Hilton Head Island is a haven of natural beauty, sunny skies, sandy beaches and extraordinary marshes.Enjoy lush, stunning imagery combined with history and stories to paint a vivid picture of island life yesterday and today. The Camera Club of Hilton Head will lead you on a visual adventure deep into all things Lowcountry'and the island in particular. So come on along, get your toes in the sand, grab a drink and enjoy The Official Hilton Head Island book.

What was Hilton Head like in the early days? Was it Paradise, Camelot, Utopia, or the Days of Wine and Roses? It was all of those things. It was a quiet simpler time with mostly dirt roads, surrounded by incredible natural beauty.Being a part of the growing Island was the chance of a lifetime - witnessing the first Heritage Gold Tournament, feeling the joy as people began to discover the oceanfront treasure nestled in the tall pines. Our family was there to help plant the seeds that have grown Hilton Head into the beloved destination it is today.

In writing this book I hope to give you some feeling of what Hilton Head Island was like before and after the Bridge. I was encouraged by many friends who listened to the stories my mother would entertain them with when Hilton Head was one of the islands inhabited mostly by blacks. She knew them as friends, and since some spoke Gullah, a dialect spoken by low-country island natives, it helped that she spoke it fluently (or at least communicated beautifully). Hilton Head at that time was truly an island paradise with beautiful virgin forest, environmentally pristine marshes, miles of uninhabited beach and one dirt road! This was the island I knew as a teenager in 1951. This is a history of Hilton Head that I have been a part of and watched year by year develop into what we see today. It has been a great experience and I hope you enjoy the stories of some of the true pioneers of Hilton Head Island. But when all is said and done, I truly know that islanders either "old" or "nearly new" all love this island. And that is why I'm writing this book: to share its "old" tales with the "nearly new."

The Mermaid of Hilton Head hardcover children's book is a fun and educational book that will keep your kids wanting more. The Mermaid of Hilton Head didn't always live around the island; she used to travel up and down the East Coast with her mermaid pod. When passing by Hilton Head Island, she often noticed that the sea turtles seem stressed. The mermaid set out to investigate the problem and find a solution to save the turtles! After discovering a simple solution to the turtles' problem, the Mermaid of Hilton Head dedicates her life to making sure the island's sea turtles are safe and happy. The Mermaid of Hilton Head takes children on an aquatic adventure while teaching them about nature conservation. Kids will love getting to know the Mermaid of Hilton Head and they'll be thrilled to know that a simple action can help save the island's sea turtles.

Royalties are donated to nonprofit organizations.

An examination of "the area's development from its first plantation in 1717, through the boom years of shipbuilding and Sea Island cotton to the Civil War. In over 200 vintage photographs, the authors document the impact of the Union occupation, the establishment of Mitchelville (the island's 'contraband' and Freedmen community), the dramatic effects of the first bridge to the island, and the development of the tourist industry that now typifies Hilton Head."--Cover.