A favorite destination for generations of families, Hilton Head also has a storied past to share. The abundance of her natural resources was first discovered ten thousand years ago by nomadic Indians. Some of their initial contact with Europeans included the British sea captain William Hilton. He dubbed the land Hilton’s Head due to the bluffs which seemed to rise from the ocean’s surface. Hilton Head Island took on other names throughout the years but the first proved to be an enduring title and remained. The first crop of Sea Island Cotton was grown on the island at the end of the eighteenth century and several cotton plantations thrived on Hilton Head Island before the outbreak of war. Hundreds of ex-slaves flooded to Hilton Head Island where they could buy land and attend school at the end of the Civil War. Their Gullah culture developed out of this congregation and is still a unique part of the island to this day.
Hilton Head Island’s legacy as a resort destination began in the mid twentieth century with the development of Sea Pines by a group of investors, most notably Charles Fraser. A concerned environmentalist, Fraser initiated the concept of island development alongside conservation of the natural surroundings, an idea which is still in practice today. Hilton Head Island is well known for its fabulous beaches, first class resorts, and recreational pursuits. It will forever be an island which reveres the past, enjoys the peaceful relaxation of the present, and welcomes a bright, successful future.