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Home » Travel » Beaufort, South Carolina Might Be the Most Quietly Historic City You’ll Ever Visit

Beaufort, South Carolina Might Be the Most Quietly Historic City You’ll Ever Visit

By: Liz  /  Published: February 20, 2017  /  Updated: July 1, 2022  /   Leave a comment

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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.

Historic Beaufort SC Must Visit Sites

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.)

Secession House

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.)

St. Helena's Episcopal Church
A close up of a stone building that has grass and trees
gravestones
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.

Robert Smalls House

Tabernacle Baptist Church – This beautiful church watches over the resting place of Robert Smalls and his wife.

Tabernacle Baptist Church - Beaufort SC

First African Baptist Church – This was built after the Civil War by freed slaves who purchased the land and built the church together.

First African Baptist Church - Beaufort SC

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.

A group of palm trees on the side of a building
tabby wall in Anchorage 1770
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.

Beaufort Arsenal walls

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.

Beaufort waterfront map - Beaufort History Museum
Beaufort History Museum

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.

A vintage photo of a sign

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
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.

Gullah Grub

Related Posts:

Kayaking in Fripp Inlet

Best eats in Beaufort

The Beaufort Inn

Beaufort’s waterfront

Sonesta Resort – Hilton Head Island

Related topics
South Carolina Travel

About Liz

Liz is a midwestern mom gone southern (accent in transition). She lives in North Carolina and loves cooking, baking, traveling, movies, crafts, hot and cold tea, wine, pizza and the occasional nap. She also revels in the fact she's a crazy cat lady.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Rach Ferrucci says

    February 28, 2017 at 1:47 am

    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.

    Reply
  2. aziel morte says

    February 27, 2017 at 3:23 am

    omg, absolutely a nice place to visit and I really love all the photos, Glad that you share this with us

    Reply
  3. Brianne says

    February 23, 2017 at 7:55 am

    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!

    Reply
  4. Toughcookiemommy says

    February 23, 2017 at 12:21 am

    There is so much to see in Beaufort. I love historical towns like this one.

    Reply
  5. Kiwi says

    February 22, 2017 at 5:58 pm

    Beaufort,SC is becoming a hidden gem. First with food and now with historic sites? Thanks for the review on this!

    Reply
  6. Dana says

    February 22, 2017 at 5:50 pm

    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!

    Reply
  7. Seattle Travel Blogger says

    February 22, 2017 at 12:50 pm

    Beaufort, SC looks like a wonderful place to visit.
    What a learning adventure it is!

    Reply
  8. Ashley Mullins says

    February 22, 2017 at 10:17 am

    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!

    Reply
  9. Alicia says

    February 22, 2017 at 9:09 am

    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.

    Reply
  10. Toni | Boulder Locavore says

    February 22, 2017 at 8:43 am

    This is awesome! Sounds like great place to add to our bucket list!!

    Reply
  11. valmg @ Mom Knows It All says

    February 22, 2017 at 8:08 am

    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.

    Reply
  12. Cynthia says

    February 22, 2017 at 8:00 am

    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!

    Reply
  13. Toni | Boulder Locavore says

    February 22, 2017 at 3:14 am

    My kids love visiting historical places. I love your shots! Definitely adding this to our list!

    Reply
  14. Dogvills says

    February 22, 2017 at 1:41 am

    i love going to places that has an interesting history! i would like to visit this place someday!

    Reply
  15. Crystal says

    February 22, 2017 at 12:37 am

    I am a sucker for American history. I am desperate to explore more of the South. So many gorgeous buildings and tons of history.

    Reply
  16. Lois Alter Mark says

    February 21, 2017 at 11:18 pm

    Your photos are gorgeous, and Beaufort sounds fascinating. I love learning about the history of different places.

    Reply
  17. Kristi says

    February 21, 2017 at 11:08 pm

    What a fabulous place to visit, so full of history and interesting places and the food… I bet that is amazing too.

    Reply
  18. Kathy says

    February 21, 2017 at 9:56 pm

    That looks like a really nice place to visit. It looks so beautiful! I love looking at places like this with history.

    Reply
  19. gingermommyrants says

    February 21, 2017 at 8:23 pm

    I love to visit places that are rich in history. This would be a great weekend getaway for me.

    Reply
  20. Tara says

    February 21, 2017 at 8:00 pm

    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.

    Reply
  21. Jeni Hawkins says

    February 21, 2017 at 7:39 pm

    This place looks so beautiful. I would love to have the chance to visit and explore one day.

    Reply
  22. Amy Desrosiers says

    February 21, 2017 at 7:37 pm

    I am intrigued by the history behind this place. The sites look so interesting to see too!

    Reply
  23. Ashley says

    February 21, 2017 at 7:26 pm

    I love South Carolina. It is a beautiful state with a lot of history and charm. I can’t wait to visit again.

    Reply
  24. Kelly says

    February 21, 2017 at 7:25 pm

    What a beautiful little town. I would love to spend the day exploring all of these great spots.

    Reply
  25. Kelly Hutchinson says

    February 21, 2017 at 6:56 pm

    Beaufort is such a quaint and lovely town. I would love to visit the Parish Church of St. Helena. I love old churches.

    Reply
  26. Marcie W. says

    February 21, 2017 at 6:18 pm

    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.

    Reply
  27. Ash says

    February 21, 2017 at 6:18 pm

    Sounds like such a lovely town! Looks like we are overdue for a visit to SC.

    Reply
  28. Dawn Nieves says

    February 21, 2017 at 5:26 pm

    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.

    Reply
  29. Annemarie LeBlanc says

    February 21, 2017 at 4:16 pm

    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!

    Reply
  30. Pam Wattenbarger says

    February 21, 2017 at 3:00 pm

    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.

    Reply
  31. Tina says

    February 21, 2017 at 2:31 pm

    Such a beautiful historical place. I love visiting places like this. Thanks for sharing Beaufort, South Carolina with us.

    Reply
  32. Shauna says

    February 21, 2017 at 2:13 pm

    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

    Reply
  33. Milena says

    February 21, 2017 at 12:45 pm

    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.

    Reply
  34. Neely (@Neelykins) says

    February 21, 2017 at 9:55 am

    South Carolina is one of my favorite places to visit. So much history and beauty! Great place to explore!

    Reply
  35. lisa says

    February 21, 2017 at 9:51 am

    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!

    Reply
  36. Jolina says

    February 21, 2017 at 9:37 am

    I love how the town remained quaint. We love visiting little towns filled with so much history.

    Reply
  37. Rebecca Bryant says

    February 21, 2017 at 9:25 am

    Wow this town is so beautiful. I am definitely goign have to take a weekend trip here soon.

    Reply
  38. Jen Rattie says

    February 21, 2017 at 8:53 am

    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.

    Reply
  39. Colleen Lanin says

    February 21, 2017 at 8:48 am

    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.

    Reply
  40. Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says

    February 21, 2017 at 8:43 am

    Oh my goodness! Every post I read from you about Beaufort makes me want to visit even more. What an amazing place.

    Reply

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