The museum and its collection of buildings located on Gumtree Road restore, preserve and interpret the Gullah culture that existed on the island before the bridge was built to the mainland in 1956. Much of the museum is still under restoration and development. The Gullah culture is unique to the Lowcountry South, considered a blend of African and English cultures that developed during America’s period of slavery.

The mission of the Gullah Museum of Hilton Head Island is to revive, restore and preserve the Hilton Head Island Gullah history.