Hidden Histories, Historical Marker Resource
Lazaretto
This Hidden History was created by SCAD student Nicki Klepper as part of her SCAD art history department coursework, with guidance from art history professor Holly Goldstein, Ph.D., in 2018.
The Lazaretto historical marker was dedicated in 1958. View the Lazaretto historical marker listing.
Gallery
1. Photograph of Tybee Island Welcome Sign and Historical Marker, 2018. Courtesy of Nicki Klepper
2. Photograph of Lazaretto Historical Marker, 2018. Courtesy of Nicki Klepper
3. Photograph of Lazaretto Historical Marker 2, 2018. Courtesy of Nicki Klepper
4. Photograph of Bird’s Eye View at Fort Screven, Tybee Island Ga., 1937. From the Foltz Photography Studio (Savannah, Ga.) photographs, 1899-1960 Collection, MS 1360.
5. Illustration of Slave Hold from The History of Rise, Progress, and Accomplishment of the Abolition of the African Slave-trade by British Parliament by Thomas Clarkson and the New Georgia Encyclopedia.
6. Notes on Lazaretto Cemetery, 1984. From Sarah N. Pickney Research Materials on Cemeteries, Box #1, MS 1969.
6.1 Photograph of North Lazaretto Towards the Atlantic, 2018 Courtesy of Nicki Klepper
6.2 Photograph of Savannah River from Lazaretto, 2018. Courtesy Nicki Klepper
6.3 Photograph of Lazaretto Creek Looking West, 2018. Courtesy of Nicki Klepper
7. Photograph of North View of Lazaretto Creek from Fishing Pier, 2018. Courtesy of Nicki Klepper
8. Photograph of South View of Lazaretto Creek from Fishing Pier, 2018. Courtesy of Nicki Klepper
9. Photograph of Man Fishing and Dolphin V, 2018. Courtesy of Nicki Klepper
10. Photograph of Life Jackets and Sign at Lazaretto Creek Launching Ramp, 2018. Courtesy of Nicki Klepper
11. “A Tybee Tale” Excerpt from Savannah Tourist Guide, 1995. From Sarah N. Pickney Research Materials on Cemeteries, Box #1, MS 1969.
12. Photograph of Advertisements at Lazaretto, 2018. Courtesy of Nicki Klepper
13. Photograph Looking at Entrance to Pier at Lazaretto, 2018. Courtesy of Nicki Klepper
14. Photograph of Fishing Boats and Shrimp Shed at Lazaretto Creek, 2018. Courtesy of Nicki Klepper
15. Photograph of CoCo’s Sunset Grill and Dock, 2018. Courtesy of Nicki Klepper
16. Untitled I, 2018. Courtesy of Nicki Klepper
17. Untitled II, 2018. Courtesy of Nicki Klepper
18. Collage with Susie King Taylor Fourth Grader, 2018. Courtesy of Holly Goldstein
Regardless of how Lazaretto has changed over the past two and a half centuries, it is important to note its function of a symbol of power throughout history. While some may know of its controversial and complex history, the greater public are seemingly unaware of such complexities. I was interested in this location because of how the place itself shares no physical connection to its past. The site of Lazaretto today is drastically different than I can imagine it has been in the past. The marker itself sheds light onto some of the history about the hospital, but it neglects to address the subsequent Civil Rights history on Tybee Island or numerate the volume of slaves imported internationally. Through keen observation I have made photographs that link the past and present. As a photographic artist, I expose two images on one single sheet of film, one of the land and one of the contemporary structures that inhabit the land, to reflect on the site’s evolving nature. The multi-layered photographs aim to connect the landscape to both past and present. (figs. 16-17)
"A Brief History of Tybee's Community, Commerce, and Culture." City of Tybee Island Georgia. Accessed May 22, 2018. http://www.cityoftybee.org/DocumentCenter/View/127/History-PDF.
Adams, James Mack. "In Colonial Days Lazaretto Creek Could Have Been Named Quarantine Creek." Savannah Morning News.
Adams, James Mack. "Introduction." In Tybee Island, 5-11. Charleston, SC: Arcadia, 2000.
Bell, Karen. “Atlantic Slave Trade to Savannah.” New Georgia Encyclopedia. August 02, 2015. Accessed May 10, 2018. https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/history-archaeology/atlantic-slave-trade-savannah.
Hoskins, Charles Lwanga. "African Americans on Tybee Island." Savannah Herald. December 17, 2014. Accessed May 12, 2018. http://savannahherald.net/african-americans-on-tybee-island-p7664-1.htm.
Kinkel, Cynthia. "A Song For Lazaretto." The Tybee Times. Accessed May 26, 2018. https://www.thetybeetimes.net/tag/history-of-lazaretto-creek/.
Mendonca, Adrienn. "Tybee Island." New Georgia Encyclopedia. June 03, 2005. Accessed May 15, 2018. http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/geography-environment/tybee-island.
Sheehy, Barry, Cindy Wallace, and Vaughnette Goode-Walker. Civil War Savannah. Vol. 2. 4 vols. Austin, TX: Emerald Book, 2011.
Smalls Lloyd, Wanda. "My Long Journey to Tybee." Savannah Magazine. Accessed May 15, 2018.