5 Old Ruins to Explore in Camden County
Checkout places to visit in Camden County
Camden County is located in the southeastern corner of Georgia and is known for its pristine landscape and coastal features. Its towns are among the earliest established in the state, including St. Marys, founded in 1787. The county offers locals and visitors alike a mix of rural charm and modern conveniences, with two major cities, Kingsland and St. Marys, as well as small town Jacksonville located on the Nassau Sound with its view of Cumberland Island and sea oats waving in the wind. Camden Co
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Old Ruins to Explore in Camden County
Dungeness Ruins is a unique landmark that is steeped in vibrant history. It was built by Nathanael Greene--a former Revolutionary War Major General--in 1784 as his retirement home. The structure combines neoclassical and Greek architectural styles with Palladian influences, featuring columned porticos, stunning gardens and specimen trees thought to have been transported from Greene's Virginia estate.
John Houstoun McIntosh Sugarhouse was built in 1855 by General John Houstoun MacIntosh and his family, a successful family of planters. The two-story building is substantial in size and has a beautiful white portico that welcomes visitors as they arrive. Inside the main house is filled with authentic furnishings that give it that old plantation feel and it houses artifacts from the era. Outback lies acres of cotton fields, where the genus grew one of the most profitable crops of its day.
The Orange Hall Gilman Cultural Center is an institution dedicated to the conservation of the African-American heritage. Located on Hwy 40, just outside of Kingsland, the museum houses artifacts and artwork spanning millennia. It contains a powerful history of the region and its impact on civil rights movements over time. Visitors are invited to explore four main areas: library and archives, interactive displays, galleries featuring exhibitions and a variety of workshops open to all.
The St Marys Railroad was built in the late 1840s to provide an east-west connection for logging and cotton operations. It was the first line of a larger system that eventually stretched from St Marys, through Darien to Savannah. In 1948, the Eastern Railway of Georgia acquired the railroad and after several upgrades, provided passenger service until 1966. Although its original purpose was to transport lumber and cotton, much freight also ran along this route at one time or another.
St. Marys Railroad Express, is an incredible organization that has been around for over 165 years. It began as a school-sponsored program in 1854 and has since lent itself to be a key feature of the local economy in the town of St. Marys. Initially, the express ran along 19 miles of rail lines to supply goods such as lumber and naval stores between St. Marys and Darien, Georgia as well as hauling passengers until 1959 when passenger service was discontinued.