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Hilton Head Island Arts & Humanities


Guide to local arts and learning centers, museums, dance theatres and cultural activities on Hilton Head Island, SC



Hilton Head Island celebrates the arts and humanities with open arms and is home to a number of popular cultural attractions, art galleries, museums, learning centers and other enriching activities that welcome locals and visitors alike. Popular destinations include the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, the Coastal Discovery Museum, Hilton Head Comedy Magic Cabaret, and Heritage Library. Three movie theatres are located on the island, including Coligny Theatre, Northridge Cinema 10, and Park Plaza Cinema.

"Gullah," a blend of slave, native, cadence, and Elizabethian English was spoken in the Lowcountry. This rich culture, developed over the years of slavery, survives to this day. As interest in the history of African-Americans on Hilton Head grows more evidence of their lifestyle is being preserved. The Gullah culture continues as community leaders encourage its preservation.
View map of Hilton Head Arts & Cultural Centers »

Hilton Head Arts & Cultural Attractions

Arts Center of Coastal Carolina

14 Shelter Cove Ln
Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
843.686.3945

Multipart venue hosting drama, comedy, musical and experimental theater, plus a visual-arts gallery.

Art League of Hilton Head Gallery

14 Shelter Cove Ln
Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
843.681.5060

Hilton Head Dance Theatre

24 Palmetto Business Park Rd
Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
843.785.5477

Hilton Head Comedy Magic Cabaret

843 William Hilton Pkwy
Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
843.681.7757

Comedy shows featured in an intimate theater space with a lounge for wine, craft beer and snacks. Live performances · Fast service · Hip.

Heritage Library

852 William Hilton Pkwy
Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
843.686.6560

The Sandbox

18 Pope Ave
Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
843.842.7645

Indoor educational activities and play areas for kids 8 and under include a climbing wall and spaceship.

Coastal Discovery Museum

70 Honey Horn Dr
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926
843.689.6767

Learning center with programs and walks on 68 coastal acres with ancient buildings, trees and wildlife.
Hilton Head Movie Theatres & Cinemas

Coligny Theatre

1 N Forest Beach Dr
Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
Located in Coligny Plaza Shopping Center
843.686.3500

Hilton Head Island's first movie theatre and the only one specializing in "Art House" films by independent producers aimed at an upscale adult audience. In 2001, the owners of Coligny Plaza decided that the plaza needed a movie theater, and that if no one else wanted to operate one, they would. The theater was renovated, renamed Coligny Theatre, and opened for business on March 1, 2002 as an "art house," mostly showing films by independent producers, and aimed at an upscale adult audience. The artwork both inside and outside the theater was done by local artist Ralph Sutton.

Northridge Cinema 10

435 William Hilton Pkwy
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926
Located in Northridge Plaza
843.342.3801

Park Plaza Cinema

33 Office Park Rd #201
Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
843.785.5001

Independently run movie theater with a cafe and lounge serving American and Mexican bites. We offer select local beers from our wide selection, an awesome list of fine wines for all tastes. In our Cine-Cafe enjoy Gourmet coffee, locally made ice-cream, Dip'n Dots, fresh items from our fun menu, some vegan options, vegetarian and locally made treats. We are also dog friendly!
Gullah Culture

What's in a Name?

Hilton Head Island is named for the English sea captain William Hilton who was hired by a syndicate of Barbadian planters and claimed the island for England. Hilton "discovered" the island in 1663 but European colonization did not occur until around 1800. Before the Civil War, the plantations on Hilton Head Island prospered growing rice, indigo, and cotton.

Earliest Inhabitants

Native Indians resided on Hilton Head Island as early as 4000 BC. Evidence of early settlement remains today in the form of a 3400 year old "Indian Shell ring" in Sea Pines Forest Preserve.

Gullah Culture

"Gullah," a blend of slave, native, cadence, and Elizabethian English was spoken in the Lowcountry. This rich culture, developed over the years of slavery, survives to this day. Old spirituals and songs were made up and used by slaves as codes for meeting times and places and as messages for freedom. The songs and stories also spoke of storms and other events in the lives of the slaves. As interest in the history of African-Americans on Hilton Head grows more evidence of their lifestyle is being preserved. The Gullah culture continues as community leaders encourage its preservation.

Gullah Museum of Hilton Head Island

Gullah "Little House"
3 Farmer's Club Road
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926
843.681.3254

The Gullah Museum of Hilton Head Island is a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization that was established in 2003 to preserve Gullah history, culture, customs, traditions, language, stories, songs and structures on Hilton Head Island.

Gullah Heritage Trail Tours

70 Honey Horn Dr
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926
843.681.7066

Gullah Heritage Trail Tours was founded in 1996 by a Hilton Head Island Gullah Family Partnership. This outstanding family has been involved in preserving Gullah cultural heritage, blending Gullah cultural values, in the SC-GA Low Country, for more than 40 years. Based on Hilton Head Island, Gullah Heritage Trail Tours caters to Low Country visitors interested in learning about the history of Gullah Culture.




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Hilton Head Island Golf Courses and Online Tee Times

Book Your Hilton Head Golf Tee Times Online

You can now save money and easily book your tee times at local Hilton Head Island golf courses right here on ExploreHiltonHead.com. Featuring golf courses on Hilton Head Island, Bluffton, and Coastal SC golf courses and country clubs.
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Hilton Head Island Fishing Charters

Hilton Head Fishing Charters

The coast of South Carolina offers a vast ecosystem of salt marshes, tidal creeks, winding rivers, sounds and the Atlantic Ocean is unspoiled, healthy, and brimming with fish of all types. For deep sea fishing charters and offshore angling, there are a number of fishing charters and skilled captains who can help you navigate Hilton Head's vast ecosystem of salt marshes, tidal creeks, winding rivers, Calibogue Sound, Harbor River and the expansive Atlantic ocean.
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Hilton Head Island Beaches

Hilton Head Beaches

Hilton Head Island boasts 12 miles of expansive, hard-packed beaches which range up to 600 feet at low tide. The tide levels vary as much as 6-8 feet every 6 hours. All Hilton Head beaches are public, but some access points are private and vary by location.

Our beach guide includes Hilton Head beach information, access points and parking, beach photography, real-time tidal chart, beach rules and regulations, personal watercraft rules, fishing licenses and regulations, and local emergency contact information.
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Hilton Head Island Marians

Hilton Head Marinas

Hilton Head is surrounded by water, so its only natural that there are an extensive array of marinas, harbours, boat ramps, landings and marine service centers located all over the island. Popular facilities include Shelter Cove Marina, Skull Creek Marina, Harbour Town Yacht Basin, South Carolina Yacht Club, Hilton Head Harbor RV Resort and Marina, Yacht Club of Hilton Head, Wexford Harbourmaster and more.

The Calibogue Sound and Harbor River feed into the Atlantic Ocean and provide easy access for yachts and marine vessels of all sizes.
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Map of Hilton Head Island Arts & Cultural Centers