The claim to fame of Pin Point is the fact that Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas is from there. I didn't know this until I read the sign. We were just interested in learning about Gullah/Geechee. This tidbit of information was an added bonus.
We were warmly welcomed as soon as we made our way to the first building. The video about Pin Point had started five minutes before we got there, so we elected to wait and see it after the tour. Our tour guide, Gail, chit-chatted with us while we waited for those seeing the video to finish. She was extremely nice and answered questions we had while waiting.
Once the video was over, the others joined us and we learned about the history of Pin Point. Our guide told us about the way the land was obtained, the oyster/crab production of Varn and Sons, to the current day heritage center. She knew first hand about all these things! She was a direct descendant of the freed slave that owned the land that she owns today. She also had worked for Varn and Sons and of course has family and friends that had done the same. She told us stories and showed us the buildings. We had a wonderful time listening to her stories!
After the tour, she took us into a building to learn about the Gullah/Geechee culture. Gullah is the language spoke and Geechee are the people. She spoke to us in Gullah and we had to try and figure out what she was saying. It was fun and difficult. We enjoyed it.
We then went to see the video. Oh, my it touched us! A people, a culture, a heritage of a proud community exuded from it. The stories that were told from each individual drew us closer to this community. We laughed and also shed a tear.
The kiddos were also touched by this place. They said it was their favorite of our trip. It wasn't extravagant. It wasn't filled with technology. It was filled with memories of a people from a time not so long ago. I think they sinced that. We will return to Pin Point and spend more time there. It feels like a front porch that just becons you to sit a spell and reminence.
