Mitchelville
Historic Gullah Neighborhood

Established 1862

Located on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, Mitchelville was established in 1862 during the Civil War as the first self-governing town for formerly enslaved people in the United States. The town featured homes, churches, and a school, serving as a model of Black self-sufficiency during the Reconstruction era. Today, the Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park preserves this legacy and educates visitors about its historical significance.

 
IMG_3833.jpg
 

Located near the Port Royal Sound, the Mitchelville neighborhood has great historical significance.

  • Mitchelville is the historic site of the first settlement for freed slaves in the United States, established in 1862.

  • The Cherry Hill School, established in 1937 at its present location on the corner of Dillion Road and Baygall Road, is located in the Mitchelville Community. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

  • This former public school was the first structure built by Beaufort County on land purchased by Gullah residents, which was built for the sole purpose of serving as a school.

  • The area is the site of the Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park.

 
 

WAYFINDING SITES