---
title: "Plum Orchard Historic Mansion"
url: https://stacklist.com/card/c0f4a942-2347-4489-9722-7f8b52df969b
source_url: "https://www.nps.gov/places/plum-orchard.htm"
stack: https://stacklist.com/c/travel/stack/11d2e664-2bd6-4cf0-b62e-67274a5d0e1a
summary: "Plum Orchard Mansion is a 22,000 square foot Georgian Revival home on Cumberland Island, built in 1898 for George Lauder Carnegie and his wife Margaret Thaw, designed by the architectural firm Peabody & Stearns. The mansion, now part of the National Register of Historic Places, offers free tours showcasing Edwardian High Society architecture, furnishings, and machinery from the turn of the 20th century."
tags: "plum-orchard, cumberland-island, carnegie, historic-mansion, national-park-service, georgian-revival, historic-places"
key_entities: "Plum Orchard Mansion (location), Cumberland Island (location), George Lauder Carnegie (person), Margaret Thaw (person), Thomas Carnegie (person), Lucy Carnegie (person), Nancy Carnegie (person), Dr. Marius Johnston (person), Peabody & Stearns (organization), National Park Service (organization), Georgian Revival (concept), Dungeness (location), National Register of Historic Places (concept)"
classification: "reference"
content_hash: "sha256:18088ac852a238eed8e7a34a7998ae6249d6c9f3edbc735a6896d266e8fde2a6"
acp_version: "0.2"
token_counts_approximate: 678
visibility: public
agent_accessible: true
status: "final"
---

# Plum Orchard Historic Mansion

Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( Lock Locked padlock icon ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Skip to global NPS navigation Skip to the main content Skip to the footer section National Park Service Search Search This Site All NPS Exiting nps.gov Cancel Contact Us Plum Orchard was the winter home for several Carnegie families. NPS Photo/Teodorski Quick Facts Location: Cumberland Island - Mid-Island Designation: National Register of Historic Places – Plum Orchard Historic District Amenities 7 listed Dock/Pier, Fire Extinguisher, Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Picnic Table, Restroom, Toilet - Flush, Water - Drinking/Potable Plum Orchard is one of four mansions constructed on Cumberland Island for the children of Thomas and Lucy Carnegie. This mansion was originally built for George Lauder Carnegie and his new wife Margaret Thaw. Construction of the mansion began in 1898 and several additions to the house were made through 1906. The architectural firm of Peabody & Stearns was employed to design the original home, built in a Georgian Revival style. The house served as the couple's primary winter residence until George passed away in 1921. Soon after his death, his younger sister Nancy moved in after her marriage to the island doctor, Dr. Marius Johnston, in 1924. Many of the original furnishing from Plum Orchard were auctioned off by Margaret after her husband’s death. Nancy did move many furniture items to Plum Orchard from Dungeness, saving these pieces from the eventual fire that consumed that house in 1959. Visitors can take a free tour of the 22,000 square foot mansion. On display are the architecture, furnishings, and machinery that made operation of the house possible. Plum Orchard offers a glimpse into Edwardian High Society at the turn of the 20th century and the importance of recreation, indulgence, and rejuvenation in nature. But further exploration tells the story of a family who valued the island, and their time spent with friends and family. Located 7 miles North of the Sea Camp dock (14 miles roundtrip). Due to the distance, day visitors should plan accordingly. Potable water can be found on the way at Stafford Beach Campground (3.5 miles north of Sea Camp). Estimated roundtrip time: for biking, 3-5 hours. For Hiking, 8-10 hours (not recommended for day visitors). Cumberland Island National Seashore You Might Also Like Loading results... Tags cumberland island national seashore plum orchard mansion Last updated: April 18, 2022 -->