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 all hotels by Independent in St. Marys, GA from AED 153

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 prices for these dates

Tonight

26 Nov - 27 Nov

Tomorrow

27 Nov - 28 Nov

This weekend

28 Nov - 30 Nov

Next weekend

Compare rooms and suites by Independent in St. Marys with rates, reviews, and availability. Most hotels are fully refundable.

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

Amelia Hotel at the Beach

Fernandina Beach

United States

Deborah

AED 441 total

includes taxes & fees

15 Dec - 16 Dec

Outdoor pool, a heated pool, sun loungers

Ocean Coast Hotel at the Beach Amelia Island

Fernandina Beach

United States

Lee

AED 329 total

includes taxes & fees

6 Dec - 7 Dec

Sundeck

Seaside Amelia Inn

Fernandina Beach

United States

Danyell

AED 515 total

includes taxes & fees

7 Dec - 8 Dec

Beach

Ocean Inn and Suites

St. Simons Island

United States

Leslie A.

AED 353 total

includes taxes & fees

14 Dec - 15 Dec

Front of property

Saint Simons Inn by the Lighthouse

St. Simons Island

United States

Helen

AED 567 total

includes taxes & fees

7 Dec - 8 Dec

Outdoor pool, open 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM, sun loungers

Magnolia Inn Kingsland

Kingsland

United States

Tammy

AED 153 total

includes taxes & fees

27 Nov - 28 Nov

Printers

Airport Motor Inn

Northside

United States

Janae

AED 200 total

includes taxes & fees

1 Dec - 2 Dec

Cocktail bar

Florida House Inn

Fernandina Beach Historic District

United States

Sona

View all properties

Save an average of 15% on thousands of hotels when you're signed in

Sign up, it's free

Top St. Marys Hotel Reviews

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Jacksonville Airport

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Jacksonville Airport

10/10 Excellent

"The staff was very welcoming and so friendly. This place is awesome and the staff is amazing. My husband and I was so excited about checking in and the staff was so polite and helpful. The breakfast was awesome as well. Thank you for everything "

Explore a world of travel with Expedia

Explore a world of travel with Expedia

St. Marys Hotels by Brand

Hotels near popular St. Marys Attractions

More Accommodation Types in St. Marys

Hotels in Popular Destinations

Explore more hotels

See a list of all hotels in St. Marys

f5cba2de-bfbb-45af-9069-cf049d4fb31723b8cdfd-5db3-4d38-b703-bf51519051e2