Dataw Island Celebrates Centuries of History with "Portrait of Dataw"

By Dataw Island on October 5, 2009 4:40 PM | No Comments

Hello Again from Dataw Island,

The September 23rd Open House was a great success as more than 200 Dataw residents came out to see the exhibit "Portrait of Dataw" celebrating the extensive history of Dataw Island.

Located in the Dataw Island Welcome Center, "Portrait of Dataw" documents Dataw's heritage dating back to prehistoric times, with historical artifacts from Native American life, the Sams family ownership of Dataw, Dataw after the Civil War and the New Era (covering Alcoa's development on the Island).

The Open House attracted a "Who's Who" of local VIPs including Beaufort Mayor Bill Keyserling; Beaufort County Preservation Officer Ian Hill; Historic Beaufort Foundation Executive Director Evan Thompson; Senior Project Manager of The History Workshop Carol Poplin; noted Charleston archaeologist Eric Poplin; noted archaeologist and tabby expert Colin Brooker; tabby preservation expert Rick Wrightman; renowned South Carolina historian and author Larry Rowland; and members of the Sams family; Reeve and Betty Sams, Dr. Charles and Jeanne Sams Aimar and Charles Airmar, Jr.

Funded jointly by the Dataw Historic Foundation, Dataw Island Owner's Association and the Dataw Island Club at a cost of more than $30,000, the exhibit required 18 months to complete.

Congratulations to members of the Dataw Historic Foundation, Dataw Island Owner's Association and Dataw Island Club who worked so diligently during the last two years to create the informational exhibit of Dataw history for all Island residents and their guests to enjoy.

See you around the Island,

Silvia