An old seaport town with narrow streets shaded by huge live oaks and lined with 18th-century homes, Beaufort is located on Port Royal Island and is the second oldest city in South Carolina. On a visit to the town, you'll see Federal architecture, as well as Neo-Classical and Victorian, all basking in an atmosphere of gentility and southern charm. Located on the South Carolina coast, this small town also offers pristine nature and outdoors activities.
With many museums, historical sites and historical forts, Beaufort is a living history lesson. An arsenal built in 1798, the Beaufort Arsenal and Museum was constructed of brick and tabby. The arsenal has taken part in every war fought by this nation, including the Revolutionary War. The two brass trophy guns in the yard were captured from the British in 1779 and seized by Union soldiers at the fall of Fort Walker in 1861. The museum features exhibits on local history and presents a wide range of artifacts.
Several mansions are available for viewing, showcasing the Beaufort Style, known for its airiness, and a mixture of Georgian, Colonial, Greek Revival and Spanish. Epic examples of antebellum pre-Civil War period mansions are found north of Hilton Head. John Mark Verdier House Museum is a restored 1802 federal mansion house, partially furnished to depict the life of a merchant planter during the early 1800's. A highlight is the columned, two-storied portico, with a staircase on either side leading to the first story. The mansion is full of artifacts, and it was used as the local Union headquarters after the South's fall in the Civil War. It is one of the best examples of the Federal period and was once known as the Lafayette Building - Marquis de Lafayette is said to have spoken here in 1825.
If you are in Beaufort in October, don't miss the Fall Festival of Houses & Gardens when you are invited to explore Beaufort from a rare vantage point, private homes and gardens not regularly open to the public. You will tour a selection of 18th and 19th century homes with remarkable architectural variety, representing three centuries of Beaufort architecture for which the city is justly famous. These self-paced tours offer a distinctive opportunity to observe how contemporary lifestyles are lived within the framework of the unmatched architectural heritage.
Beaufort's churches are also architectural points of interest. The Beaufort Baptist Church, built in 1844, is an excellent example of Greek Revival architecture. During and after the Civil War, the church was used as Union Army Hospital Number 14. Walk along the ruins of the Prince William's Parish Church (Old Sheldon Church). It's best to park off the road and walk into the church area. This first attempt at Greek Revival architecture in the area was burned twice, once by British General Augustine Prevost in the Revolutionary War, and once by Sherman in the Civil War. At St. Helena's Episcopal Church, Colonial John "Tuscarora Jack" Barnwell, the famous Indian fighter and a founder of Beaufort Town, is buried beneath the dome vault. During the Civil War and subsequent occupation, the church was used as a Union Army Hospital.
Historic downtown Beaufort can be toured by land or by sea with daily carriage and boat tours. The original settlement of Beaufort is in the downtown historic district area. 304 acres of the town have been designated a National Historic Landmark. Learn about Beaufort's past and relish in the details of the historic downtown district via a walking tour, a horse-drawn carriage ride or a bus or passenger van tour.
On the walking tour, guides in period dress will provide a full historical narration about the sites you visit and will regale you with songs from the antebellum past, and show you photographs of Civil War-Era Beaufort. Take a walk through downtown's National Historic Landmark District. The Westside Tour covers both the Colonial and Antebellum Periods and includes a visit to St. Helena Episcopal Church and graveyard. The Eastside Tour explores the Point and explores the Antebellum and Civil War Era. Several major motion picture sites are visited on the Eastside Walk.
For a great way to learn about Beaufort, take the Ace Basin tour. Three rivers converge to form the largest estuarine preserve on the East Coast. Climb aboard a 40-foot covered pontoon boat and take a three hour tour which leaves from the Coosaw Marine Dock, the dock that was featured as the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company in the movie Forrest Gump. The tour gives an up close look at the amazing wildlife in a casual kid-friendly setting. Dolphins, birds and crabs can be seen near the boat, as well as some lovely homes along the water.
Beaufort is a beautiful destination for outdoor activities. Public and private golf courses abound throughout the area, with a wide variety of golf packages available throughout the year. Salt and fresh water fishing and shrimping are available off several of Beaufort's piers and off the sea wall in Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park. Offshore fishing here draws amberjack, king mackerel, trout, triggerfish, drum, and cobia.
Huntington Island State Park offers five miles of beach, thousands of acres of marsh, tidal creeks and a maritime forest. There's also a saltwater lagoon and ocean inlet. Facilities include a fishing pier and some of the state's most desirable campsites and cabins. Tour South Carolina's only publicly accessible historic lighthouse. Dating back to the 1870s, the Hunting Island Lighthouse rises 170 feet into the air, giving those who scale its heights a breathtaking view of the sweeping lowcountry marshland and the Atlantic Ocean. Tours of the historic lighthouse complex are held March through November.
The arts serve as the heart and soul of this coastal community. Beaufort was named one of "The 100 Best Small Art Towns in America." Beaufort is proud to be home to a thriving arts community, which features concerts, art exhibits, world-class dance performances and special cultural events throughout the year. Whether you're interested in exploring quaint boutiques, art galleries or unique antique shops, you'll find it all in downtown Beaufort.
The town's restaurants specialize in fresh local seafood and lowcountry favorites, in addition to delicious American, French, Continental, Mexican, Chinese and Italian fare. Enjoy a wonderful meal from one of Beaufort's casual eateries, cozy bistros or world-class restaurants, some of which feature waterfront dining with breathtaking views of the Beaufort River and lowcountry marshlands. Turn your day into an evening at one of Beaufort's charming bed-and-breakfasts, inns or quaint vacation villas, many of which are located in or near the historic district.
Beaufort has been used as a setting for several films, including Forrest Gump, The Big Chill and The Prince of Tides.