Since Beaufort is the second oldest city in South Carolina, it has a very rich history, but what gives the town its uniqueness and charm is that it’s ‘quietly historic’. Beaufort history is simply part of Beaufort life; there’s nothing in your face about it. Even the Beaufort historic district itself feels unspoiled. As you visit landmarks, it seems as if you’re one of a secret few who have discovered its hidden treasures.
Beaufort might be quietly historic, but whispers contain the best kept secrets, and Beaufort’s secrets deserve to be shared. It’s a genuine treasure on the South Carolina coast.
Beaufort Historic District and Beyond
Beaufort’s historical significance lives and breathes through its natural harbor location, Antebellum mansions and plantations, tabby wall remains, and the continued influences of Gullah culture and cuisine. A vacation to Beaufort wouldn’t be complete without seeing a little bit of it all.
Tour ‘The Point’ neighborhood
To be sure you’re seeing all the highlights, you may want to consider taking a walking, driving or horse-drawn carriage tour. It’s the best way to hear the stories that go with the historic landmarks and stately antebellum homes in Beaufort’s historic district. I’ve pointed out (see how I did that) a few of my favorites here.
Secession House – Once owned by Edmund Rhett, this home was used as a secession meeting place. Because it’s a private home, I can’t verify this, but we were told on our Southurn Rose Buggy Tour that Rhett and his supporters wrote messages on the basement walls in their blood. When the Union took over Beaufort, they wrote their own bloody messages on the walls in return. (I have one eyebrow raised about it, but it’s an interesting story.)
Parish Church of St. Helena – One of the oldest active churches in the country, it was founded in 1712 and was attended by many of Beaufort’s most prominent and wealthy citizens. The cemetery is home to “Tuscarora Jack”, two British officers who were killed in the battle of Port Royal at Gray’s Hill, and two Confederate generals. During the Civil War, the church was turned into a hospital, and supposedly tombstones were used as operating tables. Our tour guide told us there are two tombstones side by side in the cemetery that bear the marks of those early surgeries. (Insert another eyebrow raise here, but… it’s a fun story.)
I’ve never seen graves like this before. I’d love to know the story behind the curved stone covering.
Robert Smalls House – Robert Smalls was born into slavery, and worked in this home for most of his enslaved years until being sent to work on the CSS Planter. He learned everything he could about commandeering the ship, and on May 13, 1862, in an act of incredible heroism, he sailed the ship to freedom and turned it over to the Union forces, freeing himself and his crew and their families from slavery. After the war, he bought his former master’s home in Beaufort.
Tabernacle Baptist Church – This beautiful church watches over the resting place of Robert Smalls and his wife.
First African Baptist Church – This was built after the Civil War by freed slaves who purchased the land and built the church together.
Anchorage 1770 – This absolutely stunning and completely renovated 18th century Victorian was built of tabby, and is now a luxury B&B with excellent cuisine. Look for the glassed-in but exposed tabby wall inside the inn, and ask about the hidden rum bottle cubbies.
tabby wall in Anchorage 1770
Beaufort Arsenal and Beaufort History Museum
If you’re wandering around the Beaufort historic district, you can’t miss the goliath yellow tabby and brick Arsenal building in the midst of all the elegant homes. Take a few minutes and go into the courtyard where you’ll find two British historic cannons that were captured and seized by Union soldiers.
The Beaufort History Museum is housed inside the Arsenal building, and for a modest admission fee, a docent will take you through Beaufort’s history as you view the exhibits, although you’re welcome to browse on your own.
Explore the Gullah culture at Penn Center
St. Helena Island is home to the Penn Center, site of the former Penn School. When the plantation owners fled the island after the Civil War, the freed Gullah Geechee people remained, and the Port Royal experiment was designed to teach them to support themselves. Not only were students educated in the traditional sense, but they were taught valuable skills in farming and homemaking, health and money management.
The Gullah people continue to survive and thrive to this day, and in large part we can thank the Penn Center for all it has done and continues to do to promote education, historic preservation and social justice for African Americans.
Later, the Penn Center served as a safe and secret meeting place for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his associates as they tirelessly fought for Civil Rights. This is where it’s thought he penned his famous “I Have a Dream” speech.
Gantt Cottage – where Martin Luther King Jr. stayed for Civil Rights meetings
Sample Gullah cuisine
If you have a chance to stop by Gullah Grub on your way to or from the Penn Center, you can get a taste of authentic lowcountry Gullah cuisine.
