Attachment_G_-_New_Wayside_AD_Scripts.pdf

Project: Cumberland Island National Seashore Wayside Exhibits

Date: December 22, 2021

Project Phase: Production-Ready Files

NPS Reviewers:

With these Revised Audio Descriptions Scripts, we are looking for comments and confirmation that the content (both the panel content and the location/surroundings description) is accurate. We have tracked any changes to aid in your review. As a reminder, audio descriptions should be objective not subjective, and descriptive not interpretive. Audio descriptions are intended to be heard and not read, so some sentences may look awkward in text, but are conveyed better through sound. Additionally, we have made some formatting decisions to facilitate the recording process (i.e.i.e., numbers are not spelled out, instead the Arabic numerals are better). The idea is to level the playing field for a non-sighted visitor to have a comparable experience. Please provide any corrections regarding terminology in the descriptions of the surroundings and graphic content.

The contract indicates that audio description should be provided by exhibit. We have presented them by panel to reach a more desirable time length per script. The review period is three weeks (from the due date of December 29); please provide approval on or before Wednesday, January 19, 2022.

REVISED AUDIO DESCRIPTION SCRIPTS

201A (Grade 6)

Upright Wayside Panel: Travel Back in Time

900 words / Panel Description: 6 minutes

In front of you, is an upright panel 3 feet wide by 4 feet tall, and about 3 feet off the ground, on dark brown painted aluminum posts. In metric, that is about 1 meter wide by over 1 meter tall, and about 1 meter off the ground. This panel forms an L with another panel to the right. You are near the edge of a tabby concrete sidewalk that angles ahead of you and to the right. Behind the panel and ahead of you, are green bushes about 3 feet, or 1 meter, tall. Beyond the bushes, is a grassy lawn next to the riverfront. The lawn has scattered palm and deciduous trees, bushes, and plants. On your left, is mulch, more bushes, and

2 palm trees. Behind you, is a brick sidewalk next to angled parking spaces along St. Marys Street. On the far side of St. Marys Street, are 1- and 2-story buildings. The Cumberland Island National Seashore

Visitor Center is to your right, about 200 feet or 60 meters away.

Across the top of the panel, is a black banner. The brown National Park Service arrowhead logo is at the right end.

A color photograph of crashing waves and a partly cloudy blue sky fills the panel. On the left side, over the photograph, is a gray, shaded outline of Cumberland Island. On the right side, is a timeline with 5

Commented [HJ1]: see text edits from other document so these match.

milestones marked by banners in a rainbow of colors. The timeline has images on the left side and text on the right side. Above the timeline, is white and black text:

Travel Back in Time. People have lived on Cumberland Island since time immemorial. The island's rich history has many stories to tell. Learn how different groups of people shaped the island's cultural landscape.

End of Text

The milestone banners begin in the top third and move down the right side of the panel.

The first milestone has a green banner with white text. It is labeled Precontact to Early European Contact, from 2000 BCE to the 1500s. Below the banner, is black text:

The Timucua lived throughout present-day southern Georgia and northern Florida. They fished, hunted, and grew some food on the island. They developed sophisticated lifeways and religious practices.

To the left, is a color painting of about a dozen Indigenous people doing different activities on the shoreline and in the water. Some are fishing with baskets, 1 is tending to a fire, and some are paddling canoes. In the background, are thatch huts and leafy green trees.

The second milestone has a purple banner with white text. It is labeled European Colonial Occupation, from the 1500s to the 1770s. Below the banner, is black text:

European explorers and missionaries arrived in search of land, resources, and religious converts. They ended up devastating the Indigenous population through disease, warfare, and forced removal.

To the left, is a white rectangle with a quotation in purple and black text:

“Of the 17 years that I have been in this land I have spent all of them among the Indians. […] I am aware of their capacity and customs … they come to Mass very willingly and take part in the chanted divine services and some already know how to read and to write.”

Letter of Father Baltasar Lopez of the San Pedro mission on Cumberland Island, Georgia, September 15, The third milestone has a blue banner with white text. It is labeled Plantation Era, from the 1800s to the

1860s. Below the banner, is black text:

Enslaved Africans and their descendants labored on sea island cotton plantations. They lived in cabins like the artistic rendering shown here. Today, only a few brick chimneys remain standing.

To the left, is a color photograph of 3 brick chimneys with tall green trees behind them. There is a semi-transparent color illustration of a cabin superimposed on the middle chimney. It has timber walls and a thatch roof. Smoke comes out of the chimney.

The fourth milestone has a red banner with white text. It is labeled Carnegie Era, from the 1880s to the

1960s. Below the banner, is black text:

Struck by the island's beauty, Thomas and Lucy Carnegie built a winter home here. Sadly, Thomas died before Dungeness was complete. As their children married, Lucy built them other grand mansions nearby, like Plum Orchard. By 1900, she owned 90 percent of the island.

To the left, are 2 photographs of individual buildings. The far leftfar-left photograph has a sepia tone and shows Dungeness Mansion. It is a large, 2-and-a-half-story house with a colonnade on the second story, several chimneys on the roof, and a tall tower in the middle. The other photograph is grayscale and shows

Plum Orchard Mansion. It has a grand 2-story porch with big columns and a pediment.

The fifth milestone has an orange banner with white text. It is labeled National Park Service Era, from

1972 to the present. Below the banner, is black text:

Cumberland Island National Seashore is established. The National Park Service preserves natural and cultural resources to enrich future generations. Ranger-led tours educate visitors about park conservation efforts.

