Visit
Explore the glimmering marshes, moss-draped live oaks, and captivating beaches of St. Helena Island. Experience the heart of Gullah culture, and absorb the echoes of generations past in a revered historic site—all in one place!
The Penn Center is a 50-acre historic district comprising 25 historic buildings and structures on beautiful St. Helena Island, South Carolina.
The Penn Center is proud to have earned the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence.
We recommend casual clothing, comfortable shoes, and a hat.
Your first stop should be the Courtney P. Siceloff Welcome Center and Gift Shop [link to shop], co-located with the York W. Bailey Museum.
Welcome Center And Campus
The Penn Center History and Culture Program preserves and interprets the Sea Islands and Lowcountry African American culture known as Gullah Geechee. The Penn Center is the jewel in its crown—a 50-acre National Historic Landmark District including the Courtney P. Siceloff Welcome Center, the York W. Bailey Museum housing the onsite Penn School Collection, and the Penn School Papers archived at the University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill.
The Program also organizes and operates special programs and events, including the Gullah Studies Symposiums and the annual Heritage Days Celebration each November.
The Penn School National Historic Landmark District is the only African American National Historic Landmark District in South Carolina.
Hours of Operation
Monday – Friday by appointment only, due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Please call the Welcome Center: (843) 838-7105 or (843) 838-8550.
Admission
Museum: $7 per adult, $5 for students
Self-guided tour with campus map provided: $10.
Docent-guided tour: $15.
Ages 5 and under: free.
Directions
Penn Center is located at 18 Penn Center Circle West, St. Helena Island, South Carolina 29920.
Our mailing address is P.O. Box 126, St. Helena Island, SC 29920.
Parking is free for all visitors.
Special Needs
We are committed to making our art, history, and culture accessible to all visitors.
Designated parking spaces for people with disabilities are available.
A wheelchair-accessible sidewalk leads to the Courtney P. Siceloff Welcome Center and Gift Shop and the York W. Bailey Museum.
Trained service animals are permitted.
History and Culture Presentations
History of Penn School–Penn Center (1862–2012)
The Port Royal Experiment
Founders of Penn School: Laura Towne, Ellen Murray, and Charlotte Forten
Penn School During the American Civil War (1862–1865)
Penn School During the Reconstruction Era (1862–1901)
Charlotte Forten’s Mission: Penn’s First African American Teacher
The Life and Times of the Honorable Robert Smalls
The Civil Rights Movement and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at Penn Center (1948–1968)
Who are the Gullah Geechee People?
The Prayer House and Spiritual Practices of the Gullah Geechee People
The Culture Keepers: Gullah Geechee Artists and Art Forms
Local Hero: The Life and Art of Sam Doyle
Sweetgrass Basket Presentation and Demonstration (workshop available)
The Art of Indigo Batik Dyeing (workshop available)
Tale of a Gullah Blacksmith (talk and demonstration)
The Art of Gullah Wood Burning
Cooking the Gullah Way
Gullah Fa’ Oonah: The Gullah Language
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The Courtney P. Siceloff Welcome Center
Purchase your admission ticket to the Museum and the self-guided walking tour map here. Enjoy browsing the gifts and Penn Center memorabilia, with each purchase benefiting Penn Center’s programs.
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The York W. Bailey Museum
What is now the York W. Bailey Museum was previously known as the Cope Industrial Shop, built to house classes in trades, and dedicated on the Penn School’s 50th anniversary.
After purchasing your admission ticket, view the Education for Freedom exhibit, which interprets the 86-year history of the Penn School beginning in 1862 through the Reconstruction era, the Penn Normal and Agricultural School, and the Civil Rights Movement at Penn Community Services.
The Museum also showcases other temporary and traveling exhibitions.
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The Campus
Purchase a map at the Welcome Center and enjoy a self-guided walking tour of the 25 historic buildings and structures of the Penn School.
Groups of 10 or more will enjoy a more engaging experience with a Guided Walking Tour, available with advance reservations.
Visitors may enjoy Penn Center’s nature trail, shared with the National Park Service, to explore the beautiful landscape and a scenic overlook.
Cottages are available for rental to make the most of Penn Center’s offerings.
Our Visitors Say…
“Wonderful hearing about history! I learned so much taking the tour of the museum.”
Ruth - Dover, Maryland
“Great tour guide with a passion for history—Thank you for giving me info to take to my students!”
Katrina - St. Cloud, FL
“Very informative & supportive for preserving Black History. “This feels like home”
Steven and Melissa - Broken Arrow, OK
“Very educational and welcoming. Loved learning about the Gullah community.”
Sydney - El Segundo, California
“Heartwarming, informative, definitely history that needs to be shared.”
Patti and William - Gainesville, Florida
“Thank you for helping us, I can already see the preserved history…”
Ricky and Mary - Greenville, SC