Stories Surround Us: A Community Archaeological Experience

Dig Into History at Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park's Community Archaeology Experience

Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park Invites Everyone to Become Archaeologists on May 31, 2025

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (May 8, 2025) Be part of history in the making! Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park (HMFP) invites you to "Stories Surround Us: A Community Archaeological Experience" on Friday, May 31, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 40 Harriet Tubman Way, Hilton Head Island. This free, hands-on event lets you work alongside real archaeologists as they uncover the past and prepare the site for HMFP's future Visitor Center. Thanks to the Walton Family Foundation grant, this special day marks the first of two community events in the "Stories Surround Us"
project. The grant also funds "Dig Mitchelville," a new digital archive that will share archaeological findings with the community. "We want to thank the Walton Family Foundation for their generous support that helps bring Mitchelville's history to life for everyone," said Ahmad Ward, executive director of Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park. "We are also so thankful to our community for their excitement about this project."

What You Can Do at the Event:

• Dig a real archaeological test pit with expert guidance (online registration required)


• Search for historic artifacts in soil from the first free Black town in the American South


• Learn how archaeologists decide where to excavate


• Be a part of the preparation for the future Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park Visitor's Center


• Bring kids for fun Kid's Dig activities designed just for them

No registration is needed to attend this free event. Simply show up and join the activities. To dig a shovel test pit, please sign up for a time slot online in advance (required).

Visit facebook.com/digmitchelville for more information.

Findings from this community dig will be shared at a town hall event on October 22, 2025. Your discoveries on May 31 will help archaeologists understand what lies beneath Mitchelville's historic grounds as the park plans for a new Visitor Center.