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Contact: Jill Hamilton-Anderson, 912-882-4336
St. Simons Island, GA: The staff at Fort Frederica National Monument invite you to join a celebration of the life and contributions of native son Robert S. Abbott. Born on St. Simons Island, Mr. Abbott went on to start the Chicago Defender newspaper and was called the “Father of Black Journalism.”
The African American History Festival will be held at Fort Frederica National Monument from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm and at the Historic Harrington School from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, on February 26, 2022. Gullah Geechee Ring Shouters begin at 12:30 pm in the park's outdoor amphitheater. The event is free.
The Historic Harrington School, located at 291 South Harrington Road on Saint Simons Island, is the restored main educational structure that once served three African American communities. A free trolley will run from the Fort to the Harrington School between the hours of 10:30 am-2:30 pm. Events at Harrington School include food for purchase by Elijah Brown for $7 per plate, and vendors selling jewelry. The school will be open and visitors are encouraged to tour the building, peruse the bookstore, see the Igbo Landing painting, and see the Abbott display. At Fort Frederica National Monument, located at 6515 Frederica Road on Saint Simons Island, presentations in the outdoor amphitheater include LaTanya Abbott Austin who will share the accomplishments of Robert S. Abbott at noon, followed by Griffen Lotson, who will speak about the Gullah Geechee culture and community. The world renowned Geechee Gullah Ring Shouters, one of the world’s top performing artists of Gullah Geechee culture, will demonstrate cultural traditions through music and dance at 12:30 pm. Exhibitors will be outside, behind the park visitor center, to share local culture and history, and demonstrate trades such as sweet grass basket making.
This event is made possible through the support of the Fort Frederica Association and the Friends of Fort Frederica. #FriendsofFortFrederica
Visitors to national parks travel from all over the country and the world. Because of this and recognizing that most of the United States is currently in substantial or high transmission categories, and in consultation with doctors and public health professionals, we’ve implemented a nationwide mask requirement. To best protect our staff and visitors, masks are required inside all NPS buildings and in crowded outdoor spaces, regardless of vaccination status or location.
For more information about Fort Frederica National Monument, visit (www.nps.gov/fofr) or follow the park on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/FortFredericaNPS/). This event is supported by the Friends of Fort Frederica National Monument, visit (Friends of Fort Frederica (fortfredericafriends.org) for more information on this 501(c)3 organization.
www.nps.gov About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 423 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
Last updated: February 25, 2022