To the left, is a color photograph of an elevated wood boardwalk that crosses over sandy dunes and green bushes. The blue ocean is just beyond the dunes. About a dozen children and a park ranger stand on the boardwalk and look around.

[End of Message]

201B (Grade 5)

Upright Wayside Panel: St. Marys: Gateway to the Island

698 words / Panel Description: 4.75 minutes

In front of you, is an upright panel 3 feet wide by 4 feet tall, and about 3 feet off the ground, on dark brown painted aluminum posts. In metric, that is about 1 meter wide by over 1 meter tall, and about 1 meter off the ground. This panel forms an L with another panel to the left. You are near the edge of a tabby concrete sidewalk that angles behind you and to the right. On your right, are green bushes about 3 feet, or 1 meter, tall. Beyond the bushes to the right, is a grassy lawn next to the riverfront. The lawn has scattered palm and deciduous trees, bushes, and plants. Behind the panel and ahead of you, is mulch, more bushes, and 2 palm trees. On your left, is a brick sidewalk next to angled parking spaces along St.

Marys Street. On the far side of St. Marys Street, are 1- and 2-story buildings. The Cumberland Island

National Seashore Visitor Center is behind you, about 200 feet or 60 meters away.

Across the top of the panel, is a black banner. The brown National Park Service arrowhead logo is at the

In the middle left of the panel, is orange and black text on a light green background:

St. Marys: Gateway to the Island. St. Marys is the starting point for your journey to Cumberland Island.

Residents are active in historic preservation, ecotourism, and the arts. Stroll the wide streets and take in the historic architecture. St. Marys has experienced many changes over time and continues to thrive.

Uncover layers of history all around as you explore the town.

British loyalists founded St. Marys on the site of an abandoned Timucuan village. When the American

Colonies gained freedom from Britain, the founders fled. In 1787, Jacob Weed, a planter, and 19 other men established the city. The next year, county surveyor James Finley laid out the town grid around 2 16-acre public squares. Until the mid-1840s, St. Marys was a bustling seaport with a robust shrimp and canning industry. The St. Marys River provided easy access to the Atlantic Ocean.

To the right, are 2 photographs with orange borders. The left photograph is grayscale, showing a boat next to a dock with piles of lumber. There are small buildings in the background. Below the photograph, is white text:

For centuries, ships traveled to and from this commercial seaport. After the Civil War and into the 1900s, lumber and fishing industries helped the city survive.

Commented [HJ2]: mid-1900s

Commented [HJ3R2]: this is an example of what I mean about this text matching the edits made in the other document.

On the far right, is a color photograph of a 2-story house with a big porch. The house has blue wood siding, white windows with many panes, and black shutters. Below the photograph, is white text:

Follow Osborne Street to find some of the city’s preserved buildings from the 1800s. The Archibald Clark

House, above, dates from this era and may be the oldest in town.

Across the bottom of the panel, is a black-and-white photograph of a bird’s- eye view of St. Marys. Your current location is near the middle of the photograph. Osborne Street runs from bottom right upwards to the left. St. Marys Street East runs from left to right. The streets are labeled in red text. There are 1- and

2-story buildings and tall trees along the streets. Beyond St. Marys Street East, is the riverfront, with wood docks, buildings, and boats. To the left of the photograph, is orange and black text:

Touched by Wars. Colonial empires clashed here in the War of 1812. During the Civil War, Union gunboats fired at the buildings before you.

Across the top of the panel, is a color map that is beige and green, with tan accents. This is an 1857 map of St. Marys and Cumberland Island. On the left side, is the town grid of St. Marys, with red square blocks and yellow streets. Your current location, near the riverfront, is marked by a black flag with white text. The light blue river curves up at St. Marys and then down and through marshland in the middle of the panel. It empties into the wider sound. On the top right, is the south end of Cumberland Island.

202 (Grade 6)

Slanted Wayside Panel: Stay Connected

706 words / Panel Description: 4.75 minutes

In front of you, is a slanted panel 3-and-a-half feet wide by 2 feet tall, and about 3 feet off the ground, on dark brown painted aluminum posts. In metric, that is over 1 meter wide by a half meter tall, and about 1 meter off the ground. You are on a tabby concrete sidewalk. In front of you, the panel is sited along a narrow strip of grass with a row of wood planks lining the edge of the grass. Beyond the timber, are sharp rocks and tall marsh grasses at the edge of the St. Marys River. Follow the sidewalk to the right to reach the Cumberland Island National Seashore Visitor Center. Take the sidewalk to the left to reach a brick and landscaped public plaza. Behind you, on the other side of the sidewalk, are palm bushes and taller palm and deciduous trees.

Across the top of the panel, is a black banner. The brown National Park Service arrowhead logo is at the

The panel is light blue, with dark blue and black text in the top left corner:

Stay Connected. From waving marsh grasses to towering trees, Cumberland Island has a rich natural landscape. Each area is a different ecosystem. An ecosystem includes living things, like animals and plants, and nonliving things, like water and air. Everything is connected. This is how hundreds of plant and animal species have survived and thrived over the years.

Barrier islands are dynamic. They react to weather, wind, and water. Barrier islands move as sand piles up in one place and is washed away in another. Everything has a role to play. The sound is drained and flooded twice daily with the tide. Plant roots in tThe forest provides shelter for the salt marsh and its roots hold the island together. Marsh grasses die, wash up on the beach, and form piles. The piles slow the wind and allow sand to form dunes.

