for life lol
It is a great place to visit! And who knows when you get older you might have a relative living down there you can visit ;p <3
Who knows? lol
What an absolutely gorgeous place! Girl, you’re braver than me – I would love to climb up a lighthouse, but I am terrified of heights. I could walk up it, but getting me out onto the railing? Nope, no waaaaay! Love all your pictures; your energy and positivity radiates in them <3
It really is! Haha oh I was petrified! Especially where it was so windy! I hate heights too! They are the worst especially being out on that little platform! Awe thank you so much beauty! That means a lot to me! I hope you have an amazing day!😘💗
Your travels never cease to amaze me! Or your outfits! xx.
Awe thank you so much sweets!😘💗
I loved this post so much, one of my favourites of yours I think. You are sooo gorgeous! Such a photogenic beauty! Love all these pics. Lighthouses are seriously cool, I’ve actually never been to one before. In fact, I’ve kind of driven up to one in Menorca which you’ve just reminded me of but it was the creepiest thing now I remember. Like the area was so deserted and the road so small with the ocean next to it. Like one dodgy manoeuvre in the car and you’re in that ocean! But ive never actually been to a lighthouse specifically. Oh my gosh- have you ever read the ice twins? Its a really cool book set pretty much in a lighthouse! I’m going to link you to it! Tybee lighthouse looks so pretty. And I agree, Oglethorpe is such a wizard name!
Awe thank you so much sweets! (just getting around to answering been a crazy hectic couple of days but I so appreciated your insta message! <3 ) You are the best! And so good for my ego! ;p Lol. Seriously thank you!
They really are! That sounds amazing and definitely a little bit creepy! And I will definitely check out that book!
Right? Every time I saw his name (and it is EVERYWHERE there) I was like he is a wizard in disguise! lol.
Thanks so much for reading and your sweet words beauty! You always brighten my day! <3
You’re welcome! That’s okay, I just saw your comment on my other post that you saw your family at the weekend, I hope you had an amazing time! Haha good, as soon as I read your post I had to message you about the book. You’re always welcome. Haha honestly it was so creepy but if it wasn’t for this blog post of yours I’d never even have remembered it! I’m going to mention it to my mum and dad tomorrow to relive the memories! Sooo eerie haha was one of those places I just couldn’t wait to get away from. It wasn’t like the lighthouse in your pictures it was so far off on a rocky road! Like the lighthouse you saw looks pretty this one was scary! Haha definitely a secret wizard! You’re welcome! And you brighten mine too! Xx
Awe thanks sweets! I did! It was so much fun to see them and I get to go home in a couple weeks to see them too! I love it! And so appreciate book recs especially if it makes my mermaid heart pitter patter with excitement!😊 awe I love that! I am glad it could take you down memory lane!
Ooo that sounds so interesting and like it would have an amazing history behind it! Awe you are the best! This comment made me smile so much thank you! I hope you have an amazing weekend!💗
Ah yay! I bet you are looking forward to that 🙂 Love a good book recommendation! What’s your favourite genre? Yayyyyy glad it made you smile! You too my love xx
I am! Oh my gosh I am such a Gemini I love all genres…except horror. I am NOT a Stephen King fan lol. So much love to you beauty! <3
Ditttooo! I love most films but I can’t cope with horror. I like a little scary but nothing tooo much. I did not go to see IT! xxx
I can’t either! lol. And neither did I! I saw them do a photo shoot in Washington Square and that was creepy enough for me! lol. <3
I love this post 😍😍😍
https://cocominimal.com/2017/12/04/mezcla-de-tendencias/
Awe thank you so much for the sweet words hn! I hope you have an amazing day! <3