The Fascinating History of Hilton Head Island's Mitchelville Freedom Park: 'Let's Go Together' Season 2, Episode 24

"This historic park on Hilton Head preserves the site of the first self-governed town of formerly enslaved people in the United States. Established in 1862, it began when General Ormsby Mitchel granted roughly 600–700 acres from the old Drayton Plantation to formerly enslaved families so they could own land, build homes, start schools, businesses and churches, and govern their own community. The site highlights decades of Black landownership and community life spanning Reconstruction into the 1930s and '40s, and is celebrated as a linchpin in the story of American freedom — often summarized by the tagline, "Where freedom began." Interpreted today, the park emphasizes the resilience, knowledge, and self-determination those residents retained even after wartime disruption, making it an important educational and heritage destination." - Stacey Leasca Stacey Leasca Stacey Leasca is an award-winning journalist and co-founder of Be a Travel Writer, an online course for the next generation of travel journalists. Her photos, videos, and words have appeared in print or online for Travel + Leisure, Time, Los Angeles Times, Glamour, and many more. You'll usually find her in an airport. If you do see her there, please say hello. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines