The phrase "From Rabun Gap to Tybee Light", intended to illustrate Georgia's geographic diversity, contrasts the mountain pass near the state's northernmost point with the coastal barrier island's lighthouse.

Officially renamed Savannah Beach in a publicity move in 1929,[4][5] the City of Tybee Island reverted to its original name in 1978.

Native Americans, using dugout canoes to navigate the waterways, hunted and camped in Georgia's coastal islands for thousands of years.

The Euchee tribe likely inhabited the island in the years preceding the arrival of the first Spanish explorers in the area in the 16th century.

In 1702, James Moore of South Carolina led an invasion of Spanish Florida with an Indian army and a fleet of militia-manned ships.

First built in 1736, the lighthouse was made of brick and wood, and stood 90 feet (27 m) tall, making it the highest structure in America at that time.

During the Civil War, the Union Army placed siege batteries along the north coast of Tybee Island that aided in their successful bombardment and capture of Fort Pulaski on April 10–11, 1862.

In 2005, the city obtained a federal grant to acquire two tracts of land where Union soldiers launched their attack against Fort Pulaski.

Other remaining buildings include the recently restored guard house, the bakery (now a private home), and barracks (now apartments).

Another remaining area is Officer's Row, a group of original homes with a sweeping ocean view, one of which is now a bed and breakfast.

During the late 19th century, at the height of the Industrial Revolution, residents in large, polluted cities frequently sought out remote beaches for summertime getaways.

[11] The railroad built the Tybrisa Pavilion in 1891, and by the end of the decade, several hundred summer cottages dotted the island's Atlantic coast.

The Tybrisa Pavilion became a popular stop for big band tours and performers included Bing Crosby, Tommy Dorsey, and Blue Steele.

The aircraft collided, with the pilot of the fighter ejecting and the crew of the bomber making an emergency landing at nearby Hunter Air Force Base.

According to an article in the Savannah Morning News, Duke found that there were "high levels of radiation and unusual magnetometer readings" at a specific point in the Wassaw Sound, just off the Tybee coast.

The search team specifically investigated the area of the Wassaw Sound where Duke had found high radiation levels.

According to the Savannah Morning News, the vote was a direct result of pressure from local businesses that had seen a decline in tourism due to recent reported shark activity.

The size of the sandy beach at the southern tip of Tybee Island varies considerably in response to tidal changes.

[26] Tybee Island was formerly home to "Orange Crush," an annual beach party attracting thousands of students from historically Black colleges and universities.