News


  • Friday, May 25, 2018 1:29 PM | Webmaster BHM (Administrator)

                Beaufort, SC – May 24, 2018 - Something very old is new again at Beaufort’s famous Arsenal.  Beaufort History Museum, which occupies the second floor of the historic building, has completed the renovation of its Exhibit Hall and it is now open to the public.

    “Since 1939 we have been Beaufort’s history museum, “ said Larry Koolkin, a Director and Co-chairman of the Exhibits Committee.  “Coming home to the Arsenal has allowed us to ‘repaint the canvas’ and present our extensive collection, telling the 500-year history of the Beaufort District, in a fresh way that engages all ages.”

    HW Exhibits, a Charleston-based exhibit design firm, created the new design based on the Museum’s impressive collection of artifacts and images.  The firm, headed by Carol Poplin, the HW Exhibits Director, also handled the fabrication and installation of the exhibits.

    The Museum’s materials display history of the Beaufort District in storyboards organized into separate subject areas such as First People, European Exploration, Rice and Cotton, the Civil War, 20th Century Tourism and more

     There are three sections:

    •      Ecology – examining how Beaufort District’s history is tied to the region’s geography, climate, landscape and ecology
    •      Discovery and early settlement – exploring American Indian life ways through early exploration European settlement, the plantations era and the Civil War.
    •      Modernization and growth – focusing on 20th century industries such as oystering phosphates, the military, truck farming and tourism.

     “ This is a very exciting and important time for Beaufort and for the Museum.  We have come a long way but our journey has just begun,” Koolkin said. “ The new exhibit hall represents Phase I of the renovation.  Phase II, due to be completed next year, will include larger, centrally placed displays and visitor interaction enhanced with leading-edge technology.  We think visitors will embrace this chance to experience the history of our area and that they will especially enjoy our ‘user friendly’ approach.”

    The Arsenal address is 713 Craven Street. Normal BHM hours of operation are 10:00 am – 4:00 pm, Monday – Saturday. Docents are on duty to provide information and conduct tours. Please visit beauforthistorymuseum.com or the BHM Facebook page for updates and news from the Museum.   

  • Wednesday, April 18, 2018 11:21 AM | Webmaster BHM (Administrator)

    Beaufort History Museum Poised to Debut New Exhibit Hall

    Beaufort, SC – April 18, 2018 – There is a growing sense of excitement around the historic Arsenal these days as Beaufort History Museum prepares to debut its newly renovated Exhibit Hall.   The long anticipated renovation is on schedule and poised to open to the public in time for the Memorial Day weekend, according to Larry Koolkin, a BHM Director and Co-chairman of the Exhibits Committee.  Koolkin says that completion of the project will mark the fruition of a dream that the Museum’s supporters have held for many years.

    “The Museum, founded in 1939, has been housed at many sites, finally coming home to The Arsenal in 2014,” Koolkin said.  “This is our chance to ‘repaint the canvas’ and present our extensive collection, which tells the 500-year history of the Beaufort District, in a fresh and compelling manner utilizing new technologies and a modern approach.”

    HW Exhibits, a Charleston-based exhibit design firm, was hired to create a cohesive theme, developing text and graphics based on the Museum’s collection of artifacts and images.  The firm, headed by Carol Poplin, the HW Exhibits Director, will also handle fabrication and installation.

    The long, narrow second floor space that houses the Museum was a primary consideration as Poplin and her team conceived their plan for the renovation.  “Beaufort History Museum has a certain charm but the unique configuration of the Exhibit Hall had to be considered when planning the traffic flow and the perceived usage by guests.” Poplin said. “Will they wander back and forth across the space?  Can they resume the chronological order once they are drawn to another section of the displays?  All of this had to be taken into consideration to make their visit enjoyable and encourage a sense of discovery.”

