Parris Island, South Carolina, is located in the Hilton Head-Beaufort Greater Metropolitan Area, on the coast and not far from the Georgia state line. It is best-known for the Marine training grounds there. A settlement has existed in the area since 1566.
French troops landed at Parris Island in 1562 and claimed the land for France. However, after several months of starvation and a lack of support from France due to war in Europe, these colonists fled the site to sail back to Europe. Parris Island was next settled by Spanish explorers in 1566, who named the area Santa Elena. Santa Elena was the original capital of La Florida, the Spanish claim to the lands of the southern parts of North America. Santa Elena was used as a base for exploration of the region until it fell under attack by Native American tribes in 1576 and 1577. The Spanish retreated from the area briefly, returning to find that English troops and the English commander Francis Drake were attacking Spanish settlements. Santa Elena was abandoned and much of the town destroyed in 1587.
The town of St. Ellens sprung up in the wake of the English attacks on Santa Elena and was used again as a base for further exploration into the early 1700s. By the mid-1700s, plantation owners controlled most of the land, used for cotton, indigo and cattle ranching. Parris Island fell under the control of Zachariah McGill in the early 1800s. In 1883, McGill sold the land---about 16 square miles---to the United States government.
Although the government took ownership in the 1800s, it was not until 1915 that the Marine Corps was given use of Parris Island to create a training facility. This facility became the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island; today it trains some 16,000 Marines a year, putting them through its famously tough boot camp and preparing them for service. Both men and women are trained at Parris Island.
Civilians are welcomed on Parris Island for Marine graduation ceremonies and to visit the Parris Island Museum. To gain access, show your driver's license, vehicle registration, and proof of insurance at the gate to the facility. Visitors can see archaeological digs on the island, view artifacts and exhibitions of the history of the island at the museum, and, on graduation days, watch new Marine recruits graduate from basic training.
Parris Island is close to the resort area of Hilton Head, which boasts luxury hotels, water sports, fine dining and shopping. It is also close to the southern city of Beaufort, home to many elegant Southern mansions and houses. Many of these homes have been turned into bed and breakfast accommodations for visitors to the area. Beaufort is also known for fine dining, particularly its seafood.