Across the bottom of the panel, is a color illustration showing a cross-section of the different and connected ecosystems, from the mainland on the left to the Atlantic Ocean on the right. Solid ground is beige, water is blue, and plants and trees are green. The section of ground below each ecosystem is shaded a different color—blue, green, black, or brown—to distinguish them. The ecosystems are labeled with text above and descriptions below. The text color matches the shading below. At the left, is St.

Marys, or the mainland, with plants and trees above ground. Next, to the right, is the sound, which is a basin filled with water. The sound contains a rich mixture of salt water from the ocean and fresh water from the river. Continuing to the right, is the start of Cumberland Island. The first island ecosystem is the salt marsh, depicted with bristling grasses. Tall cordgrasses provide habitat for animals and reduce flooding during storms. Next is the maritime forest, with low grasses and tall trees. Live oak trees form a protective barrier and conceal many island creatures. Next, to the right, are the dunes, which are piles of sand with grasses, and the ocean-side edge of Cumberland Island. Blowing winds shape sand into large piles. Dunes prevent flooding in the forest. Finally, at far right, is the Atlantic Ocean, which is filled with blue water.

Above the illustration, are 3 bronze replicas of plants on Cumberland Island. Each replica is 8 inches, or

20 centimeters, square, with raised lettering and Braille in the bottom left corner. Below each replica, is black text. A dashed line runs from each replica to its corresponding ecosystem below.

On the left, is cordgrass, which is found in the salt marsh. Cordgrass absorbs water through a special membrane in its roots. Excess salt stays behind is excreted on the stem and leaves. Can you feel the salt crystals?

In the middle, is live oak bark, which is found in the maritime forest. The salty air causes live oak tree branches to grow outward not upward. Feel the deep furrows in the bark. The deeper the furrow, the older the tree!

On the right, are sea oats, which are found in the dunes. Sea oats help stabilize the dunes and are protected by federal law. Touch the flat, oatmeal-like seeds.

203 (Grade 4)

Upright Wayside Panel: Be Prepared

640 words / Panel Description: 4.25 minutes

In front of you, is an upright panel 3 feet wide by 4 feet tall, and about 3 feet off the ground, on dark brown painted aluminum posts. In metric, that is about 1 meter wide by over 1 meter tall, and about 1 meter off the ground. You are on a tabby concrete plaza at the left corner of a square, white wood gazebo.

The gazebo roof is pitched overhead. Directly behind the panel, is a wood column mounted on top of a tabby concrete pier. This column is part of the gazebo structure. The gazebo rafters are about 12 feet, or 4 meters, overhead. The St. Marys River is in front of you. To your right, is a wood dock. Farther to your right, take the sidewalk to reach the Cumberland Island National Seashore Visitor Center. Behind you at the edge of the concrete plaza, are several wood benches. Beyond the benches, is a grassy lawn with scattered palm and deciduous trees, bushes, and plants. St. Marys Street is about 75 feet, or 40 meters, behind you.

Across the top of the panel, is a black banner. The brown National Park Service arrowhead logo is at the

A color illustration fills the panel. Near the top middle, is brown and black text on a light blue background:

Be Prepared. There are many sights to see and activities to do on Cumberland Island. Plan ahead for a safe and enjoyable experience. To protect the natural environment, visitor amenities are limited. There are no stores, restaurants, or services on the island. Pack out what you pack in. Remember to bring layers of clothing and your raincoat. And don’t forget to have fun!

In the bottom half, are various items assembled on a wood plank with green grass in front, and taller green marsh grass behind. Beyond the marsh grass, is the blue river with dark green marshland on the horizon. Across the top half, is light blue sky. Starting on the left, the items include, a green bottle of bug spray, and a gray backpack with a vertical blue stripe. The backpack has extra layers of clothing and a raincoat inside. To the right, are a white cell phone with a dark screen, a folded color map, a black compass with a red needle, and a blue water bottle with a black screw top. To the right, are a white and red pouch that contains a fruit nut mix, a beige baseball cap, a blue bottle of hand sanitizer, and a white and green bottle of sunscreen.

Around the items, are blue circles with white icons and black or white captions that remind you of important safety information. In the top left, is a white icon of a horse. Let wildlife be wild. Please do not touch or feed any wildlife. Keep a safe distance from all animals.

In the top right, is a white icon of the sun and a lightning bolt. Watch the weather. Conditions can change rapidly. Take cover if you see lightning or hear thunder.

Below the sun and lightning bolt, is a white icon of a person swimming. Swim at your own risk. There are no lifeguards on the island. Know the rip current risk before swimming.

Below the swimmer and near the water bottle, is a white icon of a drinking glass with a curvy water line.

Stay hydrated. Drink water, wear sunscreen, and take breaks in the shade.

Near the bottom middle of the panel, by the cell phone, is a white icon with the numbers 911. Call 911 in an emergency. Tell the operator you are on Cumberland Island. Stay on the line until the operator tells you to hang up.

In the bottom left, near the bug spray, is a white icon of 1 large and 1 small insect. Check for ticks. Use bug spray to keep pests away.

