St. Marys Vacation Homes

Dungeness on Cumberland Island, Georgia, is a ruined mansion that is part of a historic district that was the home of several families significant in American history. James Oglethorpe first built on Cumberland Island in 1736, building a hunting lodge that he named Dungeness. Oglethorpe named the place after Dungeness, in England. The next Dungeness was the legacy of Revolutionary War hero Nathanael Greene, who had acquired 11,000 acres of island land in exchange for a bad debt. His widow built a four-story tabby mansion in 1803, over a Timucuan shell mound. During the War of 1812 the island was occupied by the British, who used the house as a headquarters.
In 1818 Henry “Light-Horse Harry” Lee, a dashing cavalry commander during the Revolutionary War and father of Robert E. Lee, stayed at the house until his death on March 25, 1818, cared for by Greene's daughter Louisa, and was laid to rest in nearby cemetery with full military honors provided by an American fleet stationed at St. Marys, Georgia. The house was abandoned during the U.S. Civil War and burned in 1866.
In the 1880s the property was purchased by Thomas M. Carnegie, brother of Andrew Carnegie, who began to build a new mansion on the site. The 59-room Queen Anne style mansion and grounds were completed after Carnegie's death in 1886. His wife Lucy continued to live at Dungeness and built other estates for her children, including Greyfield for Margaret Carnegie, Plum Orchard for George Lauder Carnegie, and Stafford Plantation. By this time, the Carnegies owned 90% of the island.
The Carnegies moved out of Dungeness in 1925. In 1959 the Dungeness mansion was destroyed by fire, alleged to be arson. The ruins are today preserved by the National Park Service as part of Cumberland Island National Seashore. They were acquired by the Park Service in 1972.

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Our top choices for St. Marys holiday homes

Holiday Home in St. Marys

Brandon L.

HK$2,677 total

includes taxes & fees

24 Jan - 25 Jan

Holiday Home in Saint Mary's

Anthony C.

HK$2,559 total

includes taxes & fees

3 Feb - 4 Feb

Holiday Home in Saint Mary's

HK$2,544 total

includes taxes & fees

1 Feb - 2 Feb

Holiday Home in St. Marys

Janice F.

HK$2,995 total

includes taxes & fees

24 Jan - 25 Jan

Holiday Home in St. Marys

Brittany L.

HK$2,656 total

includes taxes & fees

2 Feb - 3 Feb

Holiday Home in St Marys

Mary R.

HK$2,290 total

includes taxes & fees

22 Jan - 23 Jan

1 bedroom, desk, iron/ironing board, free WiFi

Holiday Home in St Marys

Catherine

HK$1,916 total

includes taxes & fees

31 Jan - 1 Feb

Holiday Home in St. Marys

Brian B.

HK$3,247 total

includes taxes & fees

2 Feb - 3 Feb

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Top St. Marys Hotel Reviews

Crowne Plaza Hotel Jacksonville Airport/I-95N by IHG

10/10 Excellent

"Yes"

Courtyard by Marriott Amelia Island

10/10 Excellent

"I came here a few years ago with my mother and had to come back with my girlfriend. Absolutely beautiful hotel for a fair price. Breakfast was excellent (if a bit pricy), staff was kind and helpful. It’s also very close to the beach, so we could take a 3 minute walk over there whenever we wanted. Highly recommend this hotel! Would love to return someday."

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