Read my other posts on Beaufort, SC, and visit beaufortsc.org for more travel information:
Downtown Beaufort waterfront
Restaurants in Beaufort
Kayaking in Fripp Inlet
The Beaufort Inn
I love visiting historical places and I never think to go there. After reading your other posts and now this one, I want to get to SC! So much history and awe.
omg, absolutely a nice place to visit and I really love all the photos, Glad that you share this with us
I’ve never been here and would love to visit! I’ll have to remember to visit here when we come to Beaufort this summer!
There is so much to see in Beaufort. I love historical towns like this one.
Beaufort,SC is becoming a hidden gem. First with food and now with historic sites? Thanks for the review on this!
Sounds like a lovely place to visit! We went on a big east coast vacation last fall and we loved it! It was all about history (Jamestown, Yorktown and Williamsburg). I’d love to make it to South Carolina!
Beaufort, SC looks like a wonderful place to visit.
What a learning adventure it is!
Thanks for the brief history lesson! I love historic towns. And Beaufort is so close to Hilton Head, so this is on the list for my next trip to Hilton Head!
This definitely sounds like the perfect place to visit for a good historic lesson or two. What a great place to take your family, especially if you have school age kids.
This is awesome! Sounds like great place to add to our bucket list!!
That sounds like an interesting town to visit with a lot of history. I’d be curious to know the story behind those graves as well, I’m thinking maybe that curved part was some sort of protection from something.
I love visiting cities that have so much history in them. This town looks like one I would enjoy spending time in. It is not really that far from where I live, so perhaps I need to make a weekend of it. I am fascinated by the graves also!
My kids love visiting historical places. I love your shots! Definitely adding this to our list!
i love going to places that has an interesting history! i would like to visit this place someday!
I am a sucker for American history. I am desperate to explore more of the South. So many gorgeous buildings and tons of history.
Your photos are gorgeous, and Beaufort sounds fascinating. I love learning about the history of different places.
What a fabulous place to visit, so full of history and interesting places and the food… I bet that is amazing too.
That looks like a really nice place to visit. It looks so beautiful! I love looking at places like this with history.
I love to visit places that are rich in history. This would be a great weekend getaway for me.
I am fascinated by the history of Beaufort. I would to see these places for myself. Hopefully, we will make it there in the near future.
This place looks so beautiful. I would love to have the chance to visit and explore one day.
I am intrigued by the history behind this place. The sites look so interesting to see too!
I love South Carolina. It is a beautiful state with a lot of history and charm. I can’t wait to visit again.
What a beautiful little town. I would love to spend the day exploring all of these great spots.
Beaufort is such a quaint and lovely town. I would love to visit the Parish Church of St. Helena. I love old churches.
I never would have guessed that a quiet city like Beaufort would be filled with so much rich history. All that old architecture is amazing, especially within the cemetery.
Sounds like such a lovely town! Looks like we are overdue for a visit to SC.
What a beautiful town. I’d love a horse drawn carriage ride around the city. Definitely adding this to my list of places to visit for all its history.
Wow. This place is amazing! There is so much history in this quiet little town. I’d love to be able to experience being there!
Beaufort is such a cute little town. I was surprised how much there was to do there. The Arsenal was really cool, even though they were setting up for an event.
Such a beautiful historical place. I love visiting places like this. Thanks for sharing Beaufort, South Carolina with us.
Oh my goodness, I love historical little towns. SO very cool. I have never heard of this one and will have to check it out. Thanks so much for sharing
When I travel I love learning about the history of the places I am visiting. Beaufort seems to have a lot of interesting places to visit and learn.
South Carolina is one of my favorite places to visit. So much history and beauty! Great place to explore!
What a beautiful location! I’ve been to North Carolina but not South Carolina. One of these days I will get back to that side of the country because I do love it there!
I love how the town remained quaint. We love visiting little towns filled with so much history.
Wow this town is so beautiful. I am definitely goign have to take a weekend trip here soon.
What a cool place! I love traveling to towns and other places with lots of history. You can almost feel the weight of time in those places.
Wow. Well, this is the post that has sold me. I’ll be planning a family trip to Beaufort. We LOVE visiting historical towns like this.
Oh my goodness! Every post I read from you about Beaufort makes me want to visit even more. What an amazing place.