    The Museum’s materials are organized both chronologically and thematically.  The 13,000 year history of the area is displayed in storyboards and organized into discrete subject areas such as First People, European Exploration, Rice and Cotton, the Civil War, 20th Century Tourism and many more

    Thematically, Poplin said there are three sections:

    •      Ecology – examining how Beaufort District’s history is tied to the region’s geography, climate, landscape and ecology
    •       Discovery and early settlement – exploring American Indian lifeways through early exploration European settlement, the plantations era and the Civil War.
    •       Modernization and growth – focusing on 20th century industries such as oystering phosphates, the military, truck farming and tourism.

    When the new exhibit hall opens the interpretive displays will represent Phase I of the renovation.  Phase II, due to be completed next year, will include larger, centrally placed displays and visitor interaction enhanced with leading-edge technology.

    Koolkin said that the Museum will remain open until the setting up of the new Exhibit in early May, when it will close for a few weeks during the installation period.  The opening date will be announced once installation is complete.

    The Arsenal address is 713 Craven Street. Normal BHM hours of operation are 10:00 am – 4:00 pmMonday – Saturday. Docents are on duty to provide information and conduct tours. Please visit beauforthistorymuseum.com or the BHM Facebook page for updates and news from the Museum, including special discounted admission prices to celebrate the Renovation.

  • Monday, April 02, 2018 6:17 PM | Webmaster BHM (Administrator)

    Beaufort, SC - April 8, 2018 - Cheers! Beaufort History Museum invites supporters to toast The Language of Libations at the Museum’s fourth annual Tea fundraiser.  The event is scheduled for Tuesday, May 8, 1- 4 PM at Dataw Island Club. 

    Admission is $65 per person ($55 members) and a table of 10 is $500. Proceeds benefit the projects of Beaufort History Museum. Seating is limited.  For reservations visit http://tea.beauforthistorymuseum.com.

    “We are inviting everyone to attend the Tea and experience a delicious and educational afternoon while helping us to reach our fundraising goals,” said BHM Board president Carol Lauvray. “Community support is especially important to us this year because we are currently renovating the Museum and will be introducing Phase I of the new Exhibition Hall to the public this spring ”

    The Tea Committee traditionally offers an educational component along with the fun.  This year guests will learn about Tea Plantations, Sweet Tea Vodka, “Demon Rum”, and Barrel–aged Bourbon and their place in South Carolina history.  They will also sip a delightfully curated tea selection along with decadent savory and sweet delicacies, enjoy signature custom-crafted cocktails, complimentary tastings, a cash bar and a silent auction. 

    The speakers include historian Michael D. Coker, Berkeley County Museum and Heritage Center Executive Director and historian who also leads the Charleston Tavern Tours, and William Hall of the Charleston Tea Company. Event sponsors are John and Danielle Troutman, Grayco Hardware and Home, Firefly Lowcountry Distillery, Hair Play Salon Color Bar, Missy Massalon Realtor of Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners, Eat Local (Saltus River Grill, Plums and Hearth Wood Fired Pizza), and Eat, Sleep, Play Beaufort.

    Beaufort History Museum, located in the historic Arsenal on Craven Street, has evolved to focus specifically on the history of the Beaufort District. It strives to manage and display artifacts and documents held by the City of Beaufort, telling the compelling stories of this area from the early 16th Century until modern times.  The Museum’s hours of operation are 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM Monday – Saturday.

  • Tuesday, March 20, 2018 9:37 PM | Webmaster BHM (Administrator)

    Beaufort History Museum, in partnership with the Beaufort Branch Library, will present a lecture by Dr. Richard Porcher, Jr. which will focus on Dr. Henry Woodward, considered to be the first colonist in South Carolina and Beaufort’s first settler.  The talk is scheduled for 2 PM on Tuesday, April 3, 2018 at the Beaufort Branch Library, located at 311 Scott Street.        

                Following the lecture everyone will walk across the street to the historic Arsenal, home of the Museum, to the courtyard, where the Henry Woodward Chapter of the Colonial Dames 17thCentury will place a wreath on a monument to Woodward.   Refreshments will be served.  

