Lighthouse Inn Bed & Breakfast

Born on Cockspur Island on August 7, 1868, Florence Martus remains one of Savannah’s most legendary citizens. Following the Civil War, her father John had serve...d as Ordnance Sergeant at Fort Pulaski and then as caretaker of the Cockspur Island lighthouse. Florence grew up watching the ships pass by Cockspur Island and assisting her father and older brother, George, with the daily chores of the lighthouse. After her father’s death, George took over as lighthouse keeper and the family moved to Elba Island several miles upriver from Fort Pulaski. It was here that Florence became known as The Waving Girl. Having grown up watching the ships pass by, Florence made the decision to greet each and every ship that sailed past her and her brother’s little cottage. By day, Florence would wave a white handkerchief and at night she would wave a lantern. For over forty years, Florence waved her greeting and never missed a single ship. Her brother George retired in 1931 and the two moved away from Elba Island, but Florence’s fame as The Waving Girl continued. She passed away on February 8, 1943, at the age of seventy-four. Many legends surround Florence and the reason she waved at the ships passing by. The most popular legend says that she fell in love with a sailor who promised to return to her but never did, and so she greeted each ship in hopes that he might be returning to her. This is, however, just a legend. In a newspaper article from 1899, Florence gave her reasoning for waving her handkerchief at every ship that passed: It is because they are my friends; they are almost my only friends. I love to see them come and go, and when they go I always hope and pray for their safe return.I try not to let one pass without waving my handkerchief or lantern. I always think of them and feel for them and I enjoy the salutes they sometimes give as I do a visit from a friend. Image: NPS (Historic photograph shows Florence Martus standing on the terreplain of Fort Pulaski waving her white handkerchief.)

Tybee Island Lighthouse. The tower stood at over seven feet tall, making it the tallest freestanding sand structure I have ever built. #georgiacoast #exploregeorgia #tybeeisland #lighthouse #savannahgeorgia #shellmanbluff #sandcastle

Aaron Paul Zimmer and Jay Rudd have been playing together in local bluegrass band City Hotel since 2011. This Saturday, they're a duo at the Tybee Post Theater playing tunes from their newly recorded EP! Check out Christopher Berinato's interview in Do Savannah.

Tybee Island sure was showing off tonight... gorgeous! Pic from WSAV viewer Judy Witbeck

Independence Day 2019 on Tybee Island

Early morning storm ...

Tybee Lighthouse Station, one of the oldest in America, from the top down. Our north beach neighbor!

Things one might often see off our Tybee Island’s shore!

Flag Day on Tybee Island!

Georgia’s turtles are making headlines! ... in The New York Times!

Bravo for turtles on the Georgia coast! Cc Explore Georgia #ecotourism

North Beach gets a shout out from SCAD District! ...North Tybee, which is near the lighthouse, tends to be quieter and less crowded. This area is surrounded by rentals and residents of the island with one restaurant on the beach, North Beach Bar and Grill. So spend the day sitting on the beach or tour the lighthouse and battery....

Tybee Island, Georgia, author and avid shell-hunter Anna Marlis Burgard shares her know-how.