The Beach Institute was the first school for African Americans in Savannah after Emancipation, in 1867. In 1864, General Sherman ended his March to the Sea by capturing the port of Savannah, revealing that all slaves were free.
The Beach Institute: The First School for African Americans in Savannah after Emancipation
Ironically, after that, a few leaders of the African baptist churches formed SEA, the Savannah Education Association. SEA, was able to gather funds and provide free education to African American students. To complete this step, the American Missionary Association assisted in making sure that the Beach Institute was built.
The school was named after Alfred Ely Beach, an inventor who helped fund the school. The Beach Institute is now still educating us, under the King-Tisdell College Foundation, by exhibiting African American art and culture within the exact infrastructure. The most amazing thing is, that we can still walk the halls of history by booking a tour through this site.
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