Beaufort — The Forgotten Lowcountry Song

Your journey begins at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, a 4-acre public park developed in the 1980s on Bay Street. This spot, named in honor of Henry C. Chambers, mayor of Beaufort from 1938 to 1959, offers stunning views of the Beaufort River. It is here that, annually since 1955, the Beaufort Water Festival celebrates local culture. Soak in the atmosphere of this waterfront, with its docks and central pavilion for outdoor concerts, an ideal starting point to explore the rich history of Beaufort, South Carolina, and the events that shaped its identity.

Continue to The Arsenal, a building constructed in 1859, measuring 50x40 feet, which served as a Confederate arsenal for storing ammunition during the Civil War. In 1861, after Union troops captured Beaufort, it was converted in 1862 into a school for freed children, a strong symbol of the post-war transition. Restored in 1935, it has functioned as a tourist information point since the 1970s, marking the entrance to the Beaufort Historic District. This National Register of Historic Places site bears witness to the city's upheavals and resilience.

Your route then leads you to the John Mark Verdier House, a Federal-style home built around 1800-1810 by John Mark Verdier, a prosperous planter who owned 5000 acres of indigo. This residence was occupied by Union General Rufus Saxton from 1861 to 1865, a fact that underscores Beaufort's strategic importance during the conflict. Preserved as a museum since 1951 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, it is furnished with original 19th-century artifacts, including a collection of Chinese porcelain, offering a glimpse into the life of pre-war elites in South Carolina.

Along the way, discover the Tabernacle Baptist Church, founded in 1860 by freed slaves. The current building, rebuilt in 1892 after a fire, can seat 1000 worshipers. It was here that Robert Smalls, after his election to Congress, preached in the 1870s-1880s, a central place for Beaufort's African American community. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, this church is a pillar of local history and a testament to Robert Smalls' role in the political and religious life of South Carolina. A short walk away, at 503 New Street, the Robert Smalls House, built in 1830, is another key site. Robert Smalls was born there as a slave in 1839 and purchased it in 1870 after gaining his freedom, living there until his death in 1915. Restored in the 2000s, it served as his political office during his congressional terms (1875-1879, 1882-1887), a symbol of perseverance and achievement for the Gullah Geechee Heritage Corridor.

This thematic circuit concludes by exploring the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor, designated in 2006, which stretches from Jacksonville (NC) to Jacksonville (FL) and includes Beaufort as a Gullah cultural center since the 18th century. Beaufort continues to harbor preserved post-Civil War Gullah traditions, with over 5000 descendants in 2020. Recognized by the US Congress for the preservation of African American Creole language and crafts, this journey will have introduced you to Beaufort's history from a unique perspective, through the lives of its inhabitants and the monuments that marked its evolution, offering an enriching interactive tour of South Carolina's heritage.