Hilton Head Island Culture
What's in a Name?
Hilton Head Island is named for the English sea captain William Hilton who was hired by a syndicate of Barbadian planters and claimed the island for England. Hilton "discovered" the island in 1663 but European colonization did not occur until around 1800. Before the Civil War, the plantations on Hilton Head Island prospered growing rice, indigo, and cotton.
Earliest Inhabitants
Native Indians resided on Hilton Head Island as early as 4000 BC. Evidence of early settlement remains today in the form of a 3400 year old "Indian Shell ring" in Sea Pines Forest Preserve.
Gullah Culture
"Gullah," a blend of slave, native, cadence, and Elizabethian English was spoken in the Lowcountry. This rich culture, developed over the years of slavery, survives to this day. Old spirituals and songs were made up and used by slaves as codes for meeting times and places and as messages for freedom. The songs and stories also spoke of storms and other events in the lives of the slaves. As interest in the history of African-Americans on Hilton Head grows more evidence of their lifestyle is being preserved. The Gullah culture continues as community leaders encourage its preservation.
Grand Vision
The Hilton Head Island as we know it today began as an extraordinary vision of one man, Charles Fraser. His dream was to create a unique vacation resort where environmental concerns were intertwined with its development. Charles was a bold visionary who fought popular opinion in the 50s to create Sea Pines, a hugely successful and environmentally sensitive resort development.
Life's a Beach
Located 95 miles south of historic Charleston on the South Carolina coast, Hilton Head Island boasts 12 miles of expansive, hard-packed beaches which range up to 600 feet at low tide. The tide levels vary as much as 6-8 feet every 6 hours. Popular beach activities include bicycling, jogging, and sun bathing. Hilton Head Island is shaped like a foot and sections of the Island are referred to as the toe, instep, heel, and ankle. Hilton Head Island lies between the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic and is connected by bridge to the mainland. Up to 12 miles long and nearly 4 miles wide, Hilton Head encompasses 42 square miles. Hilton Head's prisitine beachfront is considered among the world's most beautiful, perhaps because they're surrounded by lush forests of live oaks, palmettos, and tall pine trees swaying in the ocean's breeze.
Bicycling
One of the Island's most popular activities is bicycling throughout it's numerous scenic bike trails - whether on the beach or along the numerous paths and trails. Many of the trails lead the biker through lush forests and marshlands.
Island Activities
Bicycling is but one of a few sports available to vacationers and local residents of Hilton Head Island. There's never a dull moment here with more than 20 public golf courses, hundreds of tennis courts, horseback riding along the beach, eco-tours of the Island's nature preserves, sailing, deep sea fishing, windsurfing, crabbing, canoeing, and much more.
Nature's Preserve
Part of the North American Atlantic flyway, Hilton Head Island supports over 250 species of birds during the year. The Loggerhead Turtle makes it's nesting ground along parts of the Hilton Head Island shoreline. Bottle-nosed dolphin can often be seen playing in the surf, and it is not uncommon to find deer in the woods and alligators in the lagoons.
Late Unpleasantness
During the War of Northern Aggression, Hilton Head Island was captured and occupied by the Union forces. Overtaken by a massive amphibious landing (the size of which was not attempted again until WWII), Hilton Head Island became a strategic outpost for the blockade of Confederate sea ports.
South Carolina State Information
State Moniker: The Palmetto State
State Bird: Carolina Wren
State Flower: Yellow Jasmine
State Tree: Palmetto (a small, indigenous palm)
State Capitol: Columbia
Museums
Bluffton Historical Preservation Society Inc.
52 Boundary Street
Bluffton, SC 29910
(843) 757-6293
Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum
175 Bourne Avenue
Pooler, GA 31322
(912) 748-8888
Telfair Museum of Art
121 Barnard Street
Savannah, GA 31401
(912) 232-1177
Coastal Discovery Museum
The Coastal Discovery Museum offers programs, activities, and exhibits year-round to make learning about Hilton Head and other sea islands an enjoyable experience for island visitors and residents alike.
The Coastal Discovery Museum on Hilton Head Island is a great place to visit any time of the year. With indoor and outdoor exhibits, activity centers in the Sea Island Classroom, the History Time-line Exhibit, and Museum Store on-site, plus 11 different tours and cruises around the island, the Museum is a fantastic way to become familiar with the island's unique history and ecology. More than 125,000 visitors and students enjoyed classes, exhibits and tours in 2004.
