U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Savannah) will be on hand at Camden County High School next week to help unveil the latest edition of the America the Beautiful Quarters Program featuring Georgia’s own Cumberland Island.
The program, which began in 2010, seeks to feature “designs depicting national parks and other national sites” with 56 separate coin designs. This edition, the 44th of the set, depicts an image of a Snowy Egret in front of a marsh, a classic image from Cumberland Island National Seashore, the state’s largest and southernmost barrier island.
Cumberland Island has a rich history dating back to pre-colonial times before hosting a Spanish Fort in the early 17th century. James Oglethorpe, the founder of Georgia, (and namesake of James Magazine) would later build a large hunting lodge called Dungeness on the island. Fast forward to 1880 and Thomas Carnegie, brother of legendary steel magnate Andrew, built a mansion on the ruins of Dungeness, the ruins of which can still be seen today.
In modern times the island is controlled by the National Park Service, playing host to thousands of visitors a year interested in seeing its lush flora and exotic fauna, including alligators and wild horses.
See an interview with Don Everhart, sculptor of the Cumberland Island National Seashore quarter design, below.
