Come Ride The Doodlebug

 If you come to St. Marys by way of the Cumberland Sound Ferry, there’s a good chance you’ll be greeted at the waterfront by Historic St. Marys’ trolley known as “The Doodlebug.” Volunteers for the St. Marys Convention & Visitors Bureau conduct Historic District tours on The Doodlebug on a regular basis, and tours are also available by special arrangement for groups of ten or more. (You don’t have to arrive by ferry to enjoy the tours—everyone’s invited!)

During the early 1900s (and through the early 50s), “doodlebugs” were a popular mode of transportation connecting cities short distances away from each other via the railroad tracks. Doodlebugs were self-propelled gas-electric cars that provided minimal passenger and mail service on lightly used branch rail lines. One such doodlebug ran between St. Marys and Kingsland. Former St. Marys mayor Jerry Brandon remembers riding The Doodlebug to Kingsland around 1953. It cost a dime to ride at that time. That same doodlebug is said to reside in the St. Louis Transportation Museum today.

As you board The Doodlebug, the history lesson begins and doesn’t stop until you return to the waterfront more than an hour later. Each volunteer has his or her own delivery style and their own stories, but the geography covered is the same. You’ll ride up Osborne Street and along the way learn about our city’s founders, about the historic homes and churches and the roles they played in wars. You’ll hear about how Aaron Burr escaped to The Clark House after his infamous duel and about the last battle of the War of 1812 that was fought right here in  St. Marys. You’ll hear stories of smugglers and statesmen and ride by the commemorative oak stump that marks the place where city residents honored George Washington when he died. You’ll learn about steamship captains of the 1800s and the Acadians buried in the Oak Grove Cemetery. Volunteers weave their own personal stories throughout their presentation making each tour unique.

Come ride The Doodlebug and enjoy the stories that will take you back centuries, back even to the 

pre-establishment of St. Marys as a city (1787), back to the times when Guale and Timucuan Indians roamed the fertile lands living off the bounty of oysters and other seafood. 

Here in St. Marys we like to say “our town is not very wide, but it sure is deep.” So true—St. Marys is deep in history. For a fascinating glimpse of St. Marys’ historical significance, hop aboard The Doodlebug!

For tour schedule and prices or for more information about The Doodlebug historical tours, call 912-882-4000. 

For more information about places to go and things to do in St. Marys, visit www.stmaryswelcome.com.