SULLIVAN'S ISLAND, South Carolina, United States — The "African Passages" exhibit at Fort Moultrie's Visitor Center on Sullivan's Island, South Carolina, tells the story of the slave trade through Charleston. Part of the Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park, this permanent installation educates visitors about the island's role as a quarantine station for enslaved Africans and the impact of slavery on American history.


Photograph by David Coleman. The "African Passages" exhibit at Fort Moultrie's Visitor Center on Sullivan's Island, South Carolina, is a powerful and educational installation that sheds light on a crucial aspect of American history. This permanent exhibit, opened in 2009, focuses on the role of Sullivan's Island as a quarantine station for enslaved Africans entering through Charleston Harbor during the Transatlantic Slave Trade. The exhibit chronicles the journey of enslaved Africans from West Africa to Charleston, emphasizing Sullivan's Island's significance as the point of entry for nearly half of all enslaved Africans brought to North America. Visitors are guided through the harrowing experiences of the Middle Passage and the subsequent quarantine process on the island, where newly arrived Africans were held in "pest houses" before being sold in Charleston. "African Passages" uses a combination of interpretive panels, artifacts, and multimedia presentations to tell this complex story. The exhibit explores the economic motivations behind the slave trade, the horrific conditions endured by enslaved individuals, and the lasting impact of slavery on American society and culture. It also highlights the resilience of African Americans and the development of the Gullah Geechee culture in the Lowcountry region.


Size: 6706px × 4476px
Location: Fort Moultrie, Sullivan's Island, South Carolina, United States
Photo credit: © David Coleman | Have Camera Will Travel / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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