St. Marys: History and Cumberland Island

St. Marys is the gateway to Cumberland Island National Seashore. The town itself also offers several historical points of interest: the St. Marys Submarine Museum, a historic district with a self-guided tour, and a short History Walk. When planning your trip, you can focus on two distinct areas: the scenery and trails on Cumberland Island, and submarine and regional history in St. Marys.

Cumberland Island: Ferry, Coast, and Trails

A passenger ferry to Cumberland Island, operated by a concessionaire, departs from St. Marys. Its service varies seasonally, so check the schedule for your visit. Cumberland Island National Seashore includes nearly 18 miles of undeveloped beach. Visitors can walk or ride a bicycle along Cumberland Island’s historic Main Park Road. Another activity begins in town: the Southeast Coast Saltwater Paddling Trail starts in St. Marys, heads north, and is divided into eleven sections. The trail’s starting point in town distinguishes it from the historic Main Park Road on Cumberland Island: one route begins in St. Marys and heads north, while the other can be used on the island on foot and by bicycle.

Museums with Different Themes

The St. Marys Submarine Museum has nearly 5,000 square feet of exhibit and display space across two floors. According to the museum, it houses more than 99 percent of all American submarine war patrol reports from World War II. Visitors can operate an actual Type 2 submarine periscope to see the St. Marys River. A visit to the collection and the periscope experience thus offer two different aspects of the museum: historical documents and a firsthand view of the river.

On the mainland, the Cumberland Island National Seashore Museum houses a collection of artifacts from Cumberland Island. The “Forgotten Battle” exhibit focuses on a battle from the War of 1812 that took place in the Point Peter area of St. Marys. The two museums emphasize different aspects of history: the Submarine Museum focuses on American submarine war patrol reports from World War II, while the mainland museum features island artifacts and the battle history of Point Peter.

Downtown and Regional History on Foot

Explore the historic district of Downtown St. Marys on a self-guided tour. Depending on how long you spend at each stop, the tour takes one to three hours. Downtown streets are named after the town’s founders. Another option is the St. Marys History Walk. The trail is 600 feet long and features 24 informational plaques about the region’s history. The differences make trip planning straightforward: the tour’s overall duration depends on your stops, while the History Walk’s length and number of plaques are fixed.

The St. Marys Tabby Trail

The St. Marys Tabby Trail is an 11-mile bicycle and multi-use trail from St. Marys Waterfront Park to Crooked River State Park. Trails along the route are still being developed. Keep this development in mind when planning your cycling or multi-use trip.

Discover more destinations: Spring Bluff, Kingsland, Woodbine.

Go to the main travel overview: Camden.