204 (Grade 5)

Upright Wayside Panel: The Island Awaits

897 words / Panel Description: 6 minutes

In front of you, is an upright panel 3 feet wide by 4 feet tall, and about 3 feet off the ground, on dark brown painted aluminum posts. In metric, that is about 1 meter wide by over 1 meter tall, and about 1 meter off the ground. You are on a tabby concrete plaza at the right corner of a square, white wood gazebo. The gazebo roof is pitched overhead. Directly behind the panel, is a wood column mounted on top of a tabby concrete pier. This column is part of the gazebo structure. The gazebo rafters are about 12 feet, or 4 meters, overhead. The St. Marys River is in front of you. To your left, is a wood dock. On your right, take the sidewalk to reach the Cumberland Island National Seashore Visitor Center. Behind you at the edge of the concrete plaza, are several wood benches. Beyond the benches, is a grassy lawn with scattered palm and deciduous trees, bushes, and plants. St. Marys Street is about 75 feet, or 40 meters, behind you.

Across the top of the panel, is a black banner. The brown National Park Service arrowhead logo is at the

A color map fills the panel. The left side has light green irregular shapes that represent the mainland. Blue waterways weave in and out along the edge of the mainland. Your location is marked with a black arrow at the bottom left, next to a label for St. Marys. In the middle, is Cumberland Island. The island is mostly green with yellow and white trails, and beige beach along the right side. Several points of interest are labeled, and icons identify which services are available at each location. To the right of the island, is the

Atlantic Ocean. All water on the map is turquoise.

On the right middle, is brown and black text:

The Island Awaits. From history buffs to nature lovers, there is something for everyone on Cumberland

Island. Board the ferry to start your adventure. Hike the trails and discover natural wonders and island wildlife. Enjoy the island’s views and historic buildings. Stroll nearly 18 miles, or 29 kilometers, of sandy beaches along the Atlantic Ocean. Take a van tour to the north end and learn about the Settlement.

Formerly enslaved laborers lived here for several generations.

In the bottom right corner, is a color photograph of 2 people in orange vests sitting in kayaks with black and orange paddles. They are facing away from you. They are floating on still water through a narrow channel bordered by green marsh grass. Above the photograph, on the right, is black text:

Kayak along the marshes and catch some fresh fish.

Above the kayakers, to the left, is a circular photograph of a stone building in ruins. To the right, is a dark orange banner with white text, and below, is black text. This is Dungeness Ruins, located about 1.5 miles, or 2.4 kilometers from Sea Camp. Built in 1884, Dungeness Mansion was home to Thomas and Lucy

Carnegie and their 9 children. Only ruins remain after a 1959 fire.

In the top right corner of the panel, are 2 rectangular color photographs with orange frames. The top photograph is labeled Stafford Beach Campground. It shows a pitched gray and orange tent surrounded by brown leaves on the ground. Behind the tent, are green bushes, and the twisty branches and trunks of live oak trees. Below the photograph, is black text:

Camp overnight under the forest canopy. Reservations are required, so please plan ahead.

The bottom photograph is labeled Road to Sea Camp Campground. It shows 2 bicyclists. 1 is a child in an orange shirt. The other is an adult in a blue shirt. Both people are wearing white helmets. They are biking on a dirt road surrounded by palm bushes and other green plants. Below the photograph, is black text:

Hop on a bicycle to travel farther afield along park roads. Experience a variety of ecosystems as you pedal across the island.

On the map, Nnear the bottom of the island and to the left, is a circular photograph of a white building with a gray gabled roof. To the left, is a dark orange banner with white text, and below, is black text. This is the Ice House Museum, located about 1 mile, or 1.7 kilometers, from Sea Camp. The Carnegies stored tons of ice here. Today, it is a self-guided museum.

Just above, is another circular photograph of a brown building surrounded by tall trees with an American flag on a metal pole. To the left, is a dark orange banner with white text, and below, is black text. This is

Sea Camp Ranger Station. Check in here for information and recommendations for your stay. The nearby campground is a popular spot.

Just above, is the map legend, and another circular photograph of a grand 2-story white mansion. To the left, is a dark orange banner with white text, and below, is black text. This is Plum Orchard Mansion, located about 7 miles, or 11 kilometers, from Sea Camp. Lucy Carnegie built this mansion for her son

George and his wife, Margaret Thaw, in 1898. Learn about the Carnegie family’s daily life on the island.

In the top left corner, are friendly reminders in orange and black text:

Boats can’t stay overnight. Leave your drones at home. Respect private property.

205 (Grade 5)

Slanted Wayside Panel: Riverfront Living

639 words / Panel Description: 4.25 minutes

In front of you, is a slanted panel 3 feet wide by 2 feet tall, and about 3 feet off the ground, on dark brown painted aluminum posts. In metric, that is about 1 meter wide by a half meter tall, and about 1 meter off the ground. You are at the edge of a concrete plaza with a wood bench to the right and left. There is another panel on your left. Both panels are set in a grassy area with scattered sea grass bushes and some palm and deciduous trees. Beyond the grassy area, is a concrete retaining wall next to the St. Marys River.

There are marsh grasses along the wall and a wood deck ahead and to the left. Behind you, is the two-story Cumberland Island National Seashore Visitor Center. The second story has a balcony that hangs over the first story.

Across the top of the panel, is a black banner. The brown National Park Service arrowhead logo is at the

Below the banner, in the left half of the panel, is green and black text:

Riverfront Living. Both on and off shore, this river is home to many animals. Along the banks, a wading egret hunts for prey. Baby diamondback terrapins might rest on a nearby rock before splashing back in for a swim. Keep your eye on the sky for a soaring blue heron.

