Historic Harrington School

History

Harrington was the largest of three African-American settlements established on St. Simons during the Reconstruction. The schoolhouse and surrounding 12 acres were purchased in 2004 for $785,000 through a joint effort of the Land Trust and Glynn County, using state of Georgia Greenspace funds and contributions from Land Trust members.

Harrington Community Park was developed on the land and opened in December 2016. The property contains ecologically sensitive wetlands, as well as two ponds that provide habitat for federally endangered wood storks and other native wildlife. Improvements include walking trails, benches, and viewing platforms overlooking the ponds on the property. This park, the result of efforts by St. Simons Land Trust, Supporters of the Park at Harrington, St. Simons African American Heritage Coalition, and the Glynn County Commission, gives more community members access to the beautiful landscape and the rich history of the area.

The Land Trust has a 99-year lease for Harrington School to the St. Simons African American Heritage Coalition. Please support the St. Simons African American Heritage Coalition and Friends of Harrington School in their efforts to preserve and restore the schoolhouse. For more details call 912-634-0330 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Features

Featured on this property is the last remaining African-American schoolhouse on the Georgia coast. Surrounding the school house are 12 acres of woods and two ponds that serve as feeding grounds for endangered wood stork and other aquatic birdlife.