Photo by Ed Funk
Hilton Head Island’s history runs much deeper than it appears on the surface. From the shell rings of the Yemasse Indians to the construction of the Island’s first bridge, from the tabby ruins of colonial plantations to Gullah juke joints, from the first freed slave community to the tin-roofed shacks of oystermen, our history is a microcosm of the history of the south.
LowCountry Sightseeing (843-681-4455) offers the essential Hilton Head Discovery Tour weekdays at 9:30 a.m. to Noon, and again at 1:30 to 4:00 p.m. Travel in air-conditioned comfort in new upscale vans. Narrated by professionally trained and engaging guides, this 2-1/2 hour history and culture tour will take you to many island landmarks, including free-time in Harbour Town for browsing. They also offer guided tours of Beaufort, Charleston and Savannah. All tours are available year around.
For a totally unique guided history tour, contact Calibogue Cruises (843-342-8687) to take a funky bus ride around Daufuskie Island. You will take a historic tour given by a member of the Daufuskie Island Historic Foundation visiting many, many island landmarks, including a 120-year-old Gullah church, the Bloody Point Lighthouse, the Old Winery, Pat Conroy’s schoolhouse, the undertaker’s house, and the Mary Dunn Cemetery which dates back hundreds of years. The tour includes a stop for lunch at the Old Daufuskie Crab Company and shopping at the Island’s General Store.
If you are planning a trip to Savannah, numerous historic tours of the city’s famed Historic District are available. For more information, contact Oglethorpe Trolley Tours (912-233-8380), Old Savannah Tours (800-517-9007), Savannah Heritage Tours (912-224-8365), or Savannah Movie Tours (912-234-3440).
Also see “Things To Do”:
43. Visit the Coastal Discovery Museum
67. Discover the Two Faces of Daufuskie
85. Take a History Tour of Old Savannah
95. Explore Beautiful Beaufort
100. Turn Back Time in Historic Charleston
Companies that offer guided history tours include:
Charleston Harbor Tours (Website)
LowCountry Sightseeing (Website)
Oglethorpe Trolley Tours (Website)
River Street Riverboat Company (Website)
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