The mission of the Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center is to continue the legacy established by Tom and Jean Yawkey of conducting pioneering waterfowl, wetlands and wildlife management activities supported by natural resources research and providing unique educational opportunities by interpreting the property’s diverse cultural and natural history.
The property now known as the Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center has a long history that predates Yawkey family ownership of the land. In 1914, Tom Yawkey’s uncle purchased a small amount of land along the shoreline in Georgetown County, South Carolina. Tom visited Georgetown frequently as a child and developed a great love of the outdoors and wildlife. Upon his uncle’s passing, Tom inherited the land from his uncle and throughout his life went on to purchase additional parcels until the area totaled over 20,000 acres. He carefully managed the area through conservation practices and later hired professional wildlife biologists to assist with management and to improve the property for waterfowl and other wildlife. The now 24,000-acre protected natural preserve was bequeathed to the State of South Carolina under Tom Yawkey’s will in 1977 and is funded in perpetuity by the Yawkey Foundation, the charitable organization established under Tom Yawkey’s will to perpetuate the philanthropic legacy of Tom and Jean Yawkey. The Yawkey Foundation supports the operations and upkeep of the Wildlife Center, which conducts educational guided field trips for thousands of visitors each year free of charge and plays a critical role hosting landmark biology and wildlife research studies on alligators, loggerhead sea turtle, and other species. Tom Yawkey’s bequest is considered one of the most outstanding grants to wildlife conservation efforts in North America.
Archaeologists with the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) work in close collaboration with representatives from the African American and Gullah Geechee communities for archaeological lab and fieldwork, oral history, archival research, story mapping and the development of educational outreach programs. The ongoing research not only tells interrelated stories of climate, fishing, and Gullah Geechee life, but also includes a larger shoreline survey project documenting Gullah Geechee sites before they are lost to erosion and sea level rise.
The Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center, in partnership with the Yawkey Foundation, is committed to telling the stories of the individuals and families that are part of this area’s history in the Lowcountry.