Our Story
In 1862, General Ormsby Mitchel, an abolitionist, envisioned a village for freedmen on Hilton Head Island. This vision led to the establishment of Mitchelville, a pioneering community that provided housing, work opportunities, education, and self-governance for formerly enslaved individuals. Residents, many of whom were of Gullah descent, created a vibrant culture and a democratic society, marking Mitchelville as an "experiment in citizenship" and a model for reconstruction.