St. Helena Island appears to have been a place of regional importance for centuries, centered on the
Indian Hill Site, which was inhabited between 900 and 1400 AD and is believed to have served as a ceremonial center for religious, social and economic functions. The first European to explore St. Helena was most likely
Spanish explorer
Lucas Vázquez de Ayllón around 1520, as part of the Spanish exploration and colonization of the sea islands. The general area was later colonized by the French, who built
Charlesfort on nearby
Parris Island, and then recolonized by the Spanish, who on the same site founded
Santa Elena, which served as the capital of the entire Spanish colony of
La Florida. The area finally fell into English hands, who occupied it until the
American Revolution. In the
War of 1812, Saint Helena saw some British naval presence. The area was noted to be similar to the
rice growing region of West
Africa and soon captured
slaves were brought to the Sea Islands, many from what is today
Sierra Leone. Rice,
indigo,
cotton and
spices were grown by these slaves, as well as
Native Americans, and
indentured servants from Europe. The mix of cultures, somewhat isolated from the mainland, produced the Gullah culture. The
Civil War began when South Carolina fired on
Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861. After a number of setbacks for the
Union, the
Battle of Port Royal became an important victory on November 7, 1861. Lincoln had called for a blockade of
Confederate ports and Port Royal was considered one of the most important. A flotilla of Union ships commanded by
Samuel F. Du Pont launched a furious assault on the forts which defended Beaufort. After several hours, the islands fell into Union hands and were held throughout the war. Slaves were liberated and immediate steps were taken to help improve their lot. One of the most important was the establishment of the
Penn School to educate them. Another was grants of land to heads of households, from whence came the belief among the slaves that upon
emancipation, all would be given
forty acres (16 hectares) and a mule. The
Negro spiritual "
Michael Row the Boat Ashore" originated on Saint Helena Island in the 1860s.
Leigh Richmond Miner photographed the island. A book of his photographs of the island was published in 1970. St. Helena Island was significantly impacted by the
Sea Islands Hurricane of 1893, killing hundreds of residents on the island. The economic destruction of the hurricane lingered for decades after the event, causing St. Helena Island to be one of the poorest locations in the United States for many years. In the last decades of the 20th century, the improving economy in Beaufort coupled with resort development on nearby
Fripp Island,
Harbor Island and Dataw Island began to improve economic prospects for the island but also introduced development pressures that threatened the island's rural character. In order to stem the tide of
gentrification, significant planning efforts have led to restrictive development regulations to ensure the island retains its rural character and preserves its cultural and historic resources. Condominium communities and gated communities are not allowed on St. Helena Island. Some rural land has been preserved through
conservation easements and much of the island is still owned by African-Americans, much of it through
heirs property arrangements. The
Indian Hill Site and
Knights of Wise Men Lodge are listed on the
National Register of Historic Places. On October 12, 2025, the
2025 Saint Helena Island shooting took place at a crowded bar in the early morning, with initial reports pronouncing four dead at the scene, and another 20 injured, four critically. A person of interest was also taken into custody, but no arrests were initially made. ==Geography==