I remember my astonishment when I first learned that the famous song “Kumbaya” – a spiritual song known to every child who has ever attended summer camp – was actually a Gullah Geechee song. What the layman hears as three calming syllables actually means “come this way” to the Gullah Geechee community.
This is how Gullah culture functioned for hundreds of years in the USA. His influence on South and a greater American culture has always been there, even if its roots have not been fully known or recognized. Order a plate full of shrimp and grits or a hoppin' John for a taste of Gullah culinary methods. Watch high school and college groups perform step routines and you'll see similarities to hamboninga traditional Gullah rhythm and movement technique.
So, who are the Gullah Geechee? Like many, they are African-Americans descended from people enslaved in the United States. What sets them apart is where their ancestors were enslaved: on and near the barrier islands that stretch from Wilmington, North Carolina along the coast to Jacksonville, Florida. These communities were more isolated than those of Black Americans elsewhere in the country, which allowed the Gullah Geechee to further preserve their African heritage. Their Creole language, called Gullah (or sometimes Geechee, a Gullah dialect), uses a mixture of English words and several African languages. As we see with “Kumbaya,” most Americans know at least one or two Gullah words.
Today, most Gullah and Geechee people (the latter generally refers to communities closer to the Ogeechee River near Savannah) live in communities along the coasts of South Carolina And Georgiaalthough their descendants can be found all over the country. Following the string of barrier islands along the coast will bring the Gullah Geechee to the forefront.
From north to south, here are some of the best places to go to immerse yourself in their culture.
Lowcountry, South Carolina and Georgia is one of the best regions to visit next year. Check out our full list of Best of Travel 2025 winners.
1. Reaves Chapel, Navassa, North Carolina
Reaves Chapel AME Church is one of the oldest structures built for African Americans in North Carolina. Efforts are underway to help preserve the building and make it a stop on a more in-depth Gullah Geechee tour of coastal North Carolina. Visitors cannot go inside, but can tour the historically Gullah Geechee community of Reaves.
2. Poplar Grove Plantation, Wilmington, North Carolina
This old sweet potato and peanut plantation is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a National Park Service site stop. Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor. Exhibits on site bring to life the experiences of Black Americans from the Civil War to the Civil Rights Movement, as well as the cultural significance of peanut farming to Gullah culture.
3. Gullah Museum, Georgetown, South Carolina
Founded by members of the Gullah community, this engaging project one room museum tells a comprehensive story of Gullah history and culture. Learn about Gullah foodways, music, language, and religious practices through a number of artifacts on display at this museum in historic downtown Georgetown.
5. International African American Museum, Charleston, South Carolina
Open since 2023THE International African American Museum tells a global history of people of African descent in the United States – one chapter of which covers the Gullah Geechee. Learn about the flat-bottomed boats the Gullah Geechee use to navigate the swamps of the Lowcountry, as well as spiritual practices such as ringing cry.
6. Gullah Tours, Charleston, South Carolina
Tour guide Alphonso Brown grew up in Rantowles, South Carolina, in and around Gullah culture. His tour takes visitors around multiple sites Charleston of significance to Gullah culture and black history.
7. Hannibal's Kitchen, Charleston, South Carolina
This casual restaurant in Charleston has been serving soul food and Gullah cuisine since 1985. There is usually a wait after customers order, but this ensures the food comes out hot and fresh. The crab rice is a must. Another Gullah specialty on the menu is okra soup.
7. Charleston City Market, Charleston, South Carolina
One of the oldest commercial spaces in the country, Charleston City Market has been in business for over 200 years. Inside the market, you will find several Gullah artisans selling their sweetgrass baskets. Their weaving is a tradition specific to the coastal Gullah people.
8. Joseph Fields Farm, Johns Island, South Carolina
About 25 minutes from Charleston, this family farm is owned and operated by Joseph Fields, a third-generation Gullah farmer. Visit the farm stand on the property to pick fresh fruits and vegetables, or visit during strawberry season to pick your own fruit.
