One of the youngest members in our party is an avid Junior Ranger and was super excited to be able to add this to her growing list of parks visited. However we did not feel welcome here. Rather we felt that we were imposing on asking for her book to be stamped and to go through the Junior Ranger program. Though she was given the form. Additionally they did not have badges and they didn't seem to be able to direct us in the right direction. When we asked what we could do at Penn Center we were told we had to pay $7 but we're not told what we would be seeing. When my daughter asked me a question about her work on the Junior Ranger book she was told that she was supposed to do it and that I wasn't allowed to help her. As a 9 year old learning g about reconstruction helping with some of the concepts should be expected by any adult working at a museum but we were met with the opposite.
This is difficult for me to write as the Penn Center is part of Reconstruction Era Momnument NPS and I have never had a terrible expierence at a NPS site. I also appreciate that this is a very new National Park but nonetheless a NPS site. Please know this review is strictly our expierence at the Penn Center and not the other parts of this new National Monument.
We opted to leave and figure it out ourselves. We did try to take a picture of the NPS sign and we're told absolutely no pictures. The entire expierence was extremely off putting. We frequent national parks and have never experienced anything like this. Fortunately we ended up at the Arsonel on Craven Street where the staff was extremely warm and welcoming and embraced us and our Junior Ranger!
It's alright. But not something all young kids will enjoy. It's a great experience but more enjoyable for adults and kids/teen's really interested in history.
Wonderful place I will most definitely be returning
Summer of 63/64 a Lutheran Youth work group fixed up Penn Center. School was in bad need of repair, painting etc. Two weeks at Frog More were fantastic with kids from up and down East Coast. Approx. 22 girls and 15 boys were involved in schools repair. Not sure if this is correct but the "I HAVE A DREAM" speech was started there.
This was an amazing experience. It is a place you have to set aside time to explore.
Penn Center Inc is a US Point Of Interest based in Saint Helena Island, South Carolina. Penn Center Inc is located at 16 Penn Center Cir E, St Helena Island, SC 29920, USA.
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