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

Change your mind
Book hotels with free cancellation
Treat yourself
Sign in to save 10% or more on thousands of hotels
Sign in
Be picky
Search almost a million properties worldwide

Check availability on St. Marys Hotel with a Concierge

Tonight

Tomorrow

This weekend

Next weekend

Jan 16 - Jan 18

Our top choices for St. Marys hotels with concierge

View from property

Spencer House Inn Bed & Breakfast

St. Marys

United States

Kathleen

NT$5,697 total

includes taxes & fees

Feb 5 - Feb 6

Dining

Amelia Hotel at the Beach

Fernandina Beach

United States

Kyle

NT$3,581 total

includes taxes & fees

Jan 12 - Jan 13

Outdoor pool, open 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM, pool umbrellas, sun loungers

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

Kingsland

United States

Dave

NT$2,396 total

includes taxes & fees

Jan 22 - Jan 23

On the beach, sun loungers, beach umbrellas, fishing

Seaside Amelia Inn

Fernandina Beach

United States

Ashley

NT$3,909 total

includes taxes & fees

Jan 8 - Jan 9

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

The Villas of Amelia Island

Fernandina Beach

United States

TRACIE

NT$8,429 total

includes taxes & fees

Jan 12 - Jan 13

Property grounds

The Beachview Club

Jekyll Island

United States

Vanessa

NT$5,077 total

includes taxes & fees

Jan 8 - Jan 9

Free daily buffet breakfast

Hampton Inn Amelia Island at Fernandina Beach

Fernandina Beach

United States

Ann

NT$4,537 total

includes taxes & fees

Jan 21 - Jan 22

5 outdoor pools, pool umbrellas, sun loungers

The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort

St. Simons Island

United States

Patrick

NT$7,068 total

includes taxes & fees

Jan 8 - Jan 9

View all properties

Top St. Marys Hotel Reviews

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

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

10/10 Excellent

"The check-in girl(Dimples) was very nice."

Explore a world of travel with Expedia

Book Hotel with a Concierge in St. Marys on Expedia.com

034fcaf8-38e3-4416-9561-3a850b3793aae778246a-c347-4b2d-94b6-509902995e61