Saint Helena Island brings Gullah Geechee history to life at places such as Penn Center and Brick Baptist Church. The island covers about 64 square miles and is mostly flat and largely rural. It is bordered by St. Helena Sound to the north and Port Royal Sound to the south. To plan your trip, it helps to first choose the themes you want to spend time on: history and culture, landscapes, or experiences connected to local cuisine.
Gullah Culture and History at Penn Center
Penn Center preserves and shares the African American culture of the Sea Islands and Lowcountry, known as Gullah Geechee. It is a 50-acre National Historic Landmark District. A self-guided tour leads to 25 historic buildings and structures of the Penn School. This lets you focus your visit on the school’s architectural heritage, while the nature trail offers a different focus: shared with the National Park Service, it leads to a scenic overlook.
At the York W. Bailey Museum, the “Education for Freedom” exhibit tells the 86-year history of the Penn School. It begins in 1862 and continues through the Reconstruction Era and the Penn Normal and Agricultural School to the civil rights movement at Penn Community Services. The museum is currently open Tuesday through Saturday; docent-led tours take place daily at 10 a.m., noon and 3 p.m. Check the hours before your visit. Darrah Hall adds another perspective on the past with rotating exhibits about the origins of Reconstruction and education in the region. In the 1960s, Penn Center hosted Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and staff members of the SCLC.
Church History and Places of Remembrance
Brick Baptist Church connects the history of enslavement with the beginnings of the Penn School. Enslaved people built the church in 1855. Fingerprints of the people who made the bricks are still visible on some of the walls. In 1862, Laura Towne and Ellen Murray held the first classes of what would later become the Penn School in the church.
The interior of Brick Baptist Church continues to serve an active congregation and is normally not open to visitors. Respect the congregation’s activities when visiting the site. This restriction is important for planning: the site’s history cannot be experienced simply by visiting the church interior. Those who want to explore other aspects of regional history can find rotating exhibits on education and Reconstruction at Darrah Hall.
Fort Fremont and the Coastal Landscape
Fort Fremont offers a contrast to the educational and church histories of Penn Center. Completed in 1898, the fort was active until 1912. It is a well-preserved example of a fortification from the Spanish-American War era, set in a natural environment with diverse habitats. As part of the Historic Resources of St. Helena Island, Fort Fremont is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
The Fort Fremont grounds include a 900-foot stretch of beach on Port Royal Sound. The grounds of Fort Fremont Preserve are open daily from morning until evening; self-guided tours using an app are available during the day. Check opening hours and current visitor information about the app before you go. This lets you plan a visit to the fort alongside Penn Center’s historic sites without combining the two themes into a single activity.
Local Events and Trip Planning
Events also offer a way to experience local culture. Morning Glory Homestead Farm offers a Gullah Campfire Supper as well as events called “Stories and Songs.” Confirm dates before your trip. Community events are regularly held at the park at The Corners; the Saint Helena Island Community Market is scheduled for the last Saturday of each month. Check the dates for this as well before adding the market to your plans.
Macdonald Marketplace houses an art and antiques gallery at the site of a general store established in 1877. This connection links a visit to the present-day gallery with the site’s trading history without equating it with the Penn School exhibits. For the drive from Charleston to Penn Center, the National Park Service route follows U.S. 17, U.S. 21 or Sea Island Parkway, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Check the directions before setting out.
When choosing a hotel on Saint Helena Island, your trip’s main focus can help guide your decision: Do you primarily want to explore Gullah culture and the history of the Penn School, or would you also like to include Fort Fremont, with its fortification history and stretch of beach on Port Royal Sound? Then allow enough time for each visit and take the listed hours and dates into account for the museum, tours and events.
Discover more destinations: Beaufort, Hilton Head Island, Bluffton, Port Royal, Okatie.
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