A museum staff member demonstrates the art of net making to guests — Photo courtesy of Pin Point Heritage Museum
Pin Point, a century-old African-American community on the banks of Savannah’s Moon River, gained national fame when its native son Justice Clarence Thomas was nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1991. For years, those interested in learning more about the neighborhood, which was founded by first generation freedmen in the 1890s, had to rely on their own research. Today, visitors to the area can experience Pin Point’s fascinating history firsthand by visiting the recently opened Pin Point Heritage Museum.
A tasty sight from the museum's crab boiling house exhibit gallery — Photo courtesy of Pin Point Heritage Museum
The Museum is located in a renovated waterfront building that once housed A.S. Varn & Son, an oyster and crab factory that closed its doors in 1985. The museum, which is operated by the Coastal Heritage Society, explores the history of Pin Point’s self-sustained and isolated Gullah/Geechee culture and the community’s ties to the fishing and shrimping industry.
An artifact from the A.S. Varn & Son oyster and shrimp factory — Photo courtesy of Pin Point Heritage Museum
In addition to taking in the gorgeous views of the river and marsh, tour-goers can enjoy artwork, artifacts, interactive exhibits and more. The museum also regularly hosts live demonstrations in the outdoor covered pavilion, including sessions on net throwing and net making. Visitors can take a piece of Gullah/Geechee history home with them in the museum’s gift shop, which features standard souvenirs, along with unique items such as copies of the New Testament written entirely in Gullah.
