First African Baptist Church at Raccoon Bluff

The First African Baptist Church at Raccoon Bluff is a wooden structure featuring pointed arches and steep rooflines typical of Gothic Revival architecture. The building preserves the crafted details of this style as it was executed in the early 1900s.

The building was constructed between 1899 and 1900 using lumber from a hurricane, marking the last remaining structure of the former Raccoon Bluff settlement on Sapelo Island. The church stands as evidence of both community resilience and a crucial era in the island's past.

This church embodies the continuity of the Gullah-Geechee community, whose ancestors were brought from West Africa to work on Sapelo Island plantations. Visitors can sense the deep connection this community maintains with the place through how it is used and cared for today.

The site is remote and requires ferry access to Sapelo Island plus use of a private vehicle or guided tour to reach it. The most comfortable time to visit is outside the hottest and most humid months, when the climate is more manageable.

In 2000, students from Savannah College of Art and Design partnered with local residents to restore this historical church. Their work helped preserve a piece of island history for future generations.

Location: Hog Hammock, Georgia

Architectural style: Gothic Revival

GPS coordinates: 31.46667,-81.23250

Latest update: December 14, 2025 16:47