9. McLeod Plantation, James Island, South Carolina
This former plantation is today a historical park operated by local government, dedicated to sharing the perspectives and experiences of the Gullah Geechee people. Admission to the park includes access to guided interpretive tours, which include information about Gullah Geechee culture and the labor involved in growing and processing cotton.
Planning Tip: Turn these Charleston area sites into a larger three-day itinerary, which only requires one reservation in advance. Here's how to do it:
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Day 1: Start in Charleston with the Gullah Tours guided tour. In addition to sharing his extensive knowledge of Gullah history and culture, Alphonso Brown will help you get the lay of the land. After the tour, visit the basket makers at the Charleston City Market.
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Day 2: Start your morning with a tour of the McLeod Plantation, then return to Charleston and have lunch at Hannibal's Kitchen. Spend the afternoon in the air-conditioned galleries of the International African American Museum.
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Day 3: Whether you're going on a road trip or stopping en route to one of the beaches nearbyget fresh produce at Joseph Fields Farm.
10. The Gullah Grub, St. Helena Island, South Carolina
Chef and owner Bill Green has been serving seasonal farm-to-table dishes for over 15 years at his restaurant. Gullah cuisine is at the forefront, with an emphasis on rice dishes and seafood gumbo.
11. Savannah Underground Tours, Savannah, Georgia
Get the full story of Black American history and culture straight from a community truth teller: Sistah Pat, a local Gullah Geechee woman and CEO of Savannah Underground Tours. She guides people through the streets of downtown Savannah, sharing the stories of the enslaved people in this antebellum city.
12. Beach Institute, Savannah, Georgia
THE Beach Institute offers African American perspectives expressed through art. Exhibits here feature quilt making, an important African American tradition, as well as collections of folk art, sculptures and paintings. It is owned by the King-Tisdell Cottage Foundation, whose mission is to preserve the black American history of Savannah and the Sea Islands.
13. Pin Point Heritage Museum, Montgomery, Georgia
In a former oyster factory, this museum honors the Gullah Geechee community of the small settlement of Pin Point in Chatham County (whose most famous son is Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas). The museum shows how the community lived and made their living from the coastal waters around them.
Planning Tip: You can check off all three Savannah locations in one or two days. Follow your visit with Sistah Pat with a visit to the Beach Institute. Since Pin Point is only a 20-minute drive away, consider this visit on the second day to set a more leisurely pace.
15. First African Baptist Church, Cumberland Island, Georgia
Former slaves built this church – now listed on the National Register of Historic Places – in the late 19th century. Cumberland Island's conditions have helped preserve this humble structure: the area is a federally protected national seashore where personal vehicles are prohibited. The church is open to the public, but can only be accessed by a 15-mile hike or bike ride, or by reserving the Visit to lands and heritage.
16. Historic Harrington School, St Simons Island, Georgia
Built in 1920, this one-room school educated African-American children on St. Simons Island for decades. The school also served as a gathering place for the community during special events. The Harrington community traces its origins to former slaves who worked on neighboring plantations.
17. Kingsley Plantation, North Jacksonville, Florida
What was once a cotton plantation on a sea island is now part of the Timucan Ecological and Historical Park and Reservemanaged by the National Park Service. Visit an ancient community made up of several tiger huts where slaves once lived. And discover Gullah Jack Pritchard, an African-American folk hero, insurrectionist and conjurer.
18. Foxy Lady Café, Jacksonville, Florida
Launch by chef and owner Shandon Benjamin-Fox his restaurant in 2015 to share the recipes her mother and grandmother passed down to her. But this isn't your typical soul food restaurant: Non-traditional Southern comfort food is what Benjamin-Fox offers in menu choices like the “foxy oxtail sandwich,” jambalaya alfredo and pound cake for dessert.
This article was first published on July 12, 2020 and updated on August 5, 2024.