                Admission to the lecture and wreath placement is free.  A donation of $5 is suggested and reservations are required.  To sign up visit the BHM website atwww.beauforthistorymuseum.com. Please print out the ticket and bring to the event.  Registration opens March 20.    (Lectures sell out.  Those with tickets will be admitted first.)  Funds collected will be used to support ongoing Museum programs and the renovation of the Exhibit Hall, which is currently underway.

                Woodward’s story is a fascinating tale. He lived from 1646 -1687. He was South Carolina’s first doctor, learned several Indian languages and was known as an “ambassador” for the colonists to the Indians.   It is believed that through his friendship with the Indians, colonists were warned of the Spanish attack of 1670.  Woodward’s importance was such that the colony wouldn’t have survived without his influence.

                A professor emeritus at the Citadel and adjunct professor of biological sciences at Clemson University, Porcher is a dynamic speaker and respected author.  He has written Wildflowers of the Carolina Lowcountry and Lower Pee Dee and co-authored  A Guide to the Wildflowers of South Carolina (both published by the University of South Carolina Press) and The Story of Sea Island Cotton.

                 Porcher is a trustee of the South Carolina Nature Conservancy and on the board of directors of the Charleston Library Society, the Waring Library and the Carolina Rice Foundation.  He is the 2008 recipient of the South Carolina Environmental Awareness Award.

                Beaufort History Museum, located in the historic Arsenal on Craven Street, has   evolved to focus specifically on the history of the Beaufort District. It strives to manage and display artifacts and documents held by the City of Beaufort, telling the compelling stories of this area from the early 16th Century until modern times.  The Museum’s hours of operation are 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM Monday – Saturday.


  • Thursday, March 01, 2018 5:12 PM | Webmaster BHM (Administrator)

    ‘Historic Collaboration’ Launches Free Shuttle for all in Downtown Beaufort

    For Immediate Release, February 28, 2018

    Beaufort, SC – A collaboration between downtown organizations focused on Beaufort’s history --- Beaufort History Museum, Historic Beaufort Foundation, Santa Elena Foundation, and Spirit of Old Beaufort --- is established collectively as “Experience Beaufort History.” In addition to creating a single avenue for convenient, custom ticket purchases, the effort will now help visitors travel to each destination and around downtown.

    The Experience Beaufort History partners see great value in launching a free shuttle that will loop the main areas of downtown Beaufort to improve mobility, lessen the burden of parking, and serve customers of all businesses in the downtown area. The effort has full support from the City of Beaufort, Beaufort Cultural District, and downtown merchants.

    The free shuttle will run on ThursdayFriday and Saturday from 10am-5pm in an ongoing loop that includes Bay Street, Carteret Street, Craven Street and Scotts Street. The route will stretch from the Santa Elena History Center to the USCB Campus, including stops at Beaufort History Museum, Verdier House, City parking areas, and the Waterfront Park.

    “How wonderful that all organizations came together to create a strong history network and offer a special service in the free shuttle. We all work hard to preserve and promote the rich heritage of beautiful Beaufort and want to make sure that everyone who comes downtown can enjoy it all too,” says Megan Meyer, Director of Santa Elena History Center. “May this trial service in the spring prove to be a great solution for residents, visitors, merchants, and our own organizations.”

    The “Hop On! Hop Off!” shuttle model will allow users great flexibility to ride the shuttle, and stops will be identified with signage. Route maps will also be available at the Visitor’s Center, Marina, and each museum. And, yes, there will be no charge. The organizations, from their operational funds and Accommodations Tax Funds, are underwriting the shuttle for a trial period in March, April, and May.

    For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.experiencebeauforthistory.org

  • Thursday, February 01, 2018 1:00 PM | Webmaster BHM (Administrator)

    Subject:            Beaufort History Museum

    Topic:                Annual Tea Fundraiser Calendar Announcement

    The Fourth Annual Spring Tea to be held on May 08, 2018, presented by the Beaufort History Museum, is titled “The Language of Libations”.

