History of Tybee Island, Georgia in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: May 18, 2026

Tybee Island is both a city and a barrier island located in Chatham County, Georgia, situated 18 miles east of Savannah. While the terms "Tybee Island" and "Tybee Island City" are often used interchangeably, they are not geographically the same. The city encompasses only a portion of the island, with the remaining area being unincorporated.

1916: Reversion to Fourth Day Mark

In 1916, the current black-and-white tower markings of the Tybee Lighthouse are a reversion to its fourth day mark.

1929: Name Change to Savannah Beach

In 1929, the City of Tybee Island was officially renamed Savannah Beach as a publicity effort.

1930: Tybee Post Theater Constructed

In 1930, the Tybee Post Theater was constructed. It was one of Georgia's first theaters to have sound features.

1940: Island Development

By 1940, Tybee Island had four hotels, including the Desoto Hotel and Hotel Tybee, and numerous smaller lodges.

1947: Fort Screven Decommissioned

In 1947, Fort Screven was decommissioned after serving as a valuable part of coastal defense.

February 5, 1958: Accidental Atomic Bomb Drop

On February 5, 1958, the U.S. Air Force accidentally dropped an atomic bomb into the sea off Tybee Island following a mid-air collision between two aircraft. The Mark 15 nuclear bomb was lost and never recovered.

1967: Tybrisa Pavilion Fire

In 1967, the Tybrisa Pavilion burned down.

1970: First Days Inn Opens

In 1970, Cecil B. Day opened the first Days Inn on Tybee Island.

1978: Reversion to Original Name

In 1978, the City of Tybee Island reverted to its original name after having been named Savannah Beach.

1982: Fort Screven on National Historic Register

In 1982, the entire Fort Screven district was placed on the National Historic Register.

1987: First Beach Bum Parade

Since 1987, Tybee Island has had a Beach Bum parade held every year in May the weekend before Memorial Day weekend.

1996: Tybee Pier and Pavilion Replacement

In 1996, the Tybee Pier and Pavilion replaced the Tybrisa Pavilion that burned down in 1967.

2004: Private Search for Tybee Bomb

In 2004, retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant Colonel Derek Duke conducted a private search for the 'Tybee Bomb', detecting high radiation levels and unusual magnetometer readings in the Wassaw Sound.

2005: Federal Grant for Historic Land

In 2005, the City of Tybee Island secured a federal grant to acquire two tracts of land where Union soldiers initiated their attack against Fort Pulaski during the Civil War.

2005: Air Force Search for Tybee Bomb

In 2005, the U.S. Air Force launched a nine-month search for the Tybee bomb, concluding that the radiation source detected in 2004 was likely from monazite.

2005: First Tybee Pirate Fest

Tybee Pirate Fest began in 2005, and is typically held the weekend before Columbus Day.

2009: Student Population

In the 2009-10 school year, the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System, which includes Tybee Island, had approximately 34,668 students in the district.

June 15, 2016: Shark Attack Information Vote

On June 15, 2016, the Tybee city council voted 4-1 to withhold shark attack numbers (where the attacks did not result in loss of life) due to pressure from local businesses that had seen a decline in tourism.

2019: Orange Crush Canceled

The 2019 "Orange Crush" event on Tybee Island was canceled after an organizer was arrested, and future events were moved to Jacksonville Beach, Florida.