Jekyll Island Historic District: Tours, Millionaires' Cottages & Museum

Walking through the Jekyll Island Historic District feels less like visiting a museum and more like stepping onto a movie set of the Gilded Age. This 240-acre riverfront compound was once the winter playground for the world's wealthiest families, Rockefeller, Morgan, Vanderbilt, Pulitzer, and Baker.

For over 50 years, this Millionaires' Club represented one-sixth of the world's total wealth. Today, it is one of the largest ongoing restoration projects in the southeastern United States, preserved not just as old buildings, but as a living testament to a bygone era of opulence.

Whether you want to tour the grand cottages, visit the museum, or simply walk under the ancient oaks, here is your complete guide to the Jekyll Island Historic District.

• Location: The district is located on the river side of the island (west), near the Jekyll Island Club Resort and just steps away from the Georgia Sea Turtle Center.
• Admission: Walking the grounds is FREE. Entering the cottages, museum, and chapel requires a ticket.
• Best Tour: The Landmark Trolley Tour is the most popular way to see everything.
• Pet Policy: Dogs are allowed on the grounds (leashed) but NOT inside buildings or on the trolley.

The Mosaic Museum: Your Starting Point

Before exploring the cottages, head to the Mosaic, Jekyll Island Museum. Housed in the historic club stables, this isn't just a dusty collection of artifacts. It is an interactive experience that tells the island's story from Native American eras to the Gilded Age and beyond.

• What to See: You can sit in a vintage Red Bug (the electric cars used by members), build your own cottage with blocks, and see personal items from the Rockefeller family.
• The Secret History: Learn about the clandestine 1910 meeting where J.P. Morgan and other bankers drafted the plan for the Federal Reserve System.
• Ticket Info: You can buy museum-only tickets, but the best value is the trolley tour package, which includes museum entry.

The Landmark Trolley Tour: Is It Worth It?

If you only pay for one thing on Jekyll Island, make it this tour. While you can walk around the buildings for free, you cannot enter them without a guide.

The Passport to the Century trolley tour typically includes:

• A 60-90 minute guided ride through the 240-acre district.
• Exclusive Entry: Step inside one of the restored cottages (usually Indian Mound or Moss Cottage) to see how the 1% lived in 1900.
• Faith Chapel: Admission to the stunning chapel is included (more on that below).
• Mosaic Museum: Entry to the museum is also part of the ticket price.

Note: Tours sell out quickly, especially on weekends and holidays. It is highly recommended to book your tickets online in advance.

Exploring the Cottages

The wealthy members called these massive mansions cottages to play down their wealth, but they are anything but small.

• Indian Mound Cottage (Rockefeller): This sprawling white home was the winter retreat of William Rockefeller. It features a giant lawn and intricate details.
• Crane Cottage: Perhaps the most lavish of them all, built in Italian Renaissance style. It is famous for its sunken garden and courtyard (now a popular wedding venue).

• Dubignon Cottage: One of the oldest structures, dating back to the pre-club plantation era.
• Villa Ospo: Known for its Spanish Eclectic style and beautiful archways.

Most of these are now part of the Jekyll Island Club Resort and can be rented for stays or events, but the trolley tour gives you a glimpse into their history.

Faith Chapel: A stained Glass Masterpiece

Built in 1904, this non-denominational chapel is a jewel box of architecture. It may look simple from the outside, but the interior holds two artistic treasures.

1. The Tiffany Window: The window behind the altar, David Set Over the Flocks, was created by Louis Comfort Tiffany himself. It is one of his finest ecclesiastical works and glows with vibrant purples and blues.
2. The Armstrong Window: The other major window, Adoration of the Christ Child, is equally stunning but stylistically different.

• Fun Fact: Look closely at the dark wood interior; you will see gargoyles carved into the beam ends, which adds a gothic touch to the chapel.

Dining and Staying in History

You don't have to just visit the history; you can sleep in it. The main clubhouse is now the Jekyll Island Club Resort. Even if you aren't a guest, you can:

• Dine at the Grand Dining Room: Experience white-glove service in the same room where millionaires ate.
• Grab a Drink at the Wharf: Located on the pier, offering sunset views and casual food.
• Visit the Pantry: A casual cafe for coffee and pastries inside the club grounds.