Penn School Historic District, Historic education district in Beaufort County, United States.
Penn School Historic District is a historic educational campus on St. Helena Island, in Beaufort County, South Carolina. The grounds contain original school buildings from the 19th and early 20th centuries, including classrooms, staff housing, and workshops, along with a museum dedicated to the site's history.
The school was founded in 1862, during the Civil War, as one of the first institutions to educate formerly enslaved people in the South. After closing as a school in 1948, the campus became Penn Community Services, continuing to serve the local community.
The York W. Bailey Museum displays objects that document the history of African American education and Gullah heritage. Visitors can see how the community has preserved its traditions here.
The site is on St. Helena Island, southeast of Beaufort, and is easiest to reach by car. Starting with the on-site museum gives a good overview before walking through the historic buildings.
In the 1960s, Civil Rights leaders used the campus to hold private strategy meetings, including early planning sessions for the March on Washington. The remote location of the island made it a discreet place to gather away from public attention.
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