Bluffton Gullah Culture Heritage Center unveils historic twin bottle tree exhibit

Community leaders, supporters, and members of the media gathered April 3rd for the unveiling of what is believed to be the largest custom bottle tree ever constructed in the United States. The twin bottle tree installation was revealed at the future site of the Bluffton Gullah Cultural Heritage Center (BGCHC), marking a major step toward the center’s official opening in summer 2025.

Located at 1255 May River Road and part of the Ma Daisy Porch Compound, the BGCHC will be the first cultural heritage center in the Bluffton-Hilton Head area dedicated to preserving and celebrating the legacy of the Gullah-Geechee people.

The towering bottle trees, each standing 15 feet tall with 75 limbs, were designed by renowned Gullah artisan Julian Williams, a fifth-generation Gullah descendant and former apprentice to the late legendary blacksmith Philip Simmons. Williams, a graduate of the American College of the Building Arts—the nation’s only institution offering a collegiate blacksmithing degree—has gained national attention for his work in preserving traditional Gullah ironwork.

In Gullah tradition, bottle trees serve as protective symbols believed to ward off evil spirits. Their presence on the BGCHC grounds underscores the enduring strength and spiritual resilience of the Gullah people.

“This moment is the realization of a dream once deferred,” said Bridgette Frazier, founder of the BGCHC and a 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.”

The BGCHC will serve as a community hub for education and cultural programming, offering interactive exhibits and events that honor the contributions of Gullah-Geechee descendants both locally and nationally.

The bottle tree installation and center development were made possible through a network of community and philanthropic support. Key contributors include Watterson Brands, the Town of Bluffton, a $550,000 grant from the Mellon Foundation, a $12,000 contribution from Palmetto Electric Cooperative’s Operation Round-Up grant, and numerous local individuals and businesses.

As part of the ongoing fundraising effort, the public is invited to purchase one of 150 limited-edition commemorative indigo blue bottles, each of which will be mounted on the bottle trees. Priced at $1,500, each purchase includes a custom ndigo blue bottle displayed on the tree, a framed certificate signed by Williams, a professional photograph of the installation with the official Bluffton Gullah seal, and acknowledgment on the Heritage Center’s website as a dedicated collaborator.

The initiative offers an opportunity to honor a loved one or contribute to the preservation of Gullah culture in a meaningful, lasting way.

For more information or to reserve a commemorative bottle, visit www.blufftongullah.org or email info@blufftongullah.org.