The Hunting Island Lighthouse bears two pivotal dates: it was built in 1859 and rebuilt in 1875 after being destroyed during the Civil War. This sequence offers a glimpse into the different histories that have shaped Beaufort and Beaufort County. They include Gullah Geechee culture, sites commemorating the Reconstruction Era, historic fortifications, and protected landscapes. Depending on your interests, you can focus your explorations on cultural history, tangible traces of the past, or nature trails.
Cultural History and Historic Sites
The Penn Center preserves and shares the African American culture of the Sea Islands and Lowcountry, known as Gullah Geechee. The 50-acre National Historic Landmark District brings this cultural significance together with the historic buildings and structures of the Penn School: a self-guided walking tour takes you past 25 of them. There is also a nature trail shared with the National Park Service that leads to an observation point. The grounds thus bring together cultural interpretation, historic structures, and a trail into the surrounding natural landscape.
The Reconstruction Era National Historical Park includes four sites in Beaufort County. The Old Beaufort Firehouse serves as the park’s headquarters and visitor center. Another historic site is Fort Fremont on Saint Helena Island: in 1899, the Army Corps of Engineers had the fort built by local workers on land taken from private owners. It was intended to protect the strategic dry dock and coaling station, which were important to the Atlantic Fleet during the Spanish-American War. You can explore the Fort Fremont Nature Preserve on a self-guided tour using an app. Friends of Fort Fremont also runs the History Center and offers history tours there; tour dates may change.
The Altamaha Town Heritage Preserve protects historic remains of a Yamasee village and a colonial-era cemetery. A 0.5-mile dirt trail leads one way from the parking area to an observation point. On the Beaufort River in Port Royal Sound, the Fort Frederick Heritage Preserve is home to the historic tabby ruins of Fort Frederick. Its landscape includes mixed hardwood forest, maritime forest, and salt marshes. The site has a public access point, parking areas, and a picnic shelter; check current conditions before your visit.
Trails, Beaches, and Nature Watching
Hunting Island State Park has a four-mile beach, along with several hiking and biking trails. The Spanish Moss Trail offers another way to explore the area on foot or using non-motorized transportation: the paved, multi-use trail is 12 feet wide, is still being extended, and includes more than ten continuous miles in northern Beaufort County. It is open to pedestrians and non-motorized transportation, with motorized wheelchairs and Class 1 pedal-assist e-bikes exempted from the restrictions. As trail rules may change, it’s a good idea to check them before your visit.
Wildlife enthusiasts can find a bird-watching platform and a nature trail at Widgeon Point Preserve. Among the wildlife you may see are shorebirds, songbirds, and alligators. Beaufort County’s nature preserves also offer environmental education programs, such as bird walks, salt marsh walks, and talks about pollinators. Individual programs and their dates may vary. The trails and activities each have a different focus: some lead to an observation point at the end of a specific route, while others highlight wildlife watching or learning about natural connections.
Festivals and Local Culture
Recurring events also offer different ways to experience the area’s culture. The Original Gullah Festival of South Carolina takes place annually in Beaufort and features traditional food, arts and crafts, and storytelling. The Annual Beaufort Water Festival includes competitions, parades, exhibits, talent shows, and evening entertainment. The Annual Beaufort Oyster Festival is also held in Beaufort every year, in January. The festivals have different focuses—from Gullah Geechee traditions and a varied program of events to the Oyster Festival in winter. Since dates and programs may change, check the details if an event is important to your travel plans.
Explore more destinations: Hilton Head Island, Beaufort, Bluffton, Port Royal, Okatie, Saint Helena Island, Clarendon, Dillon County.
For the main travel overview: South Carolina.