100 William Hilton Parkway
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926
(843) 689-6767
Penn Center
16 Penn Center Circle W
St. Helena Island, SC 29920
(843) 838-2432
Art Galleries
An Artist's Touch
8 Archer Road
(843) 785-5609
The Art Café
(843) 785-5525
Arts Center of Coastal Carolina
14 Shelter Cove Lane, (843) 686-3945
Bailey's Limited
147-D Lighthouse Rd.
(843) 671-4715
Camelia Art
8 Pope Ave
(843) 785-5075
FastFrame
95 Matthews Dr., Unit A,
(843) 342-7696
Greats of the Game
9 Shelter Cove Ln.,
(843) 842-4477
Hilton Head Art League Gallery
Pineland Station, Ste. 207,
(843) 686-2032
Hilton Head Picture Gallery
3 Cardinal Court, 681-8208
J. P. Art, Joe Pinckney
15-I Dillion Rd.,
(843) 681-5661
The John Stobart Gallery
149 Lighthouse Road, Harbourtown,
(843) 671-2739
Marquez Art Gallery, Gifts
1036 Hwy, 278 #102
(843) 684-8277
Moonshell Art Gallery
37 Orleans Road, Ste. M,
(843) 341-3339
Morris & Whiteside Galleries & Sculpture Garden
807 Wm. Hilton Pkwy., Ste. 1302,
(843) 842-4433
Pink House Gallery of Fine Art & Framing
133 Island Drive,
(843) 681-5169
Picture This
7 Lagoon Road, Suite 7
(843) 842-5299
Red Piano Art Gallery
220 Cordillo Pkwy.
(843) 785-2318
Smith Galleries, Inc.
1000 Wm. Hilton Pkwy., Ste. J-11,
(843) 842-2280
Tatler/Wexford Galleries
3 Northridge Plaza
(843) 681-7863
Walter Greer Gallery
14 Shelter Cove Ln.,
The Arts Center of Coastal
(843) 842-ARTS
Arts Center of Coastal Carolina
14 Shelter Cove Lane
Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
(843) 686-3945
Endangered Arts, Ltd.
841 William Hilton Parkway
Suite B
Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
(843) 785-5075 or (843) 785-7205
The Hilton Head Art League
A not-for-profit 501(c) 3 membership organization dedicated to promoting the visual arts. The Art League is affiliated with The Arts Center of Coastal Carolina and enthusiastically supports its efforts. The Hilton Head Art League maintains a permanent gallery at Pineland Station Suite 207 for the display and sale of artwork by member artists. All mediums are represented. The gallery is staffed by volunteers and is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m. all year long.
Jacob Preston Studio
10 Church Street
Bluffton, SC 29910
(843) 757-3084
Low Country Artists' Guild
Pineland Station
Center Suite 207
Hilton Head Island, SC 29925
(843) 597-0505
Morris & Whiteside Galleries
807 William Hilton Pkwy
Suite 1302
Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
(843) 842-4433
Red Piano Art Gallery, LLC
220 Cordillo pkwy
Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
(843) 785-2318
Calhoun Street Art Gallery
PO Box 801
Bluffton, SC 29910
(843) 757-4278
J. P. Art
15I Dillon Road
Hilton Head Island, SC 29925
(843) 681-5661
The John Stobart Gallery
149 Lighthouse Road
Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
(843) 671-2739 or (800) 435-8992
Moonshell Art Gallery
37 New Orleans Road, Suite M
Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
(843) 341-3339
Ink House Gallery of Fine Art & Framing
133 Island Drive
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926
(843) 681-5169
Smith Galleries, Inc.
1000 William Hilton Pkwy.
Suite J11
Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
(843) 842-2280
Port Royal
Garden Studio Gallery
1908 Lenora Drive
522-8911
Susan Graber Studio
805 London Avenue
524-4353
St. Helena Island
Crackpots Gallery & Pottery Studio
968 Sea Island Pkwy., 838-0014
Red Piano Too Art Gallery
853 Sea Island Pkwy.
838-2241
www.redpianotoo.com
Rhett Gallery
847-A Sea Island Pkwy., 838-1339
Stock Farm Antiques
1263 May River Rd., 757-8046
Theaters
Arts Center of Coastal Carolina
14 Shelter Cove Lane
Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
(843) 686-3945
The May River Theatre Co., Inc.
PO Box 1674
Bluffton, SC 29910
(843) 837-7768
Savannah Theatre Project LLC
222 Bull Street
Savannah, GA 31401
(912) 233-5542 or (912) 233-7764
