Centuries of History and Hospitality

General Oglethorpe John Eugene DuBignon sells A secret meeting at The first transcontinental telephone Restoration of Crane Cottage and renames the island the island for $125,000 to a the Club call is made with Club member is completed at a cost of $5.5 million, adding in tribute to his wealthy American industrialist results in the basic Theodore Vail participating on 23 additional specialty sleeping rooms to the friend Sir Joseph who creates a hunting retreat, plan for the future Jekyll Island. Hotel. Jekyll, an English the Jekyll Island Club. politician. Banking System. The Great The Jekyll Island causeway and original Depression takes its lift bridge are built connecting the island toll on the fortunes to the mainland. The Wanderer of some members. unloads 409 slaves on Jekyll Island’s Great Dunes, an The Club is elevated to National Jekyll Island; one of authentic links golf course, is Historic Landmark status. Members the last cargoes of built over the natural lay of the enjoy the last slaves imported to land beside the Atlantic Ocean. Restoration of the “season” at the United States. Jekyll Island Club the Jekyll begins. Island Club.

1734 1792 1858 1865 1886 1896 1898 1899 1901 1903 1910 1915 1921 1929 1942 1947 1954 1972 1978 1985 1986 1993 2001 2010

The Jekyll Island Club is added to the National Register of Historic Places. The War Between the States puts The Jekyll Island Club Hotel, National an end to the Historic Landmark, reopens, completely Electric lights, plantation era. restored at a cost of $20 million. thought to be merely a “fad,” emblazon the Christophe Club for the DuBignon flees the President McKinley first time. French Revolution, and his wife visit purchases Jekyll members of the Jekyll Island Club. The Hotel is Island and designated a establishes a A Louis Comfort Historic Hotel of cotton plantation. Tiffany stained America by the glass window is National Trust purchases Jekyll Island Charles Alling Gifford, a installed in Faith for Historic for $675,000 and it becomes a JEKYLL ISLAND CLUB HOTEL premier architect of the Chapel. Preservation. day, designs a new Club state park. JEKYLL ISLAND , GEORGIA A Walk addition, modestly named the “Annex.” 371 RIVERVIEW DRIVE JEKYLL ISLAND , GEORGIA 31527 Through

RESERVATIONS: 866.673.5527 Sans Souci, one of the first 912.635.260 0 | jekyllclub.com condominiums in America is History made ready for William Rockefeller, J.P. Morgan and In a joint effort with the Jekyll Island Authority, the Hotel renovates the historic four others. indoor tennis center for $3.8 million.

Photos are provided by the Jekyll Island Museum, Jekyll Island; Coastal Georgia Historical Society; St. Simons Island . Others Courtesy of Georgia Department of Archives and History, Atlanta, Georgia. As you tour the Club, note the carefully preserved original woodwork, The Grand “Sans Souci ,” the name of leaded art glass and heart pine floors. Staircase is an which means ‘without care,’ exact replica of the was built in 1896. This six- The Hall of Mirrors begins your tour of the historic Jekyll Island one removed unit apartment building is Club Hotel. As you gaze into the first mirror on your right, look during the considered to be one of the into infinity through the last original mirror and seamless frame installation of first condominiums built in lining this hallway. elevators in the this country. The floors, 1950s. Much of the leaded glass, stairway and The first room on the right is the Federal Reserve Room , where original balustrade skylight are original. six of the country’s most wealthy and highly respected financiers was hand turned drafted the Aldrich Plan in 1910; this later became the basis for and so is the , the son-in-law of the first owners of the cottage the Federal Reserve System in 1913. In present one. known today as Cherokee , was in large measure responsible for addition to its use for meetings, men and the building of this Italian Renaissance residence. He purchased women enjoyed this room for a friendly Initially all meals were served in the Grand Dining Room as the lot 32 from the estate of Walter Gurnee and submitted plans to game of billiards. Club House housed the only cooking facility. Chefs from around build a two-story house on it for his in-laws, Dr. George F. Shrady the world prepared the ten-course meals, and dining time was and his wife, Hester. The cottage, which originally contained The adjoining Aldrich Room , initially approximately three hours. twenty rooms and six the Club card room, was named for Today a tradition lives on baths, was constructed Senator Nelson Aldrich of . as our chefs prepare and in 1904 and first He was chairman of the committee which serve breakfast, lunch and appears on the tax met on Jekyll Island in 1910 and created dinner and a Victorian rolls in 1905 with a the forerunner of the Federal Reserve Brunch on Sunday. The value of $15,000. Plan. The decorative motif in the mantelpiece emulates the Grand Dining Room is Restored in 2001, Lincoln commemorative wreath. A wreath of this design open to the public. Cherokee now features embellished Lincoln’s casket in 1865. Thereafter, this motif 10 guest rooms. became fashionable in mantel decoration. The Riverview Lounge (adjacent to the Grand Dining Room). An afternoon tea is served daily with an array of fine teas, tea sandwiches, Built in 1917 by Richard Teller Crane Jr., Crane Cottage is the Across the hall is the petite pastries and warm scones, from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. most expensive house to ever be constructed during the club era. Alexander Room , formerly the The Lounge may also be reserved for small private functions. Completed in 1917, the home sprawled over two lots and Ladies’ Parlor. The drawing originally featured 22 bedrooms and 17 bathrooms. The Italian displayed over the mantelpiece, Through the windows you will Renaissance home was valued at $50,000, twice as much as any rendered by architect Charles see the smaller than Olympic but other cottage on Jekyll at the time. Richard Teller Crane Jr., the Alexander, represents the larger than standard size Pool youngest surviving son of Richard Teller Crane and his wife, Mary “front” of the Hunt Club he which was originally filled by an Josephine Prentice, designed. A lovely leaded art Artesian spring well, rumored to was the president of glass piece serves as a skylight have medicinal benefits. The the Crane Company, a above the bay window. pool has been modernized and is successful family heated in winter. business renowned for The Pulitzer Room , plumbing and adjacent to the Alexander In 1901 the Club House Annex was added to provide eight bathroom fixtures . Room, was formerly the additional private apartments for Club members. The Annex was Today, Crane Cottage main parlor. On the wall the first building to have indoor plumbing. Each Club member accommodates 13 opposite the fireplace is a was given a certain number of specially printed guest cards to guest rooms, casual painting by G. Steele of invite friends to visit during the season. The “strangers,” as they dining and special the “Wanderer,” the last were referred to by the Club members, were permitted to visit for events for 150 guests. ship to bring a significant no longer than two weeks. cargo of slaves to the Unites States (1858). To further explore the days of this lavish style, Just off the Pulitzer Room is the Aspinwall Room , named after the visit our Gift Shop, offering souvenirs and additional historical first president of the Club, Lloyd Aspinwall (1888). It was originally information found in “The Jekyll Island Club” written by William an open porch and a popular place to watch the yachts arrive. This Barton McCash and June Hall McCash, room was enclosed for year-round use after the Club opened. along with other books about the Club.

Photos are provided by the Jekyll Island Museum, Jekyll Island; Coastal Georgia Historical Society; St. Simons Island . Others Courtesy of Georgia Department of Archives and History, Atlanta, Georgia.