Discover the History of St. George Island

St. George Island, Florida, is a breathtaking destination located near tourist areas like Panama City Beach and Tallahassee. Visiting St. George Island allows you to soak up the Florida sunshine, enjoy the white sand beaches, and truly relax and unwind, all without the major crowds of other areas.

While you’re on St. George Island, there’s plenty to see and do, but to truly appreciate this stunning area, it’s worth it to learn a little history.

This area is truly fascinating and has a more eventful backstory than you may expect! Before you visit our St. George Island rentals, take the time for a quick history lesson.

History Overview

It’s believed that St. George Island has been inhabited since around the 10^th century, starting with the Muscogee Creek Native American tribe. Europeans wouldn’t arrive until the late 1700s. The St. George Island area began to expand rapidly in the early 1800s, as it became easier to trade and travel to and from the island. 

In the 1900s, the focus of St. George Island shifted from tourism and community to military support. The island served as an important resource of turpentine and would also be an important training site in World War II. 

Today, St. George Island is a beautiful paradise because of the strict building codes. You won’t find skyscrapers here! Instead, you’ll see quaint, family-owned businesses and plenty of beautiful views everywhere you turn.  

William Augustus Bowles

William Augustus Bowles played an important role in the development and early days of St. George Island. In 1799, a ship known as Fox became shipwrecked on the cost. Bowles was one of the people on board. Bowles was a British citizen but soon allied with the Creek Native Americans living on the island. 

During his time with the Creeks, Spanish forces arrived and began to attack. Bowles was able to talk the Creeks into supporting the British against the Spanish. Unfortunately, Bowles and several others spent years imprisoned by the Spanish after the initial battle. 

Once Bowles escaped his imprisonment, he was reinstated into the British Army. Bowles eventually made his way back to the St. George Island area with the backing of the British. He was praised for his efforts against the Spanish, although these efforts would eventually lead to his capture and his death in 1805. 

World War II

When World War II came around, St. George Island had a vital role to play. A short distance away in the town of Carrabelle, troops came to train at Camp Gordon Johnston. Troops would also travel to St. George Island to work on water-based training exercises. 

If you make your way to Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park, you can see some of St. George Island’s history truly come to life. Throughout the park, staff members sometimes report finding artillery shells and even portions of practice bombs used in WWII training exercises. 

Cat-Face Trees

There’s plenty of beautiful nature to enjoy throughout St. George Island, but one of the most unique features of the area is the so-called “cat-face trees.” As we mentioned earlier, St. George Island provided turpentine in the early 1990s, which was especially helpful as wartime neared. 

Turpentine is made by distilling the resin from various trees (mostly pines). Of course, there had to be some way to harvest the resin from the local trees in the forests. To get to the precious resource, harvesters had to slash through the trees, creating a “cat face” scar. Just below the slashes, harvesters hung Herty cups to collect the resin as it drained from the trees. At Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park, you can see some of these Herty cups on display! 

Hurricane Damage

Several areas of Florida find themselves facing hurricane damage at one point or another, and sadly, St. George Island is no exception. One of the most famous landmarks in the area is the St. George Island Lighthouse, whose history has been riddled with storms. 

The original St. George Island Lighthouse was constructed in 1833, serving as a helpful guide for ships coming in from the Gulf of Mexico. Storms destroyed the lighthouse just 13 years later, and the lighthouse was rebuilt at a new site a few miles away. The new lighthouse was taller and in a better location, but unfortunately, it, too, was destroyed by storm damage three years after it was completed. 

St. George Island as a whole, including the third lighthouse that had been installed in 1852, was severely impacted by Hurricane Dennis in 2005. The lighthouse completely collapsed, and many of the homes, attractions, and facilities across the island were destroyed. However, the people of St. George Island displayed a resilient spirit. The State Park was rebuilt and reopened after just 15 months, and the lighthouse was reconstructed and reopened in 2008. 

Historic Dunes

Even though storms can cause damage, they can also bring evidence of fascinating change. Over time, St. George Island has developed sand dunes, gradually forming over decades or even centuries. 

The sand dunes around St. George Island are constantly moving toward the mainland thanks to the tides and various storms that move the sand. As such, the landscape of the island is changing constantly as well. Today, if you head out to the shoreline or get into the surf, you may be able to find some tree stumps, which show just how much the local landscape has changed over the years. 

St. George Island takes pride in preserving its unique and fascinating history. That’s why you won’t find excessive construction or deforestation. While St. George Island provides plenty of attractions and amenities, the island also maintains its historical appeal and offers plenty of destinations that will bring the area’s backstory to life.