You are a guest in their home. Please keep your distance and don’t share your lunch with them. If you see an animal changing their behavior, you are too close.

A color illustration of the riverfront fills the panel. Several animals are highlighted either in the illustration or with photographs. In the foreground, are green marsh grasses and brown rocks at the edge of the blue river. Near the middle, is a white egret wading in the water. At left, is a circular color photograph of a brown river otter standing on mud and looking up. Playful river otters splash around while they wait for fish to catch.

Across the middle of the panel, is the blue river. At left, is a wood deck on stilts. It has wood railings and posts, and a pointed roof. To the right of the deck, is a circular color photograph of a gray dolphin jumping out of the water. Dolphins swim in the river and sound in search of food. Near the middle, is a circular color photograph of a gray manatee swimming under water. Manatees cruise the water, searching for marsh grass to munch on. At right, are tall wood mooringsgray dock pilings with two small white boats nearby.

Across the middle of the panel, the horizon line is marked by dark shadowy trees with the sky above. The sun is setting, casting a pink glow across the blue and purple sky. Near the middle top of the panel, is a blue heron with its wings extended upward mid-flight. At right, is a circular photograph of a pink bird with its wings spread wide. Roseate spoonbills skim the water with their wide, flat bills to hunt for insects, small crustaceans, and minnows.

In the bottom right corner of the panel, is a bronze replica of 2 baby turtles. It is about 8 inches wide by 4 inches tall, or 20 centimeters wide by 10 centimeters tall, with raised letters and Braille in the bottom left corner. At left, is the diamondback terrapin. At right, is the loggerhead turtle. Below the bronze, is white text and a dark green background:

Feel the diamondback terrapin claws on the left and the loggerhead turtle flippers on the right. You might spot a terrapin on the sidewalk. Please don’t pick it up! They belong here and lay their eggs on the riverbank. Loggerhead turtles swim in the ocean and lay their eggs on the dunes.

206 (Grade 5)

Slanted Wayside Panel: Go With the Flow

625 words / Panel Description: 4.25 minutes

In front of you, is a slanted panel 3 feet wide by 2 feet tall, and about 3 feet off the ground, on dark brown painted aluminum posts. In metric, that is about 1 meter wide by a half meter tall, and about 1 meter off the ground. You are at the edge of a concrete plaza with a wood bench to the right and left. There is another panel on your right. Both panels are set in a grassy area with scattered sea grass bushes and some palm and deciduous trees. Beyond the grassy area, is a concrete retaining wall next to the St. Marys River.

There are marsh grasses along the wall and a wood deck ahead and to the left. Behind you, is the two-story Cumberland Island National Seashore Visitor Center. The second story has a balcony that hangs over the first story.

Across the top of the panel, is a black banner. The brown National Park Service arrowhead logo is at the

The panel is made of 2 layers of plastic. Feel the edge of the top layer from the middle of the left side, down, and then up again as it moves toward the top right side of the panel. A color map fills this panel.

On the left side, is a dark green section for the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. The rest of the top layer is medium green and represents the southern part of Georgia. The bottom layer is light green and represents the northern part of Florida, with a bit of the Atlantic Ocean on the right side in blue.

The edge of the layers is the border between Georgia and Florida. This is also the route of the St. Marys

River. The river meanders 126 miles, or 203 kilometers, to the Atlantic Ocean. Your location is near the right side of the panel, in Georgia, where the river opens up toward the ocean.

In the middle of the panel, is blue and black text:

Go With the Flow. The St. Marys River before you begins in the Okefenokee Swamp. Many yearsLong ago, an ancient barrier islands acted like a dam, allowing fresh water to accumulate into a huge, slow-moving swamp. This swamp drains fresh water into the St. Marys and other rivers. Swamp water is black dark because plants release tannins as they decay. Tannins keep the water fresher by making it slightly acidic. Fresh water attracts plants, fish, and wildlife, making the river an essential habitat.

For many years, the St. Marys River was also a site of conflict. European empires clashed with

Indigenous peoples and each other to control the surrounding land. In the 1700s, the river divided

Spanish Florida from British territory. Today it is part of the Florida-Georgia state line.

To the right, are 2 photographs set within a blue rectangle that fades away at the top. On the top, is a sepia tone photograph of a small ship stopped at a dock along the river. Barrels are being loaded on to the ship.

On the bottom, is a color photograph of 5 people in brightly colored kayaks, paddling in the river next to green marsh grasses. The blue sky has thick white clouds. Below the photographs, is white text:

Ships loaded supplies and unloaded goods, connecting St. Marys to the world. Kayakers can follow their path from swamp to sea.

To the right, is a color aerial photograph of the course of the St. Marys River. The dark blue river meanders through green and brown land to reach the blue ocean, along the top of the photograph. Below the photograph, is white text:

The river empties into the vast ocean. Georgia’s barrier islands to the east protect the river basin from strong winds, tides, and storms.

207 (Grade 4)

Slanted Wayside Panel: Worth its Salt

665 words / Panel Description: 4.5 minutes

In front of you, is a slanted panel 3-and-a-half feet wide by 1-and-a-half feet tall, that is mounted on top of a wood railing that is about 3-and-a-half feet tall. In metric, that is about 1 meter wide by a half meter tall, on top of a 1-meter-tall railing. You are on the second-floor balcony of the Cumberland Island

National Seashore Visitor Center. The balcony is about 5 feet, or 1-and-a-half meters deep. The balcony corner is to your left. Beyond the corner, is a tall palm tree. About 20 feet or 7 meters in front of you, on the ground level, is the St. Marys River with marsh grasses along the edge. Florida is ahead, on the other side of the marsh. To the left, a wood dock extends from the shore out into the water. There may be boats in the water.

