The Historic Beauty of Beaufort, South Carolina

By Dataw Island on April 22, 2009 1:08 PM | No Comments

Beaufort, SC is a charming slow-paced city located on South Carolina's Beaufort River at Port Royal Sound. This low country coastal city is filled with wonders from days gone by, with its collection of antebellum mansions, live oaks draped with Spanish moss, and quaint palm-lined streets. Horse drawn carriages still delight the tourists who visit this beautiful location where time seemingly stands still. The Southern charm and appeal of Beaufort's historic architecture reached all the way to Hollywood when it was featured in the hit movie Forrest Gump in the mid-1990s.

The history of the city dates back almost 500 years. First discovered by Spanish explorers in 1514, Beaufort has been home to several military forts used during the Colonial Wars, Spanish Wars, and the Civil War between the North and the South. Several area museums have retained artifacts from these eras and are displayed most notably in the Beaufort Museum, the Parris Island Museum, and the Heyward House Historic Center. Each of these museums are open to the public year round and provide an excellent account of both military and everyday life within the region.

The area also hosts a number of historical churches. The Tabernacle Baptist Church on Craven St. was built in the 1800s and was later purchased by its 500 black members. The churchyard is the resting place of Robert Smalls, the first black Congressman from SC and a former slave. During the Civil War, St. Helena's Episcopal Church on Newcastle St. was used as a hospital for the Union Army. The founder of Beaufort Town, Col. John "Tuscarora Jack" Bamwell is buried beneath the church's dome vault. After the Civil War, The Brick Baptist Church on Land's End Rd., was used as a community center, school and church during the Reconstruction period, for both Northern abolitionists and slaves that had been freed. The church has now been designated as part of the Penn Center National Historic Landmark District.

The annual Spring Tour of Homes, which allows locals and visitors alike to stroll through the area's magnificent plantation homes and gardens. The event has been hosted by the St. Helena's Women of the Parish group since 1956, and features a candlelight tour, gospel singers, and other local entertainment. Tickets for the accompanying boat tour of the area often sell out weeks prior to the actual event. Throughout the year, additional events are held which spotlight the region's most talented artists and craftsmen, many of whom have created crafts and wares that are indicative of both the Southern culture and the historical aspects of the area.

Beaufort has been repeatedly awarded for its charm, art, culture, and vacation spot appeal. The town has been included in the list for "Best Small Southern Town by Southern Living magazine, and National Geographic's "Top 50 Adventure Towns"; have enjoyed the prestige of being a finalist in the "Top 25 Small City Arts Destinations", and even landed a spot on the sport fishing enthusiasts magazine Field & Streams' "Top 20 Fishing Towns".

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