This year the Grants Committee is facilitating on-site visits to see our grants in progress. So far visits have been to the Mitchelville archaeological dig site and the Coastal Discovery Museum's sweetgrass project. Read below about how much our members really enjoyed these visits. Watch for the next opportunities!

A Visit to Historic Mitchelville 

On July 16, a WIP member group gathered at the Mitchelville Preservation Project to see and understand the archaeological dig taking place. Ahmed Ward, Executive Director of the Mitchelville Project was on hand and together with his trained and uniformed high school students, described the history and geography surrounding the establishment of Mitchelville. Katherine Seeber, archaeology graduate student from Binghamton, NY, spent over an hour explaining the objectives and findings of her team.

 

This summer's dig unearthed pottery shards, Civil War hat button, and shell casings, all representative of the time. More  than 1,000 samples will be taken back for analysis and microscopic examination in search of additional clues to building locations and evidence of the ways of everyday life during that time.

 

WIP granted $13,000 toward the expenses of the dig as well as a metal sign of historical quality. Mitchelville is a source of pride for Hilton Head Island and a 

nationally significant historical site.  

 

WIP members are encouraged to visit Mitchelville during their regular hours to appreciate and feel pride in the accomplishments we have funded.  

Kathi Bateson has been named to the South Carolina Arts Foundation Board of  Directors , where she will be involved in statewide cultural arts efforts.  Congratulations, Kathi.