Cumberland Island has been called a national treasure. Separate from the Georgia mainland, Cumberland offers visitors and residents respite from a busy, consumption-driven world. Unbeknown to many, Cumberland's progression from private ownership to national seashore took decades and the collaborative efforts of many. Joe Graves recounts how Cumberland Island, once ninety percent owned by his great-grandmother, narrowly missed being mined for titanium and being developed as a residential resort. As a participant in the fight, Graves shares a unique view of how Carnegie descendants, the Candler family, Alfred Jones, Paul Mellon, public officials, and private citizens came together to preserve the island. This book confirms that foresight and determination are the cornerstones of successful land preservation.