Formally known as a Motown hotspot, Charlie’s Place brought many performers and musicians before integration. It provided a place for African-American artists of the day to perform, including Dizzy Gillespie, Little Richard, Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, and many others. Remodeled in 2018 as a community center and business incubator, this area is to be preserved to remember its past.
Make sure to check out the locally-owned shops and nearby Myrtle Beach Colored School Museum.
One of the most popular beach vacation destinations for black Americans before desegregation, alongside Springmaid Beach near Georgetown. The Atlantic Beach Bike Fest draws thousands of sports bike enthusiasts.
Built in 1932 by Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington of Brookgreen Gardens, this school started as a primary school, serving grades 1-8. The Huntingtons also built the Brookgreen School and Brown Chapel (part of the Brookgreen Charge) on the northern side of Brookgreen Gardens at the same time. It was the first nine-month school on the island, but it also educated the island’s adults in handicraft.
In the 1950s, as voting laws required Black Americans to pass tests in order to vote, the school served as a Citizenship School, one of the few outside of Charleston that has been identified. The building currently functions as a community center, and it is the recipient of a 2017 African American Civil Rights Grant from the National Park Service.
Created by the coming together of several rivers, the sandbar of Sandy Island was created. Sandy Island has had its significance in not only history, but natural beauty as well. Today tourists can visit Sandy Island and if you have the chance to, be sure to go to the Nature Conservancy or Pyatt’s General Store.
Formed by three rivers in total and flowing into the Atlantic Ocean, this body of river called the “Sampit” is a magnificent sight. This area is so vital to those around because of its historical significance. This river provided resources for the nearby rice planters and their families. Today, visitors alike can enjoy the views and take in the historical importance of the Sampit.
This area is the historical remnants of five archaeology sites. These sites range from slave houses, overseer’s homes and even rice plantations and mills. Visitors are taken aback by the sheer preservation of the area and others hope to uncover more in the coming years.
