The southbound journey through the Historic District veers slightly from Riverview Drive as it passes in front of Crane Cottage and the Riverfront Lawn. Richard T. Crane, Jr. became a member of the Jekyll Island Club in 1911. Construction of Crane Cottage, the most expensive and elaborate private cottage on the island, was completed in 1917. Today, Crane Cottage serves as additional guest lodging for the Jekyll Island Club Hotel. The enormous Riverfront Lawn is a popular spot for receptions and gatherings.

Some of the best views on the island can be found looking west from the trail as it passes by the Riverfront Lawn.

The Riverfront Lawn sits next to the Jekyll Island Club Wharf and Marina.

Wildlife enthusiasts can take advantage of one of the Dolphin Cruises that depart from the wharf.

Private boats can also be moored here.

Looking west at the Jekyll Island Club Wharf and Marina.

Looking west at the Jekyll Island Club Wharf and Marina.

I think I've photographed the boat in the center of the photo above before.

Looking west at the Jekyll Island Club Wharf and Marina.

Looking west at the Jekyll Island Club Wharf and Marina.

Looking north across the marsh.

The term "Historic District" centers around the exclusive Jekyll Island Club that dates from 1886. John Eugene duBignon, (a descendant of Christophe duBignon), owned Jekyll Island at the time and put a plan into motion to turn it into a private hunting club and market it to wealthy northerners looking to escape winter. The sale of Jekyll Island to the newly incorporated "Jekyll Island Club" was completed in February 1886.

Very expensive club memberships that were intentionally limited in numbers were sold to some of country's wealthiest families, (names such as Morgan, Vanderbilt, and Rockefeller appeared on the membership roster). The Clubhouse opened in 1888 and ushered in a period of growth and prosperity during which the Jekyll Island Club became “the richest, the most exclusive, the most inaccessible club in the world.”

But as was the case for just about everything from that era, the Great Depression wasn't very kind to the Jekyll Island Club. Membership numbers began a steady drop that continued until World War II which sealed the club's fate. The State of Georgia acquired Jekyll Island in 1947 with the intent of opening it to the public as a State Park. The Clubhouse was converted into a resort hotel that operated until the early 1970s.

After a decade of being abandoned, the Clubhouse was restored and reopened in 1985 as the Jekyll Island Club Hotel seen in the photo above. Other surviving homes and buildings have also been restored and re purposed and make up what is now the Historic District.

From its founding in 1886, the Jekyll Island Club quickly developed a reputation for being very exclusive and nearly inaccessible for most people. But even at this level, the demand existed for even further exclusivity. A group of six club members headed by J. P. Morgan were looking for something more than the "standard" clubhouse accommodations and built the three-story Sans Souci, which means "no worries," in 1896. Each floor contains two luxury apartments for a total of six in the building which made Sans Souci one of the first condominiums in the country. The building was completely restored in the 1980s and serves as additional accommodations for the Jekyll Island Club Hotel.

I continued my southbound trek through the Historic District and soon arrived at its southern entrance, (where the Stable Road bypass ends). Continuing south along the Historic District Trail lead me to another long wooden bridge across the marsh.

Another long wooden bridge across the marsh just south of the southern entrance to the Historic District.

I'm getting closer to the Ben Fortson Parkway and the M. E. Thompson Bridge.

I detoured off of the Historic District Trail onto the old Jekyll Island Causeway Bridge. The original bridge opened in the early 1950s and offered direct vehicle access from Brunswick. After being replaced by the current M. E. Thompson Bridge in the 1980s, the original bridge now serves as a fishing pier and wildlife viewing area.

The Jekyll Island Marina sits south of the Thompson Bridge.

Kayaking in the Jekyll River is a popular activity. The Tidelands Nature Center sits near the Jekyll Island Marina and offers guided kayak tour of the marsh.

Kayaking in the Jekyll River near the Jekyll Island Marina.

From the old bridge, I hopped on the Ben Fortson Parkway and headed past where I was parked on my way back to the Beach Village where I encountered a small crowd.

The crowd was being entertained by the Second Chance Band from Jesup, Georgia as part of the Beach Village Music Series.

The 11-piece Second Chance Band bills itself as, "the South's Premiere Beach and Soul band."

The crowd was definitely into the band's sound, especially the lady at the top right of the photo above.

The Second Chance Band from Jesup, Georgia.

The Second Chance Band from Jesup, Georgia.

Good crowd at the Beach Village for the Second Chance Band.

I hit the beach once again now that the crowd had subsided.

Good picture of my shadow on the beach.

Great weather looking south ! Like the Lanier Bridge, weather is also a favorite photography subject of mine.

The forecast for the length of my visit to Jekyll Island called for "isolated storms." While the weather directly above me was beautiful, ominous looking clouds could be seen in the distance.

Zooming in on the clouds to the south toward Cumberland Island.

Great weather off in the distance.

I would guess that I am seeing great weather in my immediate vicinity and storms off in the distance.

Zooming in on the clouds in the distance leads me to believe that I am seeing one of those isolated storms in the forecast.

A storm off in the distance to the south over Cumberland Island.

Great shot of the weather off in the distance.

It looks like one large storm has settled over Cumberland Island in the distance.

Storm to the south over Cumberland Island.

This was, apparently, a popular weekend to get married on the beach at Jekyll Island.

This is the third wedding site I've encountered today.

I'm guessing this is the happy couple having wedding photos taken on the beach.

This was the perfect time to turn my attention inland to the west for sunset over Jekyll Island.

I started riding south on the beach heading toward the southern tip of the island and Jekyll Point. My goal was to find the shipwreck that I had read about previously.

I had plenty of hard-packed beach available at low tide. That and the southwesterly on-shore breeze made for an easy and enjoyable ride.

I passed another group out getting some exercise.

A ship came into view as I got closer to Jekyll Point.

The beach is extremely wide at low tide at the southern end of the island.