One of my favorite places in the SC low country. This is a part of the USA that few folks know about and the rich history of the area comes alive here. My children (11&8) found it fascinating as well.

The history of Penn Center and its mission is shown in detail, though the information could be organized better. The articles and photographs are fascinating. The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. My disappointment was that there was not much information about the Gullah culture itself. When I asked, the staff suggested several books that I could buy, and I... More

Preservation of history...there is much history to discover for those that are not aware.

After taking the Gullah Tour in Charleston, we found ourselves wanting to learn more about the Gullah history. We were told a visit to Penn Center on St. Helena Island would add more information. We had a car so planned a trip to the center along with a visit to Beaufort. The Center was founded by Abraham Lincoln for the... More

This exhibit and the excellent video should not be missed because the buildings themselves bear witness to the complexity of the efforts and motives of 19th and early 20th century philanthropy. At the same time the programs of the center today demonstrate the changes that have taken place, the center's role in the civil rights movement, and its work to... More

If you visit the South Carolina's lowcountry and like history, Penn Center is a must. It is on St. Helena Island SC near Beaufort SC. Among other things, it is one of the country's first schools for freed slaves. Get a description of its historical significance at www.sciway.net/afam/penn.html . This is a pretty Sea Island setting and it is close... More

Essentially a trade school for Black youth, founded in 1862,that produced crafstmen, midwives, nurses for many years. The school answered the need created by SC law since before 1948, the public school system was only required to educate blacks through the seventh grade. Frequently changing exhibits reflect on the schools impact on daily life, the civil rights movement and through... More

Our tour group visited the Penn Center, located near Beaufort, South Carolina, last week. We toured the museum, and also watched a video. I learned a lot about the history of Penn Center and how it's school educated children. There is also a gift shop with crafts and artwork done by local residents.

I learned a lot from my visit to the Penn Center, though I found the exhibits very text heavy and overwhelming and yearned for some more exhibits and information about the Gullah/Geechee culture. For example, the information in the Beaufort County Guide to the Gullah Geechee Heritage had some fantastic information about the African ancestry, food, lingo, etc. of these... More