Jekyll Island Club
Why it's listed
Jekyll Island's Old Village Area covers 240 acres on the island's western shore, where a large brick and wood Victorian clubhouse built in 1887 anchors a group of grand seasonal 'cottages' beneath live oaks and Spanish moss. The Jekyll Island Club, founded in 1888 with membership limited to one hundred, drew families such as the Rockefellers, Morgans, Pulitzers and Vanderbilts. Apartment buildings such as the Club Annex and Sans Souci foreshadowed later condominiums, and Faith Chapel (1904) holds stained glass by Tiffany and Maitland Armstrong. The village included shops, a school, a dock and a power plant, making it largely self-sufficient. The first draft of the Federal Reserve Act was written here in 1910, and a 1915 transcontinental telephone call was placed from the island. Wartime concerns ended club activity in 1942, and the state bought the island in 1947. Today the district serves as a museum village, with Rockefeller Cottage housing the Jekyll Museum.
Significance in brief: The district preserves the winter resort village of a private club of wealthy northern families, active from 1888 until its closure in 1942. Events tied to it include the 1910 drafting of the Federal Reserve Act and a 1915 transcontinental telephone call. It also holds a wide range of late 19th and early 20th century architectural styles in one setting.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 72000385, listed January 20, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Between Riverview Dr. and Old Village Blvd., Jekyll Island |
|---|---|
| County | Glynn County |
| Listed | January 20, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72000385 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1796-1886, 1888-1947, restoration begun 1968 |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian clubhouse; most late 19th and early 20th century styles and building types |
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated June 16, 1978 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition rated good; owned by the Jekyll Island State Park Authority and used as a park and museum. Restoration and repairs were completed at Rockefeller Cottage, Faith Chapel and the F.M. Gould House, and new roofs were installed on several cottages and the clubhouse. |
| Coordinates | 31.05975, -81.42212 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 72000385.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6176598
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.