From the Lowcountry to Utah: A Charming Gullah Geechee Journey

It began with a sweetgrass basket.

Not just any basket, mind you—but one carefully hand-woven with strands of memory, tradition, and love. Its tightly coiled shape weaves the recollections of whispered stories that traveled across oceans and centuries, from the faded memories of the West African coast, to the salt marshes of the South Carolina coast, to the quiet halls of the Utah State Capitol.

Now, nestled in a glass case on the fourth floor of that Capitol building, this basket sits among an enchanting display called Gullah Geechee: From the Lowcountry to Utah. Visitors pause, lean in, and are transported—not just to another place, but to another rhythm. It is an African rhythm. One carried by ancestors who sang as they worked and prayed as they dreamed.

At first glance, it might look like a simple diorama—just tiny dolls, cloth, photos, and artifacts. But look closer. The little girl in the African dress, standing next to the rice mortar and pestle, seems to smile proudly. The man in overalls stands solid and rooted like a live oak, tools in hand. A schoolteacher doll with a book in her arms gazes forward as though ready to call the children in from recess.

It is more than a display. It is a world.