    Our guests will hear about South Carolina’s fascinating history of tea plantations, rum influence of infamous Governor Ben Tillman (1890-94), all brought to life by entertaining speakers.  They will sip a thoughtfully curated variety of tea and enjoy a lavish array of decadent sweet and savory delicacies.

    Date:                  May 8, 2018

    Time:                 1-4 pm

    Site:                    Dataw Island Club - Carolina Room

    Reservations:   Open April 2, 2018 at http://tea.beauforthistorymuseum.com

    Proceeds benefit the projects of the Beaufort History Museum.  Seating is limited.

    Information:       Ongoing updates at www.beauforthistorymuseum.com

  • Thursday, February 01, 2018 9:00 AM | Webmaster BHM (Administrator)


    Beaufort History Museum Announces Living History Encampment

    Union Troops to Occupy the Beaufort Arsenal March 24

                            Beaufort, SC – March 1, 2018 - Beaufort History Museum will present its third annual Living History Encampment on Saturday, March 24, 2018 from 9 AM – 5 PM in the Arsenal courtyard. This year, the popular event will include displays of South Carolina militia from 1860 – 1861 and describe the militia’s role in defending the Port Royal Harbor, and subsequently in defending the mainland against the Federal forces. Also featured will be military impressions of the Union infantry, marine and naval forces that used Beaufort as a base of operations during the Civil War after the Battle of Port Royal Sound on Nov. 7, 1861. In addition, the role of civilian abolitionists and teachers involved in the Port Royal Experiment will be presented, along with the early transitions of Freedmen in this area.

    Re-enactors coming to Beaufort from several states will stage the encampment in the walled Arsenal courtyard space and provide a unique opportunity for visitors of all ages to interact with the soldiers, abolitionists, teachers and Freedmen, and to learn firsthand how life was lived in Beaufort during the Civil War years. The Museum is partnering with other Beaufort organizations, including the Beaufort County Library, to plan and conduct the Living History Encampment, along with these educational events:

    “Our annual Living History Encampment is one of our most popular events, attracting more than 600 visitors in a single day last year”, said Carol Lauvray, BHM Board of Directors President. “The event is educational and entertaining, and provides a chance for people of all ages to get a real sense of everyday life in Beaufort during the Civil War years. We are very grateful to encampment organizer, Daniel Gidick of Charleston, to the other re-enactors, and to our partner the Beaufort County Library, for all of their efforts to make this remarkable event available to the public each year.”

    The encampment will offer a fascinating look at everyday life in Beaufort during that period, with re-enactors actually setting up camp in the Arsenal courtyard, staging cooking demonstrations and drills, and portraying soldiers and sutlers who traveled through the region selling everyday goods. Re-enactors will interact with visitors to the event, talking about the life of soldiers, the Port Royal Expedition, the Emancipation of African Americans, and military operations between Charleston and Savannah.

    Admission is free to the Encampment in the Arsenal courtyard, however donations to support the Museum are much appreciated. On Saturday, March 24, the day of the Encampment event only, admission to the Museum on the second floor of the Arsenal will be specially priced at $5.00 per visitor ($4.00 for Seniors). Children and active military and their families are admitted to the Museum free of charge at all times.

    Beaufort History Museum has evolved to focus specifically on the history of the Beaufort District. It strives to manage and display artifacts and documents held by the City of Beaufort, telling the compelling stories of this area from the early 16th Century until modern times.  Docent classes are conducted on an ongoing basis.

    The Arsenal address is 713 Craven Street. Normal BHM hours of operation are 10:00 am – 4:00 pm, Monday – Saturday. Docents are on duty to provide information and conduct tours. Please visit www.beauforthistorymuseum.com or the BHM Facebook page for updates and news from the Museum.

    For information on becoming a Docent or Volunteer Greeter contact Lorrie Burleyknoles at lburleyknoles@beauforthistorymuseum.com or (559) 362-3237.
  • Thursday, January 25, 2018 6:00 PM | Webmaster BHM (Administrator)

    Beaufort History Museum Announces Annual Meeting

    Members and Public Invited

                Beaufort, SC – December 14, 2017 - Museum members and the public are invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Beaufort History Museum (BHM) on Thursday, January 25, 2018 at 6:00 PM in the Museum’s main hall on the second floor of The Arsenal, located at 713 Craven St.

