Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/3108
National Historic District. Neighboring St. Helena Island is home to the Penn Center and York M. Bailey Museum, which are located on the campus of the area's first post-Civil War school for African-Americans. A Horse-drawn carriage or walking tour is a great way to view Beaufort's more than 50 historic build- ings, and the city presents tours of some of its historic homes in the spring and fall. Art Walks spotlighting local gal- leries are presented in conjunction with the home tours. Other special events for experiencing the area's history and cul- ture include the Gullah Festival, held each Memorial Day weekend; A Taste of Beaufort, a food, wine art, music festival in early May; the Water Festival in July and the Shrimp Festival in October. The list of year-round area attractions includes historic St. Helena Episcopal Church; Old Village in the town of Port Royal, home to the Lowcountry Estuarium and a variety of restaurants and shops; and the Parris Island Museum, with exhibits on military history and island settlements dating back to the 1500s housed at the U.S. Marine Corps Recruit Depot. COLUMBIA The 142,000-sq. ft. Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center offers meet- ing groups the largest venue in South Carolina's capital city. In their free time, delegates might want to explore local Black cultural and historical sites like the Waverly Historic District; Mann- Simons Cottage, the home of Celia Mann, a slave who walked from Charleston to Columbia after gain- ing her freedom; and the African Ameri- can History Monu- ment on the grounds of the South Carol- ina State House. K i d - f r i e n d l y attractions include the EdVenture chil- dren's museum or the Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens, while the adults might enjoy a night out at the Big Apple, a synagogue-turned-dance club. TENNESSEE Tennessee is divided into three major regions, each having a distinct cultural flavor and landscape. In west Tennessee, situated between the Tennessee and Mississippi rivers, the best-known destination is Memphis, the state's largest city. Black Meetings & Tourism April/May 2009: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 96 Beaufort Museum Photo Credit: Beaufort CVB Columbia Convention.Center Photo Credit: Columbia CVB