The Historic First African Baptist Church

Arts & Culture in Hilton Head Island, Hilton Head Island, SC

Hilton Head Island

The Historic First African Baptist Church is one of the oldest and most significant Gullah institutions on Hilton Head Island, founded by freed enslaved people in the years immediately following the Civil War. The church served as a spiritual home, community meeting place, and cultural anchor for the island's Gullah Geechee families during one of the most transformative periods in American history — when the formerly enslaved people of the Sea Islands were building new lives, new institutions, and new communities on the land they had worked for generations. Today the church stands as a living landmark of African American history and Gullah heritage, welcoming visitors who wish to understand the deep roots of the island's community and honor the extraordinary resilience of the people who built it. An essential stop on any exploration of Hilton Head's Gullah history.

Address

1 Beach City Rd, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926

Neighborhood

Hilton Head Island

Phone

(843) 681-5444

Website

mitchelvilleheritagepreserve.org

Details last verified September 2026. Hours, pricing, and availability change — confirm directly with the business before visiting.