Hilton Head is an island with a past – a long history dating back hundreds, even thousands of years. Each island visitor has left their footprint for future generations to see. In the beginning, the island was home to the
Woodlands Indians, who lived here seasonally in the Fall & Winter. Today we are still able to see the two shell rings, believed by many to be a common meeting area for the Native Americans, that were built by them in the Sea Pines Forest Preserve and off Spanish Wells. It was in 1663, when an English captain named William
Hilton spotted the headlands of the island in the unchart- ed waters he was sailing. He named the island for himself and those headlands –“Hilton Head.” Captain Hilton was greeted by Spanish Indians, but was not the first European to step foot on the island. In early written history, the Spaniards explored these coastal waters as far south as Key West. They named the land they found “La Florida,” but were driven out when Sir Francis Drake was sent by England’s Elizabeth I in 1586. Over the next two hundred years the island grew, at one time boasting 24 plantations whose crops of indigo, sugar cane, rice and cotton supported the lavish lifestyles of the plantation owners who preferred living on the mainland, away from the heat and humidity of the island. When the Civil War began in 1861, local families were forced to evacuate the island from the Federal Troops, leaving few residents behind. For years the island was occupied primarily by the decedents of former slaves who lived as farmers, hunters and fisherman. This culture known as Gullah, can still be found on the island. Many of the Gullah descendants practice the art of basket weaving, and entertain guests with traditional Gullah music and food. The island was ‘rediscovered’ in the 1940’s by timber men who saw great potential in the tall pine trees. These timber men used the tall ‘sea pines’ of the island for a variety of uses. Hilton Head remained a quiet, undiscovered jewel until
the year 1956, when Charles Fraser saw the potential of the island as the planned resort community we know today. Before this time, the island was only accessible by ferry, and it was 1956 when a bridge was first built, allow- ing many more people to come and enjoy the beach, lush green golf courses, tennis courts, shimmering lakes and beautifully designed houses and villas. Charles Fraser dreamed of a resort community that
preserved the natural beauty of the island. Thanks to the environmentally planned resort and residential communi- ties, much of Hilton Head remains as Captain William Hilton saw it in 1663.
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