The institution of slavery was a terrible one in Georgia’s history, but that doesn’t mean it should be pushed under the rug. There are many museums and historical sites throughout the state where you can learn about the history of slavery and the horrors that slaves went through. One of the more unique educational places in the Peach State is the Wanderer Memory Trail on Jekyll Island’s St. Andrews Beach. This short trail will take you through the same path that slaves were taken upon landing on shore. There are plenty of informational signs throughout the trail giving you more information on the history of the area.

Jekyll Island State Park has been around for 75 years, but the Wanderer Memory Trail is a relatively new addition within the last few years.
Jekyll Island
The last known large slave ship to land in America was the Wanderer. It docked in Jekyll Island in 1858, carrying 409 people.
Jekyll Island
The Wanderer Memory Trail will take you down the same path that slaves walked after leaving the ship.
Jekyll Island

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The interactive trail focuses on Umwalla, a young African boy that was one of those who survived the voyage.
Denise Carrillo/Google Maps
Transatlantic slave trade had been outlawed back in 1808, so the Wanderer had to operate in secrecy. The slaves that were brought over had been captured from Congo and Bengula in Africa.
Jekyll Island
In total, 487 slaves were brought over for the journey, but only 409 survived the trip. The slaves were sold at markets in Savannah, Augusta, South Carolina, and Florida. Because this was one of the largest slave imports since international slave trade had been made illegal, the slaves that came over on the ship were closely associated with the ship itself and were minor celebrities when sold at auction.
The federal government seized the Wanderer ship to keep it from assisting the Confederacy. The ship was used by the U.S. Navy for years, but was eventually lost at sea in 1861 near Cuba.
Google Maps

You can find out more about the Wanderer Memorial Trail on the Jekyll Island State Park website.

 

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UNESCO World Heritage Site - Wanderer Memorial, 1 S Riverview Dr, Jekyll Island, GA 31527, USA