Dungeness on Cumberland Island, Georgia, is a ruined mansion that is part of a historic district that was the home of several families significant in American history. James Oglethorpe first built on Cumberland Island in 1736, building a hunting lodge that he named Dungeness. Oglethorpe named the place after Dungeness, in England. The next Dungeness was the legacy of Revolutionary War hero Nathanael Greene, who had acquired 11,000 acres of island land in exchange for a bad debt. His widow built a four-story tabby mansion in 1803, over a Timucuan shell mound. During the War of 1812 the island was occupied by the British, who used the house as a headquarters.
In 1818 Henry “Light-Horse Harry” Lee, a dashing cavalry commander during the Revolutionary War and father of Robert E. Lee, stayed at the house until his death on March 25, 1818, cared for by Greene's daughter Louisa, and was laid to rest in nearby cemetery with full military honors provided by an American fleet stationed at St. Marys, Georgia. The house was abandoned during the U.S. Civil War and burned in 1866.
In the 1880s the property was purchased by Thomas M. Carnegie, brother of Andrew Carnegie, who began to build a new mansion on the site. The 59-room Queen Anne style mansion and grounds were completed after Carnegie's death in 1886. His wife Lucy continued to live at Dungeness and built other estates for her children, including Greyfield for Margaret Carnegie, Plum Orchard for George Lauder Carnegie, and Stafford Plantation. By this time, the Carnegies owned 90% of the island.
The Carnegies moved out of Dungeness in 1925. In 1959 the Dungeness mansion was destroyed by fire, alleged to be arson. The ruins are today preserved by the National Park Service as part of Cumberland Island National Seashore. They were acquired by the Park Service in 1972.

Find Hotel with a Concierge in St. Marys, GA

Upfront pricing
Our total price for your stay includes taxes and fees
Treat yourself
Save 10% or more on over 100,000 hotels worldwide with Member Prices
Learn about One Key
Be picky
Search almost a million properties worldwide

Check availability on St. Marys Hotel with a Concierge

Tonight

Nov 23 - Nov 24

Tomorrow

Nov 24 - Nov 25

Next weekend

Nov 28 - Nov 30

In two weeks

Top St. Marys Hotel with a Concierge

View from property

Spencer House Inn Bed & Breakfast

St. Marys

United States

Kathleen

$179 nightly

Nov 24 - Nov 25

Total with taxes and fees

Outdoor pool, open 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM, sun loungers

Amelia Hotel at the Beach

Fernandina Beach

United States

Deborah

$116 nightly

Nov 24 - Nov 25

Total with taxes and fees

Exterior

Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Kingsland Naval Base I-95

Kingsland

United States

kelley

$63 nightly

Nov 24 - Nov 25

Total with taxes and fees

Exterior

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Jacksonville Airport

Northside

United States

Daune

$93 nightly

Dec 7 - Dec 8

Total with taxes and fees

5 outdoor pools, pool umbrellas, sun loungers

The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort

St. Simons Island

United States

Brian

$239 nightly

Nov 30 - Dec 1

Total with taxes and fees

Property amenity

The Westin Jekyll Island Beach Resort

Beach Village

United States

Freddie

$158 nightly

Dec 9 - Dec 10

Total with taxes and fees

Indoor pool, 2 outdoor pools, open 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM, pool umbrellas

The Villas of Amelia Island

Fernandina Beach

United States

Barry Kent

$199 nightly

Nov 26 - Nov 27

Total with taxes and fees

Outdoor pool, open 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, pool umbrellas, sun loungers

The Beachview Club

Jekyll Island

United States

Travis

$154 nightly

Nov 24 - Nov 25

Total with taxes and fees

View all properties

Top St. Marys Hotel Reviews

The Villas of Amelia Island

The Villas of Amelia Island

10/10 Excellent

"Our villa was just beautiful and so comfortable. We stayed in the Sea Dip section of the villas. Beautiful oceanfront view from the balcony. I would definitely stay here again. "

Explore a world of travel with Expedia

50f05ece-6393-432c-9602-f0e82e13f0381608fc94-7d02-4d3b-ae6e-1c8288a18ce9