Darien is the second oldest town in the state of Georgia (to Savannah), founded by Scottish Highlanders in 1736, and possessing a history unique among Southern tidewater communities. Darien was a major cotton exporting center in the antebellum period before the town was burned to the ground by invading Union troops in the Civil War. Within a few years, a rebuilt Darien became the largest exporter of processed lumber on the U.S. east coast, a testament to the town’s resilience, and reflecting its Scottish heritage. This program will provide an overview of the town’s history and economy, emphasizing its maritime development and its waterfront commerce, including the recently restored Adam Strain Building, a 200-year old structure that is now one of the centerpieces of Darien’s resurgence as a tourism destination.