Across the top of the panel, is a black banner. The brown National Park Service arrowhead logo is at the

The right side of the panel is greenish gray with beige and white text in the top half:

Worth its Salt. The barrier islands to the east, or your left, protect the salt marsh in front of you and ensure its survival. Tides flood the salt marsh twice daily. The marsh helps control coastal flooding by absorbing water as it flows in. It also protects against erosion. Marsh grasses have deep roots to hold the sediment and mud in place. They stand tall and reduce the energy of the incoming tide.

As the tide comes in, salty ocean water mixes with fresh river water. The marsh balances the water’s saltiness, so many species can thrive. Far from big waves, cordgrass offers a safe place for young animals to grow before they swim off into the ocean. Migrating species find a safe haven here to rest along their journey.

Below the text, are 2 diagrams that show the marsh in action. Both diagrams show the same scene. In the left half of the each diagram, is light blue water, with a green barrier island in the middle. The barrier island has beige sand on its left side. In the right half of the diagram, is green salt marsh. The green mainland is at the right end of the diagram. The left diagram shows high tide and the right diagram shows low tide. Can you find the differences between high and low tide?

In the high tide diagram, water flows in from the ocean, from left to right. Water covers most of the beach on the barrier island. It also floods the salt marsh, covering the bottoms of the marsh grasses. Below the diagram, is white text:

Twice a day, high water allows animals to enter the marsh to find food and protection. Only marsh grasses stay rooted with the tidal changes. They help prevent flooding and coastline erosion.

In the low tide diagram, water flows out to the ocean, from right to left. More of the beach on the barrier island is revealed, along with the mud in the salt marsh. The full blades of the marsh grasses are now visible. Below the diagram, is white text:

Water flows out to the ocean, delivering other nutrients to sea creatures. The receding water exposes beaches and mud along the marshes. Shellfish and insects emerge. They are tasty treats for many animals.

The left side of the panel is filled with a color photograph. Dozens of small fiddler crabs are scattered across a wet mixture of mud and small rocks. The crabs have round bodies that are light gray with pink accents. They each have 8 spindly brown legs, 4 on each side. Sunlight shines brightly on the scene. In the top left corner, is white text on a black background:

At low tide, fiddler crabs scatter across the mud. They help decompose dead organic matter. Their burrows allow oxygen into the mud to aid bacterial decomposition.

208 (Grade 5)

Slanted Wayside Panel: First Line of Defense

486 words / Panel Description: 3.25 minutes

In front of you, is a slanted panel 3-and-a-half feet wide by 1-and-a-half feet tall, that is mounted on top of a wood railing that is about 3-and-a-half feet tall. In metric, that is about 1 meter wide by a half meter tall, on top of a 1-meter-tall railing. You are on the second-floor balcony of the Cumberland Island

National Seashore Visitor Center. The balcony is about 5 feet, or 1-and-a-half meters deep. The balcony corner is to your right. Beyond the corner, is a tall palm tree. In front of you, on the ground level, is a grassy lawn with bushes, palm and deciduous trees, and small plants. Some of the trees are taller than the

Visitor Center. Ahead and to the right, a wood dock extends from the shore out into the water. There may be boats in the water. About 4-and-a-half miles or 7 kilometers straight ahead, is Cumberland Island. To the right of Cumberland Island, is Amelia Island.

Across the top of the panel, is a black banner. The brown National Park Service arrowhead logo is at the

At left, is light blue and white text on a dark blue background:

First Line of Defense. Cumberland Island is about 7 miles, or 13 kilometers, ahead along the river.

Follow the winding curve of the St. Marys River, on your right, to get there. Cumberland Island is the largest of Georgia’s 18 barrier islands. A barrier island is a long sand formation shaped by winds and tides over thousands of years. Barrier island formation varies from place to place.

Barrier islands protect the mainland from powerful winds, waves, tides, currents, and storms. The islands are constantly changing as currents move sand from island to island. On the quieter mainland side of the islands, salt marshes flourish. They work with other ecosystems on the islands to hold everything together.

A color photograph fills the middle and right side of the panel. It is a bird’s- eye view of the St. Marys

River as it meanders through brown marshland, passes by the city of St. Marys, and empties into the blue ocean. From this vantage point, St. Marys includes is made of tiny buildings intermixed with green trees.

Along the riverfront, are boats and docks. Along the top of the photograph, are two landmasses. At left, is

Cumberland Island. At right, is Amelia Island.

In the bottom right corner, is a light blue rectangle with a map and text. On the map, is part of the Georgia coastline in green, and the ocean in blue. Along the ocean, are curved white light and dark blue lines that represent incoming waves. North is to the left. Below the map, isn black text:

Georgia’s barrier islands protect 100 miles, or 161 kilometers, of coastline from incoming waves. The light green areas are the coast’s salt marshes. Marshes help prevent flooding on the islands and the mainland.

209A/B (Grade 4)

Upright Wayside Panel: Working Together

758 words / Panel Description: 5 minutes

In front of you, is an upright panel 3 feet wide by 4 feet tall, and about 3 feet off the ground, on dark brown painted aluminum posts. In metric, that is about 1 meter wide by over 1 meter tall, and about 1 meter off the ground. You are on a tabby concrete sidewalk. The panel is set on the edge of a grassy lawn.

