[August 04, 2011] Jekyll museum on the rise Tweet Aug 04, 2011 (The Brunswick News - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Tilting her head to the side, Barbara Harris examined the old photograph posted on the wall in front of her. The image is of an old, decorated slave cabin, built more than 100 years ago on Jekyll Island. "That is so interesting," said Harris, who's visiting the state park with her husband, Robert. "You don't see that every day, do you?" The North Carolina couple strolled through the Jekyll Island History Center and Museum at 100 Stable Road Wednesday morning, stopping occasionally to take in the images, artifacts and storied past of the island. Although the Harrises have vacationed on Jekyll several times in recent years, they had not visited the island museum until this week. Admittedly, Barbara Harris said, she didn't even know the island had a museum until this trip. "I'm glad we came," she said. "A lot of this I just didn't know." This year, more island visitors are sharing the Harris' sentiments, stopping by the free museum for a glimpse of Jekyll's history, which stems back to the days when American Indians inhabited the land. It's mostly famous for its famed Jekyll Island Club era, when some of the nation's well-known millionaires claimed the island as their own. The museum saw a record amount of revenue July 28 when it raked in more than $8,600 in one day. That breaks its previous record of $7,700, set in April 2004, said Erica England, spokeswoman for the Jekyll Island Authority. Revenue from public tours has increased by 8 percent and from group tours by 11 percent. Museum store revenue is also up, by 20 percent, England said. The museum has also felt a bump up in visitation rates. On average, about 100 people wander into the museum daily, with year-to-date figures showing an increase of about 9 percent. "Success has been an echoing trend for the Jekyll Island Museum this fiscal year," England said. Housed in the remains of the Jekyll millionaires club horse stables, the museum's supply of information and artifacts stretches throughout the island's history, building a story from its roots. Walking through the museum, Historic Resources Director John Hunter stops regularly to take note of the historic value of items, displaying his pride with the care taken and efforts made to express the island's past eras. Dishes and dinner menus from the island club era are tucked behind glass walls. Remains from the habitats of American Indians are displayed inside mounted boxes. A telephone used by H. P. Charlesworth, the man in charge of ensuring the success of the first transcontinental phone call, which was made from Jekyll Island, is on view in the back of the museum. "That might be my favorite artifact," said Hunter, as he pointed to the old crank phone. "It really shows you all the great events and stories of the island. I mean, the very first transcontinental phone call, in 1915, right here." Opened in the mid 1980s, the museum is less interactive than more modern facilities, which may actually be a boon for it and a prime reason why more families have visited in recent months, Hunter said. Tourists are now looking for affordable, quaint venues, rather than sprawling, impersonal museums, Hunter said. Also, the placement of the temporary conference center area has given the museum more attention, as conference-goers are apt to visit the historic district and delve into a comprehensive tour of the island, he said. "We are a simple museum, but right now that's been a good thing," Hunter said. "People appreciate that we are here for them. Families, snow birds, school groups and tour groups -- we see them all. It's a very personal experience." The museum structure, too, has been an attraction for tourists. Commissioned by the famed millionaires club and designed by Charles Gifford, the architect who designed many cottages on the island as well as the historic Glynn County Courthouse, the 113 year-old stable is more than just an old horse habitat. Its cool stone floors and wide plank boards exude character and charm, even without air conditioning. "This is the only stable I know of that actually had an architect design it," Hunter said. "These guys didn't just throw up some wood. They planned out this stable, and got into a number of arguments about how it should look. A lot of care was taken." As the island undergoes a mass transformation, working to revitalize its amenities and image, the museum is following suit. Recently, it added an eGuide feature, enabling visitors to go on a self-guided tour of the historic district with the aid of a mini-computer. Down the road, museum staff hopes to create more interactive displays and hands-on exhibits within its walls, Hunter said. "We're a great museum, but we have some improvements to do," Hunter said. "We need to make this museum a bit more modern, to really show off the great history we have on the island." If you go The Jekyll Island Museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. To see more of The Brunswick News or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.thebrunswicknews.com/. Copyright (c) 2011, The Brunswick News, Ga. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]