isle of discovery / {{total_slide_count}} {{current_slide_index}} isle of wonder isle of discovery HISTORIC HAIG POINT / {{total_slide_count}} {{current_slide_index}} isle of wonder isle of discovery Harbour Town / {{total_slide_count}} {{current_slide_index}} isle of wonder isle of discovery INTERACTIVE TOUR / {{total_slide_count}} {{current_slide_index}} isle of wonder next prev

isle of discovery

isle of wonder

Only by boat.

Daufuskie is the southernmost sea island in the Carolinas –five miles by three, it is 5,000 acres virtually untouched by man. Water surrounds – the Atlantic, Calibogue Sound and the Cooper River. Civilization has thankfully been kept at bay. Connections are to the sea and one another. Little has changed since 1664, when English sea captain William Hilton wrote in his log, “The air is clear and sweet, the country pleasant … all that want a happy settlement would be well transported hither.”

Ferries & Shuttles

This is Daufuskie.

In sharp contrast to the modern, hyper-connected world, Daufuskie is an island suspended in time. A barrier island steeped in history. Natural. Pristine. A place found not created, with deep connections to the natural world around us. What strikes you immediately is the quiet. Your senses awaken gradually. To dolphins at dawn. Crickets at dusk. And birds, by the thousands. Here is a serene pace and place worthy of our attention and appreciation.

The Island of

Extraordinary

Acres
5000
Residents
400
Miles of Uncrowded Beach
3
Lighthouses
2
Historical Sites
20
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
1

(UPPER GRADES ARE MINUTES AWAY BY WATER TAXI)

A glimpse

of a world left behind

The enduring nature of Daufuskie Island, thanks in no small part to local conservancy groups, is part of the reason for the island’s appeal. Archaeologists have traced the inhabited history of the island back 9,000 years and have discovered pottery remnants dating to 7,000 BC. The first inhabitants were the peaceful Cusabo Indians who named it “pointed feather” or “land with a point.”

There are a number of Gullah houses that have endured here, unaltered since the end of the Civil War. The descendants of some Gullah people still live on the island, on land that their ancestors have owned for hundreds of years.

doorway detail
Daufuskie Church

Daufuskie Island’s oldest building is the First Union Baptist Church, which is still used to this day as a place of worship. 

Among the other buildings on the island, you will also find the historic Bloody Point lighthouse, dating to the 19th century. The archaeological restoration of historic properties and passing along of folklore surrounding the history of the island prove the love of the past is alive and well. The Daufuskie Island Historical Foundation, a 501(c)3 charitable organization, was founded in 2001 to preserve the island’s past through the restoration of historic buildings, archives and island sites.

Out & about on Daufuskie today

Tucked away down sandy lanes under the long arms of oaks draped with scarves of Spanish Moss are all manner of curious diversions as unique as the island itself. An indigo dye boutique housed in a historic schoolhouse that Pay Conroy taught in, a metal artisan, distillers (no surprise), a coffee shop (surprise), an assortment of eateries, and a community farm that serves the entire island. It’s an island of surprises around every turn. 

Daufuskie Island

  • Mt. Carmel Baptist Church No.2
  • 2 Tabby Ruin
  • Cooper River Cemetery
  • 4 Haig Point
  • 5 Melrose
  • Oyster Union Society Hall
  • 7 Hinson White Home
  • Mary Field Cemetery
  • Sarah Grant Home
  • 10 Public Dock
  • White School House
  • The Council Tree
  • First Union African Baptist Church
  • Mary Fields School
  • 15 Frances Jones Home
  • Moses Ficklin Cottage and Oak Tree
  • 17 Mary Dunn Cemetery
  • 18 Bloody Point
  • Bloody Point Cemetery
  • Bloody Point Lighthouse and Silver Dew Winery
2
4
5
7
10
15
17
18

Out & About

The Community Farm

Since 2010, Daufuskie Community Farm and Artisan Village has devoted its energy to passionately advocating sustainable living on Daufuskie Island. With the initial introduction of the community farm that attracted those desiring to have a hands-on way of producing food for their community, a growing desire has occurred to make a difference. The local community has contributed to the planning, construction, and growth of this thriving work by expanding the farm from animals into gardens, orchards, and the new Artisan Village! Please enjoy browsing this informative site and consider how you can be a part of the progress of this exciting work.

Wedding Goats Farm
Daufuskie Island Community Farm Sign
Daufuskie Island Community Farm Girl Goat
farm-chicken-2M2B1552
Farm Portrait Daufuskie Island
Chicken House Farm Daufuskie

Daufuskie Blues A visit to the Daufuskie Blues studio includes a real-life, schoolbook lesson about the history of indigo and about preserving the historical techniques and skills that can bring out the magic of this amazingly beautiful blue color! Once dyed, indigo is so colorfast that it can last for centuries. The front room of the old two-room schoolhouse is where you will encounter hand-dyed textiles (scarves, napkins, hand towels, shirts) made with organic indigo and other natural colors only available on Daufuskie. 01 04 Daufuskie Island Distillery The Daufuskie Island Distillery, located on 12 acres off Haig Point Road, opened in December 2014. It is famous for distilling a variety of the island’s most authentic, 100% American, handcrafted rum. Each bottle of Daufuskie Island Rum is distilled, bottled, labeled, and packed by hand on Daufuskie. In addition they distill vodka and a bourbon. The distillery is open to the public for tours and tastings. 02 04 Lucy Bells At Lucy Bell’s you’ll encounter some of the island’s most interesting people while you enjoy a gourmet breakfast or lunch crafted by a highly acclaimed catering team. Look for the little cottage with blue shutters on the corner of Benjies and School Road. Open for lunch 11–3, Tuesday–Sunday (closed Monday).
Call for Hours of Operation: 843-341-6477 03 04 Iron Fish Gallery Situated along a dirt road deep in Daufuskie's maritime forest, Chase Allen's shop, the Iron Fish Gallery & Studio, is a treasured local landmark. Visitors will find a yard filled with handcrafted metal coastal sculptures and a historic Gullah-constructed house covered in vintage finished iron fish, crab, lobster, and mermaid sculptures. More often than not, they'll also find the self-taught "coastal artist" himself, hammering, cutting, forging and welding under the shade of a moss-draped oak. 04 04 Daufuskie Blues Daufuskie Blues Daufuskie Island Rum Daufuskie Rum Company Lucy Bells Dining Iron Fish Gallery

We require that all things be mysterious and unexplorable, that land and sea be indefinitely wild, unsurveyed and unfathomed. We can never have enough of nature.

- Thoreau

Ferries & Shuttles

Historic Haig Point

Interactive Tour

Haig Point is committed to facilitating the accessibility and usability of its website. Our goal is to provide an accessible and barrier-free environment for our website, online services and other technology. We will be updating our website over time to implement the relevant portions of the World Wide Web Consortium’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 Level AA (WCAG 2.0 AA), which will also bring our website into further conformance with the Section 508 Web Accessibility Standards developed by the United States Access Board (Section 508). Please be aware that our efforts are ongoing. If, at any time, you require assistance please contact us directly at 800-686-3441.

Haig Point is committed to facilitating the accessibility and usability of its website. Our goal is to provide an accessible and barrier-free environment for our website, online services and other technology. We will be updating our website over time to implement the relevant portions of the World Wide Web Consortium’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 Level AA (WCAG 2.0 AA), which will also bring our website into further conformance with the Section 508 Web Accessibility Standards developed by the United States Access Board (Section 508). Please be aware that our efforts are ongoing. If, at any time, you require assistance please contact us directly at 800-686-3441.