ROOTED HERE
Behind the downtown streets.
A whole city’s story.
Hilton Head Island is in Beaufort County, South Carolina. The Coligny area combines shopping, dining and public beach access. The lighthouse and marina are within Sea Pines; check access requirements and fees before traveling.
People made the city.
These milestones are an introduction, not a complete local history. Follow the linked city and museum sources to explore the people and places behind them.Read the local historical account.
Watch the city’s history
FROM THE ARCHIVES
Mike Taylor's History of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
A local history film shared by History of Hilton Head.
Watch on YouTube ↗- 1663
Hilton reaches the island
Captain William Hilton reached the island on September 28, and its headland took his name.
Heritage Library ↗ - 1862
Mitchelville is founded
Mitchelville was founded as a self-governed community of formerly enslaved people.
Heritage Library ↗ - 1956
A bridge connection
The James F. Byrnes Bridge opened.
Heritage Library ↗ - 1969
The Heritage Classic begins
Arnold Palmer won the first Heritage Classic golf tournament in November.
Heritage Library ↗ - 1983
Town incorporation
The Town of Hilton Head Island incorporated in August.
Heritage Library ↗
See the history for yourself.
Walk downtown to see surviving commercial architecture, then explore the Historical Preservation Society’s museum and visiting information. Check current opening dates before setting out. Historical Preservation Society.
For deeper research, the Hilton Head Island library resources is a starting point for archival material and research help. Historic photographs have their own permissions; we link to the collection instead of treating every old image as free to reuse.
Selected milestones researched September 13, 2026. This is an introduction, not a complete account of the city’s history.