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From the oyster beds to the bateaux, from shrimp boats to the sentinel heron, Hilton Head Island’s waterways have shaped and sustained the Gullah way of life for generations. This post traces the intertwined stories of foodways, craftsmanship, and conservation—showing how oysters built communities, bateaux linked them, shrimp boats sustained them, and herons still guard them. Together these elements reveal a living culture of resilience, stewardship, and deep connection to the marsh. Dive in to experience the Gullah legacy that continues to define Hilton Head today.
The Reilley and Simmons families envisioned Fishcamp on Broad Creek as a community spot where neighbors could gather over delicious meals and share laughter. After restoring the original Simmons Fishing Camp building, Fishcamp on Broad Creek opened to rave reviews in October 2016. The land and the Camp boast a rich history rooted in Gullah culture. Today, we preserve that family spirit at Fishcamp on Broad Creek by honoring the history and significance of the site – in the original building offering great seafood, and in Cap’n Charlie Simmon’s memory through excellent service.
Standing for nearly three centuries, the Barnwell Tabby tells a story that continues to reveal its secrets. Once thought to date from the 1800s, this North Island landmark was actually built between 1730 and 1750 — predating the American Revolution and challenging earlier beliefs about Hilton Head Island’s colonial period.
In April 1970, a group of Black Hilton Head Island fishermen and members of the resort development community sailed to Washington, D.C., to deliver a petition with 45,000 signatures protesting the construction of a petrochemical plant on Victoria Bluff, near the Island. That trip was the culmination of a long and valiant fight to preserve the area’s natural environment that included environmentalists, developers, concerned citizens and the members of the Hilton Head Fishing Cooperative. Their courageous efforts successfully preserved the area’s natural environment and resources, which significantly contributed to the survival of the Lowcountry’s shrimping industry.
Hilton Head Island holds a distinct and meaningful place in African American history—particularly through the role its beaches played as communal havens during and after the era of segregation. These shores were not merely places of recreation; they served as sacred grounds of resilience, cultural expression, and collective identity for the Gullah Geechee people.
Historic Schools were educational landmarks on Hilton Head Island—spotlighting each institution’s founding legacy, architectural heritage, and community‑centered programs, complete with direct links for deeper exploration.
The Toni Morrison Society has installed its eighth Bench by the Road on Hilton Head Island, honoring the legacy of the formerly enslaved African Americans who founded Mitchelville—the first self-governing freedmen’s village in the South. The bench, placed by The Mitchelville Preservation Project, commemorates the resilience and achievement of a community that built homes, churches, and schools in the aftermath of the Civil War.