Tybee Vacation Rentals Concierge and Tybee Information Site

Did you know that there is a tour of Tybee? It was developed from a myriad of sources including Linda Odom’s Tales of the South script, several books on Tybee Island, numerous newspaper articles, Teri Grundel’s ecology notes, Internet resources, and it’s been checked by Cullen Chambers—our major guru on Tybee history.  Many people are surprised to learn that the tour takes about four hours if you stop to see the Lighthouse, Ft. Pulaski and the Marine Science Center. “What can you possibly say about Tybee that would take a whole 4 hours,” said one person. Whoa! Tybee’s packed full of history, ecology, mystery, and it’s even said to be haunted! It’s all in the tour.

When I first put this tour together, we tried to run it by trolley, much like Savannah; but to pay the driver, tour guide, gas, insurance (atrocious!) and such, we would have had to charge

an arm and a leg so we abandoned that idea. Then we thought, why not record it on a CD and let people put it in their car and go at their leisure? Wallah-the CD was born.

The tour is divided into sections: Tybee history, Mid-island, North Island, Ecology, Ft. Pulaski and the South island. We begin with the history, going back to the time of the Euchee Indians. They gave us our name, Tybee, which means salt (but do you know the other two names we had?). Tybee is one of the barrier islands that Indians used as their cities. They’d hop in their canoes and land on one of the islands, live there a while, and then move on to the next one. Our many rivers, streams, and inlets were their streets.  I like to picture a tribe getting in their canoes and going over to Hilton Head for “Chief Watootoo’s” birthday party. This seems possible.

In the 1500’s France, Spain and England took an interest in the new world, and because Tybee had a certain desirable flavoring, there was a fight between France and Spain as to which country would claim us. You’ll need to get the CD for the details on who won this fight, but a couple of hundred years later, it was England, of course, who claimed us.

We talk a lot about the railroad and how it got started and did you know that the term “daytrippers” comes from the fact that rich people from Savannah came out to Tybee for the day? Did you know that at one time we had 1800 bath houses on Tybee and several piers and hotels? Imagine that on this little two-by-three mile island. Many big bands, including those of Cab Calloway and Duke Ellington, were here, and Johnny Mercer came from Savannah to hear the music. Who can tell what influence those visits had on his glorious creations. Conrad Aiken wrote a poem about his experiences on the Tybee train called Strange Moonlight.

Do you know what “racks” are and the value of Spartina, Needle grass and Oxeye Daisy? Do you know “glasswort” and what it is? And the mystery of our cemetery? Can you name the seven flags that have flown over Tybee?

What about our state tree, flower, insect, vegetable, song, bird and motto—any clue? Do you know what a hammock is (no, not the kind you snooze in)? What was Ft. Graham, and who was James Screven? Have you heard the story of the Brass Rail (a really wild place)? What was the Marsh Hen? Who was Henry Morgan and what does the Froebel Circle have to do with Tybee? American Tourist Court—do you know about it? And our wonderful cottages—do you know why they are made of heart pine? We also had a few “firsts” on this island; do you know what they were?

Then there are the ghosts! I’ve heard two personal stories about ghosts on Tybee, and have read about more. Besides our cemetery, there is a huge burial ground on Tybee where you hear the moans and groans of the dead! Know where it is?

As you can see, there is much to learn about Tybee. It has had an impact on history, has been at the forefront of the entertainment and travel world, has had its share of tall tales and real tales, and has had a naughty past as well as a nice past, and there’s still more to come.

Get to know the place where you live. Read one of the several books about Tybee that are out there, or come and get the CD. You can even download it on your IPod and do the tour by bike, but watch those ghosts! You may not know them, but they know you!

NOTE: The CDs are available at Tybee Vacation Rentals office at 1010 US Hwy 80 E. They are $9.50 plus tax.

Trackback URI | Comments RSS