The rich history of Savannah includes Gullah-
Geechee roots that date back to the 1700s
when enslaved West Africans were brought
to Coastal Georgia.
Gullah refers to descendants of the West African
rice coast who were enslaved and brought to
America. It also refers to the descendants of
Black people who settled in Southeastern coastal
areas after the Emancipation Proclamation was
issued in 1862. Some say Geechee refers to Gullah
people who lived near the Ogeechee River south
of Savannah and whose possible origins trace
back to the Kizzi tribe, from the same regions
as the Gola in present-day Liberia, Sierra Leone
and Guinea.
Gullah-Geechee culture shows more African
influences than any other long-established
American population. Today, Gullah-Geechee
communities like Pin Point, on the outskirts of
Savannah, continue to practice many cultural
traditions of their ancestors.
Located in the old A.S. Varn & Son Oyster and
Crab Factory, the Pin Point Heritage Museum is
your chance to experience Gullah-Geechee culture
firsthand. For nearly 100 years, the community of
Pin Point was quietly isolated on the banks of the
Moon River just south of Savannah. Now, you can
explore the refurbished cannery complex housing
a museum featuring multimedia presentations,
exciting exhibits and unparalleled views of the marsh.
28 VisitSavannah.com
Pin Point Heritage Museum
Savannah
,
s Black
Heritage Experience
A NUMBER OF HISTORIC SITES AND MUSEUMS FOCUS
ON THIS IMPORTANT PART OF THE AREA'S PAST
Born in Pin Point in 1948, Clarence Thomas has been an associate
justice on the U.S. Supreme Court since 1991.
@ N I C O L E G O E T Z
E S S E N T I A L
S A V A N N A H
