NGE >> Destinations >> Darien

Darien: Where History and Nature Meet

Founded in 1736, the tidewater town of Darien, the seat of McIntosh County, offers visitors glimpses into the past, as well as stunning vistas of salt marshes, barrier islands, and magnificent live oaks festooned with Spanish moss. Visitors can dream of days gone by—when the lighthouse on nearby Sapelo Island helped ships find their way into the mouth of the Altamaha River and to the once-bustling port town. They can relive past traditions by attending a ring shout, a blend of song and dance developed during the days of slavery and still performed by the McIntosh County Shouters, or by celebrating the annual tradition of the Blessing of the Fleet. Whatever one chooses to do, Darien, on scenic U.S. Highway 17, is sure to provide an unforgettable experience.

Darien The seat of McIntosh County, Darien is a coastal tidewater town about sixty miles south of Savannah.... Lighthouses of Georgia When British general James Oglethorpe landed on Georgia's coast in 1733, he realized that the success... Blessing of the Fleet The Blessing of the Fleet is a centuries-old tradition originating in southern European, predominantly...

McIntosh County Shouters The southeastern ring shout is probably the oldest surviving African American performance tradition on... Sapelo Island Sapelo Island, situated about sixty miles south of Savannah, lies in the center of coastal Georgia's...

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