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The Cumberland Island National Seashore is one of many barrier islands along the southeastern coast.  Some of the island is still privately owned, but most is managed by the National Park Service, preserved and protected from development.  The island is about 18 miles long and 3 miles wide, the largest American wilderness island. 

Most people arrive by boat but it is possible to fly in.  The ferry leaves from St. Mary's, Georgia or Fernandina Beach, Florida.  The Park Service restricts the number of people on the island each day in order to protect it.  Advanced planning is necessary for a visit.  The ferry makes two stops, at Seacamp Dock and at the Ice House.  From the Ice House ferry dock, the marked Dungeness Trail takes you through the maritime forest, trees and plants which can survive in salt air.  Spanish moss drapes the trees and resurrection fern and air plants attach themselves to the trunks, especially of the live oak trees.  Above right, the resurrection fern dries out and turns brown when the weather is dry but turns lush green and opens when it rains.

After the maritime forest, you proceed into the salt marsh on a raised wooden walkway; spartina (which looks like marsh grasses) undulates  in the breezes.

The trail leads across a sand dune with dead trees.  The interdune meadow is between the first and second sand dunes  You pass across the second dune and then on to the beach.  The dunes and interdune meadow protect the inland part of the island from storms and floods.

With sixteen miles of beach, the marker is a welcomed sight, indicating the boardwalk trail to Seacamp.

We were lucky to be able to travel to Cumberland Island in our own boat.  We had all the comforts of home and could stay for several days.  The only public accommodation is at Greyfield Inn and Resort.  Greyfield was built by Lucy Carnegie for her daughter Margaret Ricketson in 1900.  Margaret's daughter Lucy Ferguson and her family operate Greyfield Inn Resort, termed a "luxury inn," meaning rather pricey.  Camping is permitted but is very primitive.  No matter how long you visit, unless you stay at Greyfield Inn, you must take everything you need including food, water, insect repellent, etc. 

The island is beautiful and has varied vegetation, wild life, birds, sea shells, and sharks' teeth.  It is a lovely place to visit.  Check out the Park Service's website at www.nps.gov/cuis. 

Stuart Woods wrote a book set on Cumberland Island entitled Palindrome.  Although fictional, it brings to life the spirit and character of the island.

Plaque:

"This building was probably built shortly after Dungeness (1885).  Ice cut from frozen ponds or lakes in the wintry north was delivered by schooner for storage here.  A block usually weighed 300 pounds and was handled by means of wooden ramps as the pile of ice grew higher. 

By the turn of the century, manufactured ice had become common.  Refrigeration equipment for  ice-making was housed in the back of the power plant building in 1901.  This ice house was then used for storage."

The Ice House now serves as a museum with exhibits, artifacts, and pictures.  Since many of the historical buildings have burned or deteriorated completely, we took pictures of pictures to illustrate the former grandeur of the island.