    At the meeting, milestones of the past year will be celebrated and plans for 2018 will be revealed, including a preview of the exciting renovation of the Museum’s main exhibit hall, which is scheduled to open to the public in spring 2018. Current Museum members also will vote on a slate of Board of Directors nominees (all of whom are existing Board members). The slate will be presented to BHM members in advance of the annual meeting via email.

    Nominees for a second three-year term on the Board of Directors are:

    • Lorrie Burleyknoles, a member of the Museum’s Board of Directors since January 2015, has been instrumental in the development of BHM’s Docent Program and chairs BHM’s Volunteers Committee. She studied environmental geology and Russian linguistics, but pursued careers in retail/restaurant management and small-business ownership so that she could follow her husband through a career requiring constant relocation. Originally from California, Lorrie settled in Beaufort to raise her family. She volunteered as a child collecting entry donations to support the museum her father co-founded. 

    She has devoted time to the U.S. Geological SurveyCalifornia Food ShareAmerican Truck Historical Society, the Marine Corps KW/KVN and Family Readiness programs, Naval Ombudsmen Program, School Improvement Council, and the Beaufort Symphony Youth Orchestra

    Carol Lauvray joined the Museum as a docent in 2013 and was elected to BHM’s Board of Directors in January 2015. She has served as President of the Board since December 2015 and is also a member of the Museum’s Marketing and Communications Committee. Carol represents the Museum as a member of the City of Beaufort’s Cultural District Advisory Board. In addition to her volunteer activities on behalf of BHM, she is a contributing writer for the local magazineBeaufort Lifestyle

    Before moving to Beaufort in 2011, Carol was a marketing and communications professional for more than 20 years and worked for Nationwide Financial Services in Columbus, Ohio, part of Nationwide Insurance Company. She graduated magna cum laude from Otterbein College with a bachelor’s degree in business and organizational communication; earned a masters in organizational communication from Ohio University; and attended Bowling Green State University for post-graduate studies in organizational development.

    • Carla Marsh, a member of the Museum’s Board of Directors since January 2015 and co-chair of BHM’s Marketing and Communications Committee, recently retired from a career in public relations and marketing with an office in Boca Raton, Fla. Before establishing her own company in 1991, she was a vice president of a leading Fort Lauderdale public relations firm with which she was associated for eight years. A former news, sports and features writer, she graduated with a BA in Journalism from the University of Michigan, where she was also elected to Phi Beta Kappa. Marsh served on the boards of the Boca Raton Historical Society and the South Florida’s “No Kid Hungry” Taste of the Nation fundraising event steering committee. 

    She also was co-founding chairwoman of Boca Bacchanal Winefest Weekend, the largest fundraiser of the Boca Raton Historical Society and one of the largest food and wine events in Florida. She currently serves on the board of directors of a top Charlotte, N.C. real estate development company. She joined the Beaufort History Museum in 2014 and became part of the Docent staff. 

    Board President Carol Lauvray announced the annual meeting and also provided a preview of events sponsored by the Museum that will take place in the coming months. Included are:

    • February – April 2018:  Ongoing presentation of the popular History Lecture Series.  This series, developed in partnership with the Beaufort Public Library, has presented lectures on Beaufort District history, which have been filled to capacity.
    • Saturday, March 24, 2018: The third annual living history encampment in the Arsenal Courtyard featuring Civil War era re-enactors in period dress.
    • Tuesday, May 8, 2018: The fourth annual Beaufort History Museum Tea, a fundraiser, The Language of Libations, to be held at the Dataw Island Club.

    Refreshments to follow:

    Following the annual meeting, a reception featuring hors d’ oeuvres and wines will be held at 7:00 PM at the Museum.

