Historical Marker - Fort George Island

Fort George Island, originally inhabited by the Timucua, is the home of the Mission of San Juan Del Puerto and the original arrival of the French Huguenots. The British Governor of Georgia, James Oglethorpe, named this land St. George Island during the British invasion and removal of the Spanish. The fort was built as a defense for Georgia and soon the land became known as Fort George. One of the lands owners, Zephaniah Kingsley, owned and operated Kingsley Plantation on this land. By the turn of the 20th century, the land had become accessible by boat, rail and automobile and experienced a growth in tourism activity.