Gullah/Geechee Bottle Tree at the Bluffton Gullah Cultural Heritage Center

Gullah/Geechee Nation ♦ April 1, 2025 ♦ 1 Comment

The Bluffton Gullah Culture Heritage Center is dedicated to preserving, educating, and celebrating the rich history, traditions, and contributions of the Gullah/Geechee people. Through interactive exhibits, community engagement, and cultural programming, the center provides a space where the past and present of Gullah/Geechee heritage converge and will open its doors to the world in the summer of 2025.

The Bluffton Gullah Cultural Heritage Center is set to make history with the unveiling of the tallest and largest custom bottle tree ever crafted in the United States. This remarkable twin bottle tree exhibit unveiling is part of the lead-up to the grand opening of the first-ever Gullah Cultural Heritage Center in the Bluffton-Hilton Head area—a space dedicated to honoring the rich legacy and contributions of the Gullah/Geechee people.

“This moment is the realization of a dream once deferred,” said Bridgette Frazier, Founder of the Bluffton Gullah Culture Heritage Center and fifth generation Gullah descendant.

“For the first time, Bluffton will have a place respectfully tailored to tell the awe-inspiring stories of a people whose influence has shaped the world. These magnificent bottle trees are not just art; they are symbols of resilience, culture, and history—rooted in the West African traditions that birthed Gullah/Geechee culture. They will now stand just a short distance from where Secession Oak once stood, a site where the Confederacy declared its intent to fight for the institution of slavery. The significance of this moment cannot be overstated.”

A Monumental Artistic Achievement

The bottle trees, standing at 15 feet tall with 75 limbs on each tree, were designed by renowned Gullah artisan Julian Williams, a fifth-generation Gullah descendant and former apprentice of legendary blacksmith Philip Simmons. Williams graduated from the American College of the Building Arts; the nation’s only school offering a blacksmith degree at the collegiate level. Julian has been featured on PBS, Travel & Leisure, Charleston Magazine, and other esteemed media outlets for his work in preserving Gullah ironwork traditions. This twin bottle tree project is the largest of its kind in America, reinforcing the enduring presence of Gullah artistry. Bottle trees according to Gullah beliefs serve as a protectant against evil spirits.

A Collective Effort to Preserve Gullah Culture

The completion of the Bluffton Gullah Cultural Heritage Center and its bottle tree exhibit is a testament to the power of community partnership and shared belief that stories matter. It is the understanding that culture is—and its preservation is—the work of the people. Though our voices and backgrounds may differ, our connection to the human experience is enduring.

This vision was made possible through the generous support of:

● Watterson Brands

● a $550,000 grant from the Mellon Foundation to expand programming and capacity

● a $12,000 contribution from the Palmetto Electric Co-op “Operation Round-Up” grant and

● the many individuals, businesses, and community partners committed to ensuring that

the formidable stories of Bluffton Gullah are hidden no more.

A Unique Opportunity to Be Part of History

As part of the celebration, the community is invited to leave their mark on this historic exhibit by purchasing a commemorative indigo blue bottle to be placed on the twin bottle tree. Only 150 bottles are available for purchase, each priced at $1,500.

Each purchase includes:

✅ A custom indigo blue bottle displayed on the tree

✅ A framed commemorative certificate signed by Julian Williams; the gullahsmith

✅ A professional exhibit photo of the bottle tree with the official Bluffton Gullah seal

✅ Acknowledgment on the Heritage Center’s website as a dedicated collaborator of this historic artful masterpiece

This is a rare opportunity to honor a loved one, business, or personal legacy while supporting the preservation of Gullah culture.

For more information or to reserve a commemorative bottle, please contact:

Executive Director Giovanni Glover

Bluffton Gullah Culture Heritage Center

info@blufftongullah.org

www.blufftongullah.org