News


  • Tuesday, January 09, 2018 5:12 PM | Webmaster BHM (Administrator)

    Beaufort History Museum Offers Free Admission Friday

    National Park Service Reconstruction Era Event Planned in Arsenal Courtyard

                Beaufort, SC – January 9, 2018 - The National Park Service (NPS) will hold the Inaugural Celebration of the Reconstruction Era National Monument at 10:00 AM in the Arsenal Courtyard this Friday, January 12th.  In support of this event Beaufort History Museum, located on the second floor of the Arsenal at 713 Craven Street, will offer free admission to its Reconstruction Exhibit from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM on Friday.

                Beaufort History Museum’s special Reconstruction exhibit illuminates a fascinating era in the history of South Carolina and the nation. It provides a key introduction to the tours of Beaufort’s Reconstruction Era National Monument Sites planned by NPS.

                Titled “Islands of Hope in a Sea of Distress,” the featured Exhibit tells the stories of Reconstruction in the Beaufort District through original photos, text, documents and artifacts. It focuses on four main areas: Education, Politics, Commerce and Agriculture.

                Lawrence S. Rowland, Professor Emeritus at the University of South Carolina Beaufort and authority on the history of the Beaufort District says, “The Reconstruction Period of American history (1865 – 1877) began in Beaufort, S.C. It was the most radical social transformation the nation has experienced. The Reconstruction Period in Beaufort changed the town and the Sea Island region forever. This is where the ‘New South’ began. This exhibit recounts Beaufort’s unique part in this national story         

                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. 

  • Tuesday, January 02, 2018 10:29 AM | Webmaster BHM (Administrator)

    Beaufort History Museum Announces Renovation

    New Exhibition Hall Will Open Late Spring 

                                  Beaufort, SC –  January 2, 2018 - Beaufort History Museum, which is located on the upper level of the Arsenal on Craven Street in Beaufort’s historic district, is undergoing a complete renovation of its principal exhibit hall. The Museum displays the City of Beaufort’s collections, which tell the remarkable 500–year-old history of the Beaufort District. 

                   HW Exhibits, a Charleston-based exhibit design firm, has been retained to help write text, develop graphics, create a cohesive theme and fabricate interpretive exhibits based on the storylines, artifacts and photos that comprise the Museum’s proprietary collection and support its mission of education.  Carol Poplin, HW Exhibits Director and Owner, is Project Leader.

                   Also on the Museum’s “wish list” are plans for the exhibit hall to receive a fresh coat of paint and to undergo other repairs and improvements to the space.  Although the renovation has been a topic of discussion and research for several years, work actually began this year on the first phase of the renovation, which will be completed by late spring 2018.  The Museum will remain open during the creative and implementation process but will close for a few weeks prior to completion to facilitate the exhibit installation.

                   The renovation is overseen and directed by the Museum’s Exhibits Committee.  Members include Co-chairs Larry Koolkin and Anne Marie Reiley-Kay, Katherine Lang and Paul Keyserling with support from Mary Lou Brewton, Linda Irving and Phil Cromer.  Lawrence S. Rowland and Stephen R. Wise, co-authors of The History of Beaufort County, South Carolina and renowned authorities on Beaufort’s history, are the principal advisors.

                    Koolkin said HW Exhibits was chosen after reviewing the company’s impressive portfolio of work on peer museums, including the Santa Elena History Center and the Parris Island Museum.  The cost for the entire renovation is currently estimated to be  $250,000. The first phase of the renovation, which is already funded and now underway, will cost $100,000.  Work on the second phase of the project will begin in 2018 and will be paid for with funds from the Museum’s escrow account, Accommodations Tax grants and through fundraising efforts.  A capital campaign is currently underway.

                   Koolkin said the renovation would take place in two phases with Phase I covering the initial planning, creative work, and selection of artifacts from the City’s collection, fabrication of storyboards and displays and installation.   Phase II will involve the installation of a central island with further displays and the implementations of interactive technologies to both enhance and expand the visitor experience. 

                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.  The Museum’s hours of operation are 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM Monday – Saturday.

              HW Exhibits is the exhibit design division of Brockington and Associates, heritage resources consulting firm based in Atlanta, Georgia. For more information visit the website at www.hwexhibits.com

  • Wednesday, October 18, 2017 3:42 PM | Webmaster BHM (Administrator)

    Beaufort, SC – October 19, 2017 - Beaufort History Museum, in partnership with the Beaufort County Library, announces this season’s second program in its local history lecture series, The Battle of Port Royal Sound.  The event is planned for Tuesday, November 7, at2:00 pm at the Beaufort Branch Library, 211 Scott Street.

                The Battle of Port Royal Sound was one of the earliest naval operations of the Civil War.  On November 7, 1861, a massive U. S. Naval fleet and U. S. Army expeditionary force sailed into Port Royal Sound and captured Fort Walker on Hilton Head and Fort Beauregard on St. Helena Island.  At the time, it was the largest armada ever launched by the United States.

                Beaufort was among the first southern towns to fall into Union hands. The Federal occupation changed the course of Beaufort District history and led to the most misunderstood period of American history, the Reconstruction Era.

                Berkeley County Museum and Heritage Center Executive Director and historian Michael D. Coker will bring this important battle, and the events surrounding it, to life.  He will share stories from his book, The Battle of Port Royal Sound, about this pivotal  point of the Civil War.

