Named For Sir Joseph Jekyll, a friend of Georgia founder James Oglethorpe Most People Don't Know That scenes from "Glory," a film about the Civil War starring Matthew Broderick were filmed on Jekyll. A long boardwalk built for use in the movie passes through a variety of natural habitats Notable Natural Feature South Beach In History From 1888 until1942, some of the wealthiest individuals in America formed the ultra-private Jekyll Island Club which gathered on the island to enjoy hunting, biking, horseback riding and tennis Notable Buildings The Jekyll Island Club's mansion-sized "cottages" in the Jekyll Historic District In Literature and Song Sidney Lanier drew his inspiration for "The Marshes of Glynn" from the marshes around Jekyll Island Top Annual Events Wild Georgia Shrimp Festival Don't Miss Georgia Sea Turtle Center Nearby Cumberland Island