Penn Center: The School That Changed Gullah Geechee History

Penn Center on St. Helena Island was one of the first schools in the United States established to educate formerly enslaved African Americans. Founded in 1862, it became a cornerstone of Gullah Geechee education and community life.

During the Civil Rights Movement, Penn Center was one of the only places in the South where interracial groups could meet safely. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference held retreats there.

Today, Penn Center is a National Historic Landmark and a living testament to Gullah Geechee resilience. Our Travel Magazine covers St. Helena Island in depth. Our books trace the full history.

Read about St. Helena Island →