THIS EVERYDAY LIFE

The Penn Center is located on Martin Luther King Drive, St. Helena, SC. St. Helena is located in coastal Beaufort County and as such the Museum is located on property that has all the fauna and wildlife that is characteristic of the Low Country. I was not allowed to photograph the interior of the Museum for practical reasons. The curator has indicated that it has brought about problems in the past. Such as groups using the photos and video recordings for unfavorable reasons. It was pointed out that they were even used in hate paraphernalia sponsored by both Black and White extremist. But take my word the museum is full of exhibits that depict the stages the school experienced. The Penn school was modeled on vocational rather than professional achievement, much as Booker T. Washington outlined in his speech at the Atlanta Exposition. His speech was scorned in some corners and praised in others. Tuskegee University in Alabama and Hampton University in Virginia both had that beginnings based on his outline. Both of which changed their course through the years and are now considered among the elite of HBCUs. Penn Center is a must visit for any tourist exploring the Low Country and its history.