Sapelo History
Sapelo is a barrier island about seven miles off the Georgia coast between Savannah and Brunswick. Our island is accessible only by state-run ferry or private boat.
Hog Hammock, also known by its original name, Hogg Hummock, is the last intact, island-based Geechee-Gullah community in Georgia, and one of the last in the United States. The Geechee people are the descendants of slaves who lived and worked on the remote islands from the southern coast of North Carolina to the northeastern coast of Florida.
The culture is unique because the people have retained many of their traditions from Africa, including foods, crafts, music and language.
Sapelo Island is also a wildlife refuge and a popular destination for hunters, anglers and nature-lovers. History buffs will find a place here, too, as Sapelo has a rich heritage that includes Native Americans, Europeans and Africans. Sapelo has been a playground for the wealthy and the home of slaves. As the saying goes, Sapelo’s history is YOUR history.
The following links will guide you to sites with historical information about Sapelo Island:
The Sapelo Island Cultural and Revitalization Society Inc.
Cornelia Walker Bailey’s Essay: “I Am Sapelo”
Gullah-Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor
The Arrival of Sapelo Island’s New Ferry: Katie Underwood
The Rededication of First African Baptist Church at Raccoon Bluff
