Vaden of Beaufort, South Carolina, calls all history buffs to take a self-guided tour through Beaufort’s Historic District. Established in 1711, Beaufort is the second oldest town in South Carolina. In 1969, the National Register of Historic Places designated the district a National Historic Landmark and extended its period of significance to 1950.
If you’re excited about exploring museums, church ruins, historic buildings dating as far back as the late 1700s, and restored learning centers, Beaufort Historic District is the town for you. Take a stroll with Vaden of Beaufort, and explore our guide of the six places to see in and around Beaufort, South Carolina.
The Arsenal At Beaufort History Museum
Built in 1798 to house the Beaufort Volunteer Artillery, The Arsenal at Beaufort History Museum is the fifth-oldest unit in the United States. After the Civil War, this significant historic building hosted social events and military ceremonies. Builders constructed the original structure in 1798 using tabby covered with tiles and a surrounding tabby wall. Laborers composed tabby of lime from burned oyster shells mixed with sand, water, ash, and assorted shells. Today, visitors can enjoy this majestic symbol of Beaufort’s history.
- Location: 713 Craven St., Beaufort.
- Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.
Penn Center
Penn Center is a 50-acre historic district comprising 25 buildings and structures on the beautiful St. Helena Island, South Carolina. It’s proud to have earned the Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence. The Penn School National Historic Landmark District is the first school in South Carolina for formerly enslaved people of West Africa.
Discover this most notable African American institution with its glimmering marshes, moss-draped oak trees, and captivating beaches at St. Helena Island in a self-guided or reserved tour. We recommend casual clothing, comfortable shoes, and a hat. Schedule a guided tour that includes a historical overview of the Penn School and the Gullah Geechee people, followed by a documentary viewing and question-and-answer session. Walk-in attendees are welcome to join scheduled tours as availability permits.
- Location: 16 Penn Center Circle E., St. Helena Island.
- Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
Old Sheldon Church Ruins
A testament to Beaufort Historic District’s storied past is the beauty and splendor of Prince William’s Parish Church, known today as the Old Sheldon Church Ruins. The church held its first service in 1757, and historians say it was the first conscious attempt in America to imitate a Greek temple. The National Register of Historic Places listed these sacred grounds on October 2, 1970.
The church is an important historic landmark that dates back to before the Revolutionary War. The British burned Prince William’s Parish Church in 1779 during the war, but tradesmen rebuilt the church in 1826. Whether you’re an admirer of American history or simply looking for a riveting way to spend a few hours, don’t leave a visit to the Old Sheldon Church Ruins out of your next trip to Beaufort. The ruins are open to visitors all year round.
- Location: Old Sheldon Church Road, Yemassee.
- Hours: 24 hours daily.
The Fort Fremont History Center
The Fort Fremont History Center is located on lovely St. Helena Island in an area known as Land’s End. Although it was constructed as a fort during the Spanish American War, soldiers never fired a single shot from it. Congress authorized the building of Fort Fremont under the Harbor Fortification Act of 1898. Soldiers made no threats or call-to-arms, as the war was short, and the Spanish never made it to St. Helena or Port Royal Sound. The military deactivated Fort Fremont as a military installation in 1921 and placed it on the secretary of war’s list of obsolete properties.
The National Register of Historic Places listed Fort Fremont as part of the Historic Resources of St. Helena Island. Beautiful, mysterious, and lying along the water, Fort Fremont’s grounds and battery are open to the public. If you visit just before sunset, the photo opportunities are incredible.
- Location: 1124 State Road S-7-45, off Land’s End Road, St. Helena Island.
- Hours: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Fridays and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.
The Chapel Of Ease
Chapel of Ease is a beautiful relic on St. Helena Island. During the colonial period, rice and cotton planters constructed chapels of ease as houses of worship because their plantations were far away from the churches in Beaufort. The Anglican Church constructed this chapel between 1742 and 1747.
Union troops came ashore in 1861, and a messenger interrupted the Sunday services to bring news of an impending invasion. A fire destroyed most of it in 1886, and the church never regained its stature. It still stands as a reminder of an extraordinary era. Picturesque and serene, this historic structure still has a white glow, and all that remains are its tabby ruins and an adjacent cemetery.
- Location: St. Helena Island.
- Hours: 24 hours daily.
Beaufort National Cemetery
Beaufort National Cemetery, where over 19,000 lie at rest, is one of six national cemeteries established in 1863 for Union soldiers and sailors who died in the region. Landscapers designed a unique layout in the shape of a half wheel with roads forming spokes from the entrance.
A brick wall defines the property, and you can find four commemorative monuments on the cemetery’s grounds. They’re Eliza McGuffin Potter, a woman who cared for soldiers in Beaufort’s military hospitals, a memorial to Confederate soldiers, and two granite blocks affixed with bronze plaques recognizing African American Union soldiers.
- Location: 1601 Boundary St., Beaufort.
- Hours: 8 a.m. to sunset daily.
Make the most of your self-guided tour to the Beaufort Historic District, South Carolina, by visiting all six historical sights. What are some of your most treasured spots around Beaufort? Drop us a line and let us know, and we may add your suggestion to our history buff’s guide. Add excitement to your tour by viewing Vaden of Beaufort’s new vehicle inventory or certified pre-owned vehicles. Our team is ready to help you tour Beaufort in your dream vehicle.
An Empty Driveway by Rachel Claire is licensed with Pexels License