On your right, is a green bush, about 3 feet or 1 meter tall. Behind the panel and across the lawn, are palm bushes and a tall palm tree. Continue in this direction about 90 feet, or 28 meters, to reach the

Cumberland Island National Seashore Visitor Center. Take the sidewalk to the left to reach a gazebo and the St. Marys riverfront. Take the sidewalk to the right to reach St. Marys Street. On the near side of St.

Marys Street, are angled parking spaces. On the far side of St. Marys Street, are 1- and 2-story buildings.

Across the top of the panel, is a black banner. The brown National Park Service arrowhead logo is at the

In the top right corner is blue and black text on a light blue background:

Working Together. Revel in Cumberland Island’s rich biodiversity. Each ecosystem exists because of the other ecosystems around it. Soft sand dunes near the ocean give way to lush live oak trees in the maritime forest. Safe areas for nesting on land bring new life. Migrating birds, turtles, and whales journey up and down the coast. Depending on the season, they seek warmer or cooler climates, food, and places to raise their young.

On Cumberland Island, you might see animals in all 3 ecosystems. Be a good guest on your visit: give them space and never chase. A threat to 1 ecosystem or species can cascade to others. Everything depends on each other. That’s how we all survive. Be a steward of this natural environment. We need to take care of the island so all species continue to thrive.

A color photograph fills the panel. It shows a bird’s- eye view of Cumberland Island. The horizon line cuts across the middle of the panel, with blue sky above and the island landscape below. On the left, are dense green treetops. On the right, are dunes and flat beaches. On the far right, waves from the blue

Atlantic Ocean roll onto the beach.

Across the island, are 3 circular color photographs of different animal species to highlight three 3 ecosystems. Each photograph has a text description to the right or left. In the bottom right, is a light brown and gray turtle on the beach. It faces right towards the ocean as a wave comes in toward the left.

Here in the dunes, loggerhead sea turtles nest along the island’s extensive undeveloped beaches. Once hatched, baby turtles head for the ocean.

To the left, is a reddish-brown deer with white spots. It is walking on a leaf-covered path among green palmettos in the maritime forest. White-tailed deer thrive in the dense understory of the maritime forest.

Here, they feast on saw palmetto, sparkleberry, and hollies.

Just above, are 2 white egrets. On the left, a great egret stands in the water. On the right, a snowy egret is mid-air, with its wings pointing downward. There are green and brown marsh grasses behind them. Here in the salt marsh, egrets forage in shallow water for food. You can spot them on the island year-round.

In the top left corner of the panel, is a map of Cumberland Island. It is mostly beige with a section of green in the middle. To the right, and off the map, is a green banner with beige text. It is labeled

Wilderness Area. Below the banner, is black text:

The Cumberland Island Wilderness Area was federally designated in 1982. It includes 9,886 acres. Only certain activities are allowed in this protected area to preserve its natural state and wildlife habitat.

Remember to plan ahead, be considerate of others, leave what you find, and minimize your impact. Help future generations admire the island’s beauty, too.

Visit LNT.org to learn more about Leave No Trace.

To the right of the text, is the Leave No Trace logo, which is a dark gray square with a swirl in the middle.

On the back side of this panel, is a color photograph of a wood bridge boardwalk with wood railings. It leads to a dense forest of live oak trees and other plants. The whole scene glows brightly with an orange hue from the setting sun.

210A (Grade 5)

Upright Wayside Panel Kiosk: A Place to Call Home

722 words / Panel Description: 4.75 minutes

You are inside the Alberty House, in the middle of 1 of the rooms. In front of you, is a 4-sided kiosk that is over 8 feet tall by 3 feet wide, or 2-and-a-half meters tall by about 1 meter wide. The aluminum kiosk frame is painted light orange. You are facing 1 side of the kiosk, which has an upright panel that is 3 feet wide by about 5 feet tall, and about 3 feet off the ground. In metric, that is about 1 meter wide by over 1-and-a-half meters tall, and about 1 meter off the ground. The other 3 sides of the kiosk have similar upright panels, as well as angled panels about 2 feet, or a half-meter, off the ground.

Across the top of the panel, is a black banner. The brown National Park Service arrowhead logo is at the

The right half of the panel has a light orange tint. At the top right, is medium orange text:

A Place to Call Home

In the middle right, is black text:

Enslaved Central and West Africans lived and worked on plantations all over the island. Their descendants in Georgia are the Geechee. After the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863, many freed people fled to the island’s north end. Several lived in the Brick Kiln, now Brick Hill, area and many went to surrounding areas. Martin Burbank, owner of the High Point Hotel on the north end, purchased several acres in 1893. He divided the land into plots and sold them to free Blacks in the area. It became known as the Settlement.

Island living conditions were rough. Settlement residents worked hard, lived off the land and water, and did their best to survive. As descendants married, this tightknit community grew even stronger. Self-sufficient and deeply spiritual, the Settlement endured for many generations.

Above the black text, and below the title, is a black grid map of 24 rectangular property lots, divided into

4 rows of 6. An access road divides the top 12 lots from the bottom 12 lots. A public road runs along the right side. Each rectangular lot has a number and a person’s name. In black text to the bottom left of the map:

Primus and Amanda Mitchell helped found the Settlement. Relatives and friends purchased nearby lots, see map above. You are in their son-in-law William’s house, later owned by his daughter Beulah.

