On a recent weekend getaway from Atlanta, I visited the Georgia islands, staying on Jekyll Island. While I had always heard the this stretch of coast was beautiful, I was surprised to discover its deep connection to the Gilded Age, the period of rapid economic growth and conspicuous consumption in the United States during the late 19th century. Today, I want to share the story of this island and the elite cottages that define its legacy.
From Plantation to Private Hunting Lodge
Historically, Jekyll Island was a remote outpost before evolving into a productive plantation. During the Plantation Era, the island was the private property of the DuBignon family, aristocrats who fled the French Revolution. After purchasing the island in 1792, they operated it as a Sea Island Cotton, a high-quality, long-staple fiber known for its silkiness, plantation for four generations.
Following the U.S. Civil War, the plantation economy became unsustainable. John Eugene DuBignon sought to capitalize on the island’s isolation, and in 1879, he began marketing it as a private retreat. In 1886, the Jekyll Island Club was officially incorporated, purchasing the island from DuBignon for $125,000. It quickly became a winter sanctuary for industrial titans whose names, Rockefeller, Morgan, Gould, are now legendary.
The Heart of the Village: The Early Cottages
Our exploration began at the DuBignon Cottage (built 1884), the oldest residence in the island’s historic district. Originally the primary home for the DuBignons, it was handed over to the Club as part of the sale and became the Superintendent’s Cottage. Its central location in the millionaires’ village allowed the Superintendent to oversee the staff, stables, and the constant needs of the club members.
A short walk down Pier Road brings you to Sans Souci Cottage. This is one of the more significant buildings on the island because it wasn’t built for a single family. Instead, it was one of the first luxury condominiums in American history. It provided six units for members who wanted private quarters without the burden of maintaining an estate. Its most famous resident was J.P. Morgan, who owned the entire third floor.
Further down the road is Indian Mound Cottage, purchased by William Rockefeller (co-founder of Standard Oil) in 1905. We toured the interior, and the details are stunning; many original furnishings and personal items from the Rockefeller era remain, providing a rare, intimate look into their winter lifestyle.
Architectural Contrasts: Shingle Style to Mediterranean Revival
The diversity of the island’s architecture reflects the varying tastes of its residents:
Mistletoe Cottage (1900): Built for Henry Kirke Porter, a locomotive manufacturer and U.S. Congressman. It is an example of the Dutch Colonial Revival style, offering a stark architectural contrast to the more imposing nearby mansions.
Goodyear Cottage (1906): Designed in the Mediterranean Revival style for lumber magnate Frank Henry Goodyear. Today, it houses the Jekyll Island Arts Association, and visitors can freely explore its halls.
Moss Cottage (1896): This cottage was built to embrace the island’s natural beauty, with exterior walls covered in cypress shingles. It is named for the thick curtains of Spanish Moss, the native plant that drapes the surrounding live oaks. It was owned by William Struthers Jr. (marble industry) and later George Henry Macy (President of the precursor to A&P supermarkets).
The Clubhouse: A Room Representing 1/6th of World Wealth
The Jekyll Island Clubhouse serves as the main building of the resort today, but historically, it was the communal living room where the world’s power players dined and debated. It is estimated that at the turn of the century, the members gathered here represented one-sixth of the world’s wealth.
This building is a landmark of global significance. It was the site of the first transcontinental phone call in 1915 (linking Alexander Graham Bell in New York to Thomas Watson in San Francisco) and hosted the secret meetings that led to the creation of the Federal Reserve.
The Opulence of Old Plantation Road
As we moved down Old Plantation Road, we encountered Faith Chapel (1904). This non-denominational place of worship features world-famous stained glass windows, including a signed Tiffany window.
The cottages on this stretch of road represent the peak of Gilded Age luxury:
Cherokee Cottage (1904): A shift toward a refined Italian Renaissance design. It was built for Dr. George Frederick Shrady, the physician who attended to President Ulysses S. Grant during his final illness. It was later purchased by Dr. Walter Belknap James, a former Club President, who named it “Cherokee” after the roses that once bloomed nearby.
Crane Cottage (1917): The most lavish residence on the island. Built for Richard Teller Crane Jr., it was designed as a sprawling Italian Renaissance villa, marking a departure from the “rustic” shingle-style of the earlier era.
Villa Marianna (1928): A Spanish-Mediterranean Revival style home built for Frank Miller Gould, grandson of financier Jay Gould.
Hollybourne Cottage (1890): This is a marvel of Engineering. Owner Charles Stewart Maurice, a bridge engineer, applied bridge-building principles to the residence. Instead of timber framing, he used steel beams and trusses to create wide, open interior spaces capable of withstanding the coastal elements.
Villa Ospo (1927): One of the youngest grand homes, built for Walter Jennings of Standard Oil. The name “Ospo” is derived from the original Guale (the Native American tribe of the Georgia coast) name for the island.
The Tragedy of Chichota
The most evocative site in the district is the ruins of Chichota Cottage. Built in 1897 by David H. King Jr. (who contracted the Statue of Liberty’s pedestal), it featured the first private indoor swimming pool in Georgia.
The home was later purchased by Edwin Gould. In 1917, the family’s eldest son was killed in a tragic hunting accident on the island. Devastated, the Goulds boarded up the cottage and never returned. It was razed in 1941, leaving only the foundation, the empty pool, and the two iconic Gould Lions, marble statues that still stand guard over the empty footprint.
The Twilight of the Club Era
The end of this exclusive era was brought about by the relentless tide of history. The Great Depression of 1929 cooled the fervor for lavish seasonal retreats, but the definitive blow was World War II. Due to the island’s position on the Atlantic, there were legitimate fears of German U-boats operating offshore.
The club closed for the 1942 season and never reopened. In 1947, the State of Georgia, under Governor Melvin Thompson, utilized Eminent Domain, the legal right of a government to take private property for public use, to purchase the island for $675,000.
Walk Amongst the Riches
Walking through the Jekyll Island Historic District is an immersion into the transition of the American South and the rise of industrial titans. Whether you are an enthusiast of Heritage Preservation or simply looking for a quiet stroll beneath the oaks, these cottages offer a rare, preserved window into a bygone world. If you find yourself on the Georgia coast, do not miss the opportunity to walk these grounds and even get inside some of these beautiful mansions.
Helpful Links
- Jekyll Island Club Resort: Book your stay at the Jekyll Island Club Resort, including options at the clubhouse and various cottages!
- Other Lodging Options: Or check out one of the other options for staying on the island. We stayed at the Residence Inn, which has beach access and is very pet friendly!
- Official Jekyll Island Historic Tours: Join a tour, including the guided trolley tour of the 240-acre historic district, which includes entry into a historic cottage and admission into the Mosaic Gallery and Faith Chapel.
- Mosaic, Jekyll Island Gallery and Museum: Go to the museum to trace the island’s rich history from the start, through the colonial and plantation eras, into it’s age of opulence, and finally into the island’s modern days.
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