From Civil War history to coastal pursuits, there are several surprising cultural experiences that await groups convening on Hilton Head Island.
Historic Mitchelville, a town built during the American Civil War for escaped slaves, became the first self-governed freedmen’s village in the country.
Commemorating the former slaves’ “experiment in freedom” is Mitchelville Freedom Park, which can be toured along with 10 Gullah communities on the island via Gullah Heritage Tours.
According to Susan Thomas, vice president at Hilton Head Island-Bluffton COC & Visitors and Convention Bureau, the park will eventually incorporate replica buildings and the use of interactive media platforms to present Mitchelville’s story and allow visitors to imagine the historic town as it existed in the 19th century.
“With the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War, groups are interested in learning about Hilton Head Island during wartime,” she says. “The reason it’s so important is that ... it is a place where freedom happened for African Americans; it’s a hopeful, positive part of the state’s history.”
Local Gullah culture is celebrated annually in February during the Hilton Head Island Gullah Celebration. Groups are encouraged to check out the calendar of events, ranging from food expos to concerts.
Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn Plantation, a 68-acre property dating back 300 years, is described as “the last significant parcel of open space on Hilton Head Island.”
Highlights of the group-friendly venue include some of the oldest buildings on Hilton Head Island; open fields; centuries-old live oak trees and the state’s largest Southern Red Cedar tree, which dates back to 1595; and evening sea turtle talks and walks.
“It was a working farm converted into an environmental and cultural museum where groups can have off-site dinners or receptions,” Thomas says of the museum. “There is a very knowledgeable staff who can answer questions about the local history, culture and environment.”
A Southern pastime is cast net throwing, during which groups will learn how to throw a cast net from a local angler. The hands-on program ends with a meal of fresh shrimp.
“Visitors find they are able to connect to local ecology in diverse ways, either casting a net, kayaking or going out on a vessel to hear dolphins ‘talk,’” Thomas says. “Getting out in the environment is a powerful bonding experience that opens up groups to thinking collaboratively.”