    Those who wish to renew their Museum memberships or to become new members, may do so at the meeting or by clicking here.

    The Beaufort History Museum, which was founded in 1939, has evolved to focus specifically on the deep and rich history of the Beaufort District.  It strives to manage and display artifacts and documents held by the City of Beaufort, telling the compelling stories of this area from the early 16th Century until modern times.  

  • Sunday, January 21, 2018 12:41 PM | Webmaster BHM (Administrator)

    Beaufort History Museum Announces February Lecture

    Effect of Jim Crow Laws in South Carolina Presented

     TO REGISTER click here. 

                Beaufort, SC January 22, 2018 - Beaufort History Museum, in partnership with the Beaufort County Library, announces the first 2018 program in its local history lecture series. Titled “The Effect of Jim Crow Laws in South Carolina and Beaufort County” the event is planned for Tuesday, February 6, at 2:00 pm at the Beaufort Branch Library, 211 Scott Street.

                The lecture will discuss the Jim Crow Laws that were employed in South Carolina    and  the effect they had on Beaufort County African Americans.  The speaker will             also discuss several key personalities and notable places that thrived and helped    Beaufort County African Americans to succeed despite the “laws”.        

                Andrea Allen, a retired mental health counselor/administrator who enjoys researching and writing on historical situations, will present the lecture. Allen serves on several  boards in the community that focus on the wellbeing of the citizens of Beaufort    County.  She is a member of Beaufort History Museum Board of Directors.

    Admission is   free. A donation of $5 is suggested and reservations are required. To sign up click here.  Please print out the ticket and bring to the event. Registration opens October 25. (Lectures sell out. Those with tickets admitted first.) Funds collected will be used to support ongoing Museum programs, which are open t     

    Beaufort History Museum, located in the historic Arsenal on Craven Street, has   evolved to focus specifically on the history of the Beaufort District. It strives to manage  and display artifacts and documents held by the City of Beaufort, telling the compelling stories of this area from the early 16th Century until modern times.  The Museum’s hours of operation are 10:00 AM – 4:00 PMMonday – Saturday.


  • Tuesday, January 16, 2018 10:00 AM | Webmaster BHM (Administrator)

    Beaufort History Museum Announces Winter Docent Training

    Classes begin January 16, 2018

                Beaufort, SC – December 18, 2017 – Beaufort History Museum is offering Docent Classes to train volunteers who lead Museum tours and serve as community liaisons. In the classes, directed by Docent Educator Lorrie Burleyknoles, participants learn how Beaufort shaped America from the early European settlements to current times.

    Classes will be held at the Beaufort Branch Library at 311 Scott Street and at the historic Arsenal at 713 Craven Street. Space in the class is limited and those interested in attending the five-week session are encouraged to register early. For more information on the Docent program, or other volunteer opportunities with the Museum, contact lburleyknoles@beauforthistorymuseum.com or call 559-362-3237.

    Winter Docent Training classes are scheduled on Tuesdays as follows:

    • Jan. 16  - 8:30 AM - Noon
    •  Jan. 23 - 9 -11:30 AM
    •  Jan.30  - 9 AM - Noon
    • Feb. 6 - 9AM -1:30 PM
    •  Feb 13 - Noon- 2 P               

    Beaufort History Museum, located in the Arsenal, has evolved to focus specifically on the history of the Beaufort District. It strives to manage and display artifacts and documents held by the City of Beaufort, telling the compelling stories of this area from the early 16th Century until now. 

    The Museum’s hours of operation are 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM Monday – Saturday. Docents are on duty to provide information and conduct tours. A donation of $7.00 per visitor ($6.00 for Seniors) is required.  Children and active military are admitted free of charge.  Please visit www.beauforthistorymuseum.com or BHM’s Facebook page for updates and news from the Museum.

Our mission is to preserve, portray, and promote the experiences of our past that influence us now and in the future.

The Beaufort History Museum is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. 713 Craven Street, Beaufort, SC 29902. Mailing Address: PO Box 172, Beaufort, SC 29901 

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