The Penn Center, formerly the Penn School, is an African-American cultural and educational center in the Corners Community, on Saint Helena Island. Founded in 1862 by Quaker and Unitarian missionaries from Pennsylvania, it was the first school founded in the Southern United States specifically for the education of African-Americans. It provided critical educational facilities to Gullah slaves freed after plantation owners fled the island, and continues to fulfill an educational mission. Leigh Richmond Miner photographed students and activities at the school.To visit Penn Center and other attractions in Saint Helena Island, use our Saint Helena Island vacation builder.
The campus was designated a National Historic Landmark District in 1974. Darrah Hall and Brick Baptist Church on the campus were declared part of Reconstruction Era National Monument in January 2017. In spring of 2019, it became the Reconstruction Era National Historic Park, along with Fort Sumter.
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Penn Center reviews
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We stayed with a group of 8 at Pine Cottage on the Penn Center grounds and had a tour of the museum with Dr. Marie Gibbs. It is not to be missed. We learned so much about the school at the Penn...
We stayed with a group of 8 at Pine Cottage on the Penn Center grounds and had a tour of the museum with Dr. Marie Gibbs. It is not to be missed. We learned so much about the school at the Penn... more »
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This is a gold mine that we stumbled upon. The young lady at the museum provided such detailed information about the Penn School because she actually attended the school years ago. The ladies in...
This is a gold mine that we stumbled upon. The young lady at the museum provided such detailed information about the Penn School because she actually attended the school years ago. The ladies in... more »
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The History😀
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Important place in America's history as giant societal shifts were made to integrate newly freed enslaved people into mainline life. Significant story to be told and honored
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