Beaufort County brings together stories of Reconstruction, coastal forts, museums, and nature trails.

Reconstruction and Gullah Geechee

The Reconstruction Era National Historical Park in Beaufort County preserves and shares the national stories of Reconstruction: African Americans’ pursuit of freedom, the challenges following the abolition of slavery, and the struggles to redefine the nation during and after the Civil War. The park includes four sites: the visitor center in downtown Beaufort, Pinckney-Porter’s Chapel at Camp Saxton, Darrah Hall at Penn Center, and Brick Baptist Church. In the history of the Beaufort National Historic Landmark District, many historic homes, churches, and commercial buildings served as offices, hospitals, and quarters for military personnel.

Nearby, Penn Center is located on St. Helena Island. Its historic district covers 50 acres and includes 25 historic buildings and structures. Its History and Culture Program preserves and shares the African American culture of the Sea Islands and Lowcountry, known as Gullah Geechee. Every November, Penn Center organizes the Heritage Days Celebration; plan your visit around the confirmed event dates.

Coastal Forts and Historic Sites

Nearby stands the historic Hunting Island Lighthouse. It was built in 1859 and rebuilt in 1875 after being destroyed during the Civil War. Fort Fremont was the last link in a long local history of coastal forts and is the only surviving relic of that history still visible. Self-guided tours of the grounds are available during the day through a walking tour app; the History Center has limited hours. The park grounds are open daily from sunrise to sunset. Check the latest information before your visit.

Nature Trails and Habitats

The Spanish Moss Trail is a 12-foot-wide, paved, multiuse trail for nonmotorized use in northern Beaufort County; more than ten connected miles of trail are ready to explore. Pedestrians and nonmotorized means of transportation are permitted; motorized wheelchairs and Class 1 pedal-assist e-bikes are excluded. Check the latest trail information before using it.

At Altamaha Town Heritage Preserve, you can picnic, hike, and watch wildlife. A ten-foot-wide dirt trail leads from the parking lot 0.5 miles in one direction to an overlook. The preserve’s historic character includes the remains of a Yamassee village and a colonial-era cemetery.

Crystal Lake Park encompasses wooded upland and wetland habitats, salt marsh, and a man-made pond. Its 0.5-mile loop around the lake is half boardwalk and half dirt trail. The park also has public restrooms, a fishing pier, a basic nature trail, and a pollinator garden. Widgeon Point Preserve is a 162-acre passive park in central Beaufort County. The pond-edge habitat is used by bald eagles, white pelicans, and other migratory birds.

Museums and Environmental Education

The Port Royal Sound Foundation Maritime Center opened in November 2014. It features live animals and combines exhibits with hands-on educational activities indoors and outdoors about Port Royal Sound. Visitors of all ages can learn more about the Sound there.

Nearby, the Coastal Discovery Museum’s Discovery House offers permanent exhibits and rotating art exhibitions, as well as a museum store and a Kids’ Zone. At Honey Horn, you can explore the grounds on your own or join a guided walk through scenic parkland, gardens, and buildings.

Beaufort County’s public environmental education programs take place indoors and outdoors for all ages. Topics include Trail Talks, fish clinics, birdwatching, salt marsh explorations, herpetology, and pollinators. Specific offerings may vary.

Explore More Destinations

Explore more destinations: Shell Point, Sumter County, Laurens, Clarendon, Cherokee County, Charleston, Bamberg County, Dillon County.

For the main travel overview: South Carolina.