LIVE WEBCAMS FOR TYBEE ISLAND BEACH

Tybee Island, often called "Savannah’s Beach," is a barrier island rich in history, from Native American heritage and pirate legends to Civil War fortifications and seaside tourism. Just 18 miles east of Savannah, Tybee has played strategic, cultural, and recreational roles for over four centuries.

 

EARLY HISTORY

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Native American Presence

The Euchee and Guale tribes originally inhabited the island.

 

The name "Tybee" is believed to come from the Euchee word for “salt,” a resource the Native Americans collected from the island’s salt marshes.

 

Spanish and French Explorers

In the 1500s, Spanish explorers used the island as a navigational landmark.

 

French pirates and explorers also passed through the area during early colonial activity.

 

COLONIAL ERA

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British Settlement

General James Oglethorpe, founder of Georgia, claimed the island for the British in 1733.

 

The island became part of the defensive system for Savannah, then the capital of the Georgia colony.

 

Tybee Lighthouse

The first lighthouse was built in 1736, making it one of the oldest in the U.S..

 

The current Tybee Island Light Station (from 1867) still stands and is fully operational and visitable today.

 

REVOLUTIONARY WAR & EARLY U.S.

During the Revolutionary War, Tybee was used as a staging ground for troops.

 

It remained largely undeveloped through the late 1700s and early 1800s but was an important navigational and military outpost.

 

CIVIL WAR ERA

Tybee played a key role in the Union blockade of Confederate ports.

 

In 1862, Union forces used Tybee to launch artillery attacks on Fort Pulaski (on nearby Cockspur Island), a pivotal moment that demonstrated the power of rifled cannon and made brick forts obsolete.

 

After the war, Tybee remained a military and shipping landmark.

 

TOURISM BOOM (LATE 1800s–1900s)

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Railroad Brings Visitors

In 1887, a railroad connected Tybee to Savannah, transforming it into a popular summer resort for middle-class families.

 

Victorians flocked to the beachfront hotels, pavilions, and dance halls.

 

20th-Century Recreation

The Tybrisa Pavilion, opened in the early 1900s, became a hotspot for big-band music, dancing, and nightlife.

 

By mid-century, Tybee was a beloved coastal escape with boardwalks, amusement rides, and fishing piers.

 

CHALLENGES & MODERN ERA

Hurricanes and Decline

Like many barrier islands, Tybee suffered damage from hurricanes over the decades, including storms in the 1890s and 1940s.

 

The advent of cars and newer beach destinations led to a decline in Tybee’s popularity by the 1960s.

 

Revival & Conservation

In recent decades, Tybee has experienced a revival focused on historic preservation, eco-tourism, and low-key charm.

 

The city has worked to preserve landmarks like the lighthouse, Battery Garland, and Fort Screven.

 

TODAY'S TYBEE ISLAND

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Tybee is now known for:

• Family-friendly beaches

• Kayaking, birdwatching, and sea turtle conservation

 

Historic landmarks like:

• Tybee Island Light Station

• Fort Screven

• Battery Garland

• Events like the Tybee Island Pirate Festival and Beach Bum Parade