Penn Center/ Hiton Head and Mitchelville Tour

SOLD OUT

Saturday, July 26, 2025 (approx. 9am - 5pm) 

Penn Center/Hilton Head and Mitchelville Tour

Penn Center/Hilton Head

Located on beautiful St. Helena Island, at the heart of Gullah culture, surrounded by shimmering marshes, and nestled beneath the silvery, moss-draped limbs of massive live oaks… is the Penn Center. The campus of the former Penn School, one of the nation’s first schools for formerly enslaved people, is one of the most significant African American institutions in existence today. This historic and cultural institution is a National Historic Landmark District and comprises two of the four sites within the Reconstruction Era National Park. Participants will take part in the “Gullah/Geechee Famlee Day” hosted by Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation (ov) and features native Gullah/Geechee painters, presenters, craft artists, chefs and business owners. Lunch will be provided. Participants will then take a bus tour to Hilton Head Island with Cultural heritage chief executive and author Emory Shaw Campbell. The bus tour will end at Historic Mitchelville.

Mitchelville

Established in 1862, historic Mitchelville became the first town of self-governing formerly enslaved people in the United States. An “experiment in citizenship” and a “model for reconstruction,” historic Mitchelville succeeded, yet virtually faded from history. Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park, Inc. (HMFP) is a non-profit South Carolina corporation whose mission is to preserve, promote, and honor Historic Mitchelville. HMFP envisions that Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park will become an imaginative and exciting place celebrating the American spirit through the story of this historic community and how that story informs and strengthens the fabric of our shared American heritage. Participants will tour the grounds and learn of the rich history of Historic Mitchelville; meet with HMFP archaeologist, Dr. Katherine Seeber and interact with Mitchelville artifacts; hear from descendant voices from the Island and hear behind the scenes details for future Park development.

For more informtion, please visit:  https://blackmuseums.org/aaam2025-excursions/

No refunds provided.