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The areas written history dates
back to 1564 when the French settled on Parris Island
across from Hilton Head. Yet history in the region
stretches back another 10,000 years to the arrival
of Native Americans. The culture has also been influenced
by Spanish and English settlements and the introduction
of African slaves on the sea islands and Lowcountry
plantations. Such a mix of inhabitants throughout
the centuries has given the area a rich history and
a vibrant culture, which is a great source of pride
in the region.
Beaufort Museum – 713 Craven Street
/ Beaufort / 843-524-6334 / Modest Fee - Children
5 and under Free
A 1798 structure of brick and tabby, the museum is
housed in a former arsenal and features two galleries
tracing the history of the Lowcountry through photographs
and everyday items.
Edisto Island Museum
– SC Rte. 714 / Edisto / 843-869-1954
/ Modest Fee - Children 10 and under Free
With displays spanning the areas history from the
original native Americans to the sea island plantation
life and the Civil War, the Edisto Museum provides
a great overview of the regions history and culture.
Fort San Felipe,
Santa Elena, Charlesfort & San Marcos –
Driving Tour Information at Parris Island Museum
– Building 111, Panama Street / Beaufort / 843-525-2952
/ Free
Driving and walking tours of these historic settlements
and forts explore the early European history in the
region, the earliest is Charlesfort - a French settlement
dating to 1562. The next oldest is the site of the
Spanish village of Santa Elena (1566-1587). Two later
Spanish forts, San Felipe and San Marcos are still
visible.
Thomas Heyward Jr. Tomb–
Junction of Highways 278 & 462 / Hilton Head
/ 843-726-8126 / Free
The Heyward plantation house stood adjacent to the
family cemetery until it was burned by the yankees
in 1864, the ruins are still visible. Thomas Heyward
(1746-1809) was a signer of the Declaration of Independence.
Parris Island Museum
– Building 111, Panama Street / Beaufort / 843-525-2951
/ Free
Focusing on the history of Parris Island from the
early French settlement of 1564, the museum also
reviews the Spanish conquest of the area along with
the local events of the Revolution and Civil War.
The museum does not stop there but carries the areas
history and associations with 20th century and present
day wars.
Penn Center & York W.
Bailey Museum - 110 Martin Luther King
Jr. Drive / St. Helena Island /
843-838-2432 / $
Founded as a school back in 1862 to educate newly
free slaves, a Philadelphia abolitionist created
a campus of 18th and 19th century buildings. The
center is accompanied by the York W. Bailey Museum
which houses over 1,000 works of African-American
Gullah culture and sea island history. The Penn Center
is host to the annual Heritage Days celebrations
every November.
Pratt Memorial Library &
Webel Museum - 123 A & B Wilson Street
/ Ridgeland / 843-726-7744 / Free
The Pratt Library was a gift to the region by a northern
owner of an area plantation, 250 rare books relating
to the Lowcountry are housed here as well as Indian
artifacts and 200 portraits and maps. The Webel Museum
also has Indian artifacts and contains dioramas on
the area rice culture and historic materials on the
Revolutionary and Civil Wars.
National Cemetery
– 1601 Boundary Street / Beaufort / 843-524-3925
/ Free
Established by Abraham Lincoln for the burial of
Civil War military casualties, over 7,500 Civil War
soldiers are buried here. The cemetery has since
been open to soldiers of all wars.
Sheldon Church Ruins
– Highways 21 & 235 / Beaufort / Free
Twice burned, once by the British in the 1770s and
a second destruction by Sherman in 1865, the church
has remained a ruin for well over a century. The
ruins stand as a testament to its classic form as
well as an icon of the tragedy of war.
St. Helena’s Episcopal Church –
507 Newcastle Street / Beaufort / 843-522-1712
/ Free
Founded in 1712, the church survived the Revolution
and was used as a hospital during the War Between
the States. The flat tombs in the graveyard were
used as operating tables.
Verdier House – 801 Bay Street /
Beaufort / 843-524-6335 / $ - Children 5 and
under Free
A fine example of Federalist period architecture,
the Verdier House was built in 1800-1805 by John
Mark Verdier. Used by the Union Army as it’s
headquarters during the war, the house was also the
site of the first telephone exchange in Beaufort.
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