Baygall Historic Gullah Neighborhood

Located near the Port Royal Sound, the Baygall historic Gullah neighborhood encompasses areas in the vicinity of Beach City, Baygall and Mitchelville Roads.

• Baygall is perhaps most famously known as the site of Mitchelville, the first self-governing town of formerly enslaved people in the United States.
• It is home to three Historic Gullah churches:
  • The Historic First African Baptist Church, which originally was established on the Mitchelville Settlement and was the first house of worship for freedmen.
  • Queen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church that was originally located at the old oak tree still present on the site.
  • Saint James Baptist Church.
• Drayton Cemetery, plantation tabby ruins and Fort Howell, which served to protect the Mitchelville Settlement, are located in this community.
• This community was once known for drum fishing and big game hunting.
• It was home to the former Hilton Head Blue Jays baseball team. Hilton Head Island native Dan Driessen, a former professional ball player with the Cincinnati Reds, got his start.