Thousands of enslaved Africans died at Tybee Island’s Lazaretto — residents want that recognized

TYBEE ISLAND, Ga. (WTOC) -A small roadside marker near the entrance to Tybee Island is the only visible acknowledgment of a site where thousands of enslaved Africans died in the 18th century — and where their bodies remain today. Island residents and advocates are now working to change that.

After Georgia lifted its ban on slavery in 1749, Savannah became part of the transatlantic slave trade. Ships carrying enslaved Africans made stops at a quarantine station along what is now Lazaretto Creek on the west end of Tybee Island before continuing to Savannah.

The station, established in the 1760s, was designed to isolate disease before ships reached the city. The word “lazaretto” means quarantine house.

Enslaved people, already weakened by brutal conditions, were often too sick to survive. Those who lived were returned to the ships and transported to Savannah, where they were sold at the city’s market. Those who died were buried in unmarked graves on the west end of the island.

The site remained in use until 1785 before falling into disrepair.

Julia Pearce, with the Tybee MLK Human Rights organization, said the site should be recognized as sacred ground.

“Those that died, and there were thousands that died, their bodies remain here at the lazaretto,” Pearce said.

Pearce and the organization have been working to build a monument to mark the significance of the site.

“When you get a people who come here in chains and they make a contribution, a significant contribution to our nation, that we should honor that,” Pearce said.

Today, advocates say the site needs to be recognized for what it is — and for what the lives lost there meant.

“This island is sacred ground for a people and for a nation,” Pearce said. “And we should embrace that and rejoice in that because we’ve come a long way. Although we have a long way to go.”