To the right of the caption, is a color photograph with a blue frame of an oblique view of William

Alberty’s house, where you are now. It is a 1-and-a-half-story, white wood-clad house with a gable roof, brick chimney, and green trim. The bottom right corner of the grid map is shaded blue, to mark the location of William Alberty’s house within the Settlement.

Above the caption, is a black-and-white photograph with an orange frame of a Black man and a Black woman. The man is Primus Mitchell. He is wearing a light-colored shirt with a dark vest, pants, and a cap.

He has a white beard. The woman is Amanda Mitchell. She is wearing a flowing dress that cinches at the waist, and has a scarf tied around her head. They are standing in front of a wood-clad house with a thatch roof. Near the middle of the grid map, 1 lot is shaded orange, to mark the location of Primus and Amanda

Mitchell’s house within the Settlement.

In the bottom right corner, is a black-and-white photograph from around 1900, of a 2-story building that has full-length porches on all sides. A group of about 15 people stand on the steps and first-story porch.

This is the High Point Hotel.

On the left half of the panel, is a black-and-white map of Cumberland Island. It shows property lines, various plants and trees, roads, ponds, and other waterways on and around the island. At the bottom of the map, is black text:

In 1802, most of the island was undeveloped. Look for the sea island cotton fields on this map. Imagine the enslaved people who toiled there. During this time, there were 10 times more Black people than White people on the island.

In the top third of the map, near the north end of the island and nearly midway across, is a shaded orange circle. This marks the approximate location of the Settlement starting in 1893.

210B/E (Grade 6)

Upright Wayside Panel Kiosk: The Island Provides

948 words / Panel Description: 6.25 minutes

You are inside the Alberty House, in the middle of 1 of the rooms. In front of you, is a 4-sided kiosk that is over 8 feet tall by 3 feet wide, or 2-and-a-half meters tall by about 1 meter wide. The aluminum kiosk frame is painted light orange. You are facing 1 side of the kiosk, which has an upright panel that is 3 feet wide by about 5 feet tall, and about 3 feet off the ground. In metric, that is about 1 meter wide by over 1-and-a-half meters tall, and about 1 meter off the ground. This side also has an angled panel that is 2-and-a-half-feet wide by 1 foot tall and about 2 feet off the ground. In metric, that is about 1 meter wide by about a half-meter tall and about a half-meter off the ground.

Across the top of the panel, is a black banner. The brown National Park Service arrowhead logo is at the

The bottom half of the panel has a medium green tint. Near the middle left, is white text:

The Island Provides

In the middle right, is black text:

Survival for the Geechee of the Settlement was a daily strugglechallenging. Everything they needed came from the land around them. They turned marsh grass into roof cover and baskets for carrying. They hunted for raccoon and deer, fished, and tonged for oysters. Some worked in the nearby sawmill or held service jobs at the High Point Hotel. Others traveled to the south end of the island to work for the

Carnegie family.

Isolated from the mainland, the Geechee were able to continue their ancestors’ traditions from Central and West Africa. Their spirituality, customs, family ties, and music enriched their lives. These cultural practices are part of the Gullah Geechee cultures we know today. The Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage

Corridor, or GGCHC, helps preserve and interpret their heritage. Their enduring stories, crafts, foods, languages, and sites are integral to our history.

Below the text, are 2 color photographs with black text captions below. At left, is a Black woman wearing a purple shirt. She is sewing the base for a sweetgrass basket while seated in a kitchen. She is Nakia

Wigfall. She carries on the legacy of making sweetgrass baskets. Enslaved laborers used them as work baskets to winnow rice, harvest food, and more.

At right, is a group of 2 Black men and 4 women standing on grass, with tall trees in the background. The men are wearing white collared shirts, blue denim overalls, and straw hats. The women are wearing blue dresses with white aprons, and brightly colored and patterned overshirts and head scarfs. The woman in front is holding a musical instrumentwashboard. Worship, song, and dance connect the Gullah Geechee to their Central and West African roots. Their ring shouts give insight to their deep spirituality.

In the middle right of the panel, above the main body text, are 2 black-and-white photographs with black text captions below. At left, are 4 Black boys wearing jackets or sweaters, slim fitting pants, and hats.

They are holding golf bags. Some Settlement residents caddied at the Stafford Links golf course.

At right, is a Black man standing in a wood canoe, in the middle of a marsh. He is holding a long wood paddle. This is George Middleton, bringing home marsh grass. The salt marsh is critical to the Geechee way of life.

In the bottom left quarter of the panel, is a partial map of the outlines of 4 states in the southeastern

United States, with a black text caption to the right. The states are light green with dark green outlines.

They include Florida, abbreviated FL, Georgia, abbreviated GA, South Carolina, abbreviated SC, and

North Carolina, abbreviated NC. From the top right corner of Florida, along the Atlantic coast, to the bottom right corner of North Carolina, is dark green shading with white text. This is the location of the

Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor, a federal national heritage area.

Across the top half of the panel, is a black-and-white photograph of the middle section of a boat. Near the middle, is a Black man wearing a light-colored, collared shirt, a darker vest, pants, and a cap. He is looking to the left. There is another man in the background facing away from you. Near the bottom left, is off-white text:

For generations, the Geechee have depended on the sea. Fishing and maritime expertise are central to their identities.

Below the main panel, is the angled panel.