Some Hilton Head History

It's time disclose my previously undisclosed location, which is Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.  Besides having numerous resorts and hotels, this area also has some history.  Near the northeastern end of the island, close to the airport, is Fort Howell, an earthen fort built in 1864 by the Union's 32nd Colored Infantry.  As you walk from the parking lot to the remains of the fort, you pass several sheet metal sculptures depicting black Union soldiers, such as this one:

This sign shows the layout of the fort.

A trail takes you around the top of the fort's earthen walls, now overgrown with trees and other vegetation.  I've seen similar vegetation on top of mounds and other structures built by Native Americans.

Here's another section of the trail.

Just down the road from Fort Howell is Cherry Hill School, built in 1937 to educate black children during the era of segregation.  The short brick supports allow air to blow under the school, which would have helped keep it reasonably cool.

Also along the same road, named Beach City Road, is Mitchelville Freedom Park, on the site of Mitchelville, built during and after the Civil War by former slaves.  The salt marsh seen here from an observation deck is located between land and the Atlantic Ocean, seen in the distance.

This is the wooden walkway leading to the observation deck, looking back at the land.

The park includes this replica of a bateau (which the French word for "boat") built by the Gullah people.

Finally, this is a replica of a house.  The Christmas wreath is a modern decoration.

To learn more about Mitchelville and the Gullah, go here, here, here, here and here.