Heritage Library Foundation

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Heritage Library Foundation Non-profit library offering research assistance, classes & tours about Hilton Head Island’s history.

10/06/2026

Emory Campbell of Hilton Head Island has spent his life rising to the occasion. An advocate, educator, scientist and reluctant historian, when his community called, he's always answered. (Full story below.)

Uncover your family’s roots at The Heritage Library, so the next bedtime story you tell your kids is one they actually b...
09/30/2026

Uncover your family’s roots at The Heritage Library, so the next bedtime story you tell your kids is one they actually belong to.

Every child loves a great story. What if the next one you shared was theirs?

Your ancestors lived through history, and their stories are worth bringing back to life.

Before your next family story time, stop by The Heritage Library. With expert researchers and rich archives, we’ll help you trace your lineage, uncover long-lost details, and grow your family tree.

Turn names and dates into real people and real moments. Find your past, so you can pass it forward.

Plan your visit to The Heritage Library today and discover the stories your family has been waiting for.

The Hilton Head Plantation Women’s Club Road Shows Adventures Group teamed up with The Heritage Library and Vagaobond Cr...
09/22/2026

The Hilton Head Plantation Women’s Club Road Shows Adventures Group teamed up with The Heritage Library and Vagaobond Cruise for a special anniversary cruise—honoring their 40th year alongside the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. Dan Franke served as the Library’s onboard patriot, and Captain Ian Derry kept us cruising in style.

You know it’s an unforgettable day when you get more than a history lesson—you also get a pod of dolphins on a feeding adventure and an American Bald Eagle soaring overhead.

Stay tuned here as we keep partnering with Keith, Shelby, and the wonderful Vagabond Cruise team to curate more voyages that share Hilton Head’s story from the water.

Today, we pause to remember.On the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001, we honor the nearly 3,000 lives lost, the fam...
09/11/2026

Today, we pause to remember.

On the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001, we honor the nearly 3,000 lives lost, the families forever changed, and the first responders and everyday heroes who demonstrated extraordinary courage in the face of unimaginable tragedy.

Twenty-five years later, the memories of that day remain an important part of our shared American history. As an organization dedicated to preserving and sharing the stories of the past, The Heritage Library joins our community and our nation in remembering those we lost and honoring the resilience and unity that followed.

We remember. We honor. We will never forget.

This Labor Day, we celebrate the people behind Hilton Head Island’s history.Our Island’s story lives not only in its his...
09/07/2026

This Labor Day, we celebrate the people behind Hilton Head Island’s history.

Our Island’s story lives not only in its historic places, but also in the families whose roots here span generations. Through Heritage Library’s Our Storied Island video series, descendants of many of the families who helped shape Hilton Head share their stories in their own words, connecting our Island’s past with its present.

Their stories are part of our Island’s history, our state’s history and our nation’s history. We are grateful to help preserve and share them.

Discover Our Storied Island and the people who helped make its history. Visit our website to watch the series:
https://heritagelib.org/history-culture/video-stories/

Born on this day in 1885, Edwin DuBose Heyward (August 31, 1885 – June 16, 1940) was an American writer best remembered ...
08/31/2026

Born on this day in 1885, Edwin DuBose Heyward (August 31, 1885 – June 16, 1940) was an American writer best remembered for his 1925 novel *Porgy*. He and his wife, playwright Dorothy Heyward, reworked it into a stage play in 1927 under the same title. The two later teamed up with composer George Gershwin to transform the story again, this time into the 1935 opera *Porgy and Bess*. The work eventually made its way to the screen as the 1959 film *Porgy and Bess*.

Beyond *Porgy*, Heyward wrote poetry along with other novels and plays, and he also penned the beloved children’s book *The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes* (1939).



**Image courtesy of Wikipedia.

Whether you’re visiting Hilton Head for a fall weekend, back for your annual getaway, or you’ve called this island home ...
08/24/2026

Whether you’re visiting Hilton Head for a fall weekend, back for your annual getaway, or you’ve called this island home for years, this is your invitation to step into the past and feel it up close!

Join us for two living history experiences unlike anything else on Hilton Head. Who’s buried in Hilton Head’s oldest cemetery? What really happened at Fort Mitchel? Come and experience the real places and learn more about what shaped the island you know and love.

Spots are limited so each tour stays personal, immersive, and unforgettable. Join us Tuesdays and Thursdays this fall, with dates from September through November, for just $10 a ticket!

Grab your ticket now and come experience the Lowcountry’s hidden history this fall!

Did you know that in Columbia, SC, in 1946, black voters like George Elmore, originally from Holly Hill, tried to cast t...
08/16/2026

Did you know that in Columbia, SC, in 1946, black voters like George Elmore, originally from Holly Hill, tried to cast their ballots in the August primary, but were denied by Democratic Party officials? In response, Harold Boulware, leader of the state NAACP legal committee, filed a class action lawsuit known as Elmore v. Rice. Federal Judge J. Waites Waring ruled in Elmore’s favor, stating it was "time for South Carolina to rejoin the Union."

Image courtesy of www.justiceforallsc.org

The “Ring Fight” | August 1776In August 1776, a small scouting party led by Captain Andrew Pickens was ambushed near the...
08/14/2026

The “Ring Fight” | August 1776

In August 1776, a small scouting party led by Captain Andrew Pickens was ambushed near the Cherokee Lower Town of Tamassee in present-day Oconee County, South Carolina.

Outnumbered, Pickens arranged his men in two concentric circles, with one group firing while the other reloaded. The clever strategy created continuous fire and helped his men hold their ground until reinforcements arrived.

The encounter became known as the “Ring Fight” and remains a memorable example of courage, quick thinking, and battlefield strategy during the Revolutionary War.

Address

2 Corpus Christi Place
Hilton Head Island, SC
29928

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 3pm
Tuesday 10am - 3pm
Wednesday 10am - 3pm
Thursday 10am - 3pm
Friday 10am - 3pm

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