06/19/2020
Today is the celebration of Juneteenth, a holiday to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved people in the US. This is holiday is even more special on Hilton Head Island as Mitchelville was the site of the first community in the US that was run and governed by freed black slaves. Mitchelville Freedom Park is a great project helping to preserve the cultural heritage of the area. Over the past 2 years I have worked with Binghamton University (NY) and the Sea Island Archaeological Researchers as they research and excavate areas in Mitchelville to learn more about the day to day life during that time. Most recently they are trying to find the original location of The Praise House which would have been the center of the Towns activity. Click the link below to take a 3D interactive tour of the excavations.
Mitchelville was the first self-governed town of freed slaves in America. The SIAR Team is locating the original Praise House location.