                Admission is   free.  A donation of $5 is suggested and reservations are required. To sign up visit the BHM website.   Please print out the confirmation email as your 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 to all.

                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.

     

     

     

     


  • Monday, October 02, 2017 8:43 PM | Webmaster BHM (Administrator)

    Beaufort, SC – October 2, 2017  - Beaufort area residents and visitors enjoy the beautiful setting and myriad recreational opportunities at Henry C. Chambers Riverfront Park, but it was not always so.  What is now a 7-acre waterfront promenade with a playground, pavilion, marina, paths for strolling and plenty of benches for simply relaxing and taking in the stunning views, was at one time a decaying and shabby wharf that mirrored a failed mid-20th Century economy. 

                At a lecture, presented by Beaufort History Museum in partnership with the Beaufort Public Library, there will be the chance to learn the fascinating history of the waterfront’s revival.   Spearheading the project was one of Beaufort’s most effective and beloved mayors, Henry C. Chambers, who envisioned the renovation and led it to completion after his election in 1969.   

                Titled Politics, Pilings and Playgrounds--Henry C Chambers Riverfront Park”, the lecture will feature a panel discussion moderated by Edie Rodgers:

    • ·       Panelists: Henry C. Chambers, Ed Duryea, Harry Chakides, and Duncan Fordham discuss the trials and tribulations of creating Beaufort’s signature waterfront community space.
    • ·       Date:  Tuesday, October 17
    • ·       Time:  2 – 3:30 pm
    • ·       Location:   First Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall, Corner of North and Church Streets, Beaufort, SC 29902
    • ·       Admission:      Free  (A donation of $5 is suggested. Funds collected will be used to support ongoing programs which are open to all.)
    • ·       Reservations are required. To sign up visit the BHM website by clicking here.  Please print out the ticket and bring to the event.  (Lectures sell out. Those with tickets admitted first.)
    • ·       Next Lecture in History Series – Tuesday, November 7

          “The Battle of Port Royal Sound”  (Check website for more information)

                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. 

  • Monday, August 21, 2017 10:09 AM | Webmaster BHM (Administrator)

    Due to Hurricane/Tropical Storm  Irma the museum rescheduled this lecture to 10/17 (Tue), same time and location. 

    Beaufort History Museum will present a lecture as part of the popular historical series co-sponsored with the Beaufort County Library:

    Event Name:  Politics, Pilings and Playgrounds--Henry C Chambers Riverfront Park”, a panel discussion moderated by Edie Rodgers.

    •       Panelists Henry C. Chambers, Ed Duryea, Harry Chakides, and Duncan Fordham discuss the trials and tribulations of creating Beaufort’s signature waterfront community space.
    •       Date:  Tuesday, October 17
    •        Time:  2 – 3:30 pm
    •        Location:   First Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall, Corner of North and Church Streets, Beaufort, SC 29902
    •        Admission:      Free  (A donation of $5 is suggested. Funds collected will be used to support ongoing programs which are open to all.)
    •        Registration: Only 90 available seats. Click here to register!  Please print out the ticket and bring to the event.  (Lectures sell out. Those with tickets admitted first.)
    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 modern times.  The Museum’s hours of operation are 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM Monday – Saturday. 


  • Wednesday, July 26, 2017 6:09 AM | Webmaster BHM (Administrator)

    Beaufort, SC – July 24, 2017 – Beaufort History Museum is offering docent classes to train volunteers who lead museum tours and serve as community liaisons.

    Directed by docent educator Lorrie Burleyknoles (shown at left), the classes will teach participants how Beaufort shaped America from the early European settlements, its involvement in the Revolutionary War and dramatic role during the Civil War to the Reconstruction Era, the complex transition to the 20th Century, and its current-day prominence as a major tourist destination and site of military training and defense.

    The training curriculum will cover all stages of Beaufort’s 500-year history as educators impart knowledge of the Museum’s collection, including artifacts and photos, and it’s mission. Once Docents have completed training, they will be asked to serve up to three shifts per month and commit to a one-year period of service.

    Classes will be held at the Beaufort Branch Library at 311 Scott St. 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.

    The schedule will be as follows:

    Thursday, Aug. 24: 8:30 a.m.  to noon at Beaufort Branch Library meeting room (orientation for new docents, followed by the first class.)

    Thursday, Aug. 31: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Beaufort Branch Library meeting room (Class No. 2)

    Friday, Sept. 8: 9:30 am to noon at the Arsenal conference room (Class No. 3)

    Friday, Sept. 15: 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. at the Arsenal conference room (Class No. 4)

    Friday, Sept. 22: Noon to 2 p.m. at the Arsenal conference room (Class No. 5)

    The Beaufort History Museum, located in The Arsenal, focuses 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 is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Docents are on duty to provide information and conduct tours. Admission is $7 per visitor ($6 for seniors). Children and active military are admitted free of charge.  


  • Tuesday, June 20, 2017 6:37 PM | Webmaster BHM (Administrator)


    The Beaufort History Museum is admitting visitors free of charge from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on June 30 as part of the Liberty Week Festival.

    The festival, June 28-July 4, is a statewide commemoration of South Carolina’s contribution to the Revolutionary War, organized by the S.C. Historical Society with the help of a grant from SC Humanities. This year, the Beaufort County Historical Society and partner organizations are joining the fun, as well.

    Beaufort History Museum visitors do not need to reserve a spot or make any special arrangements – simply show up during operating hours Friday, June 30, for free admission.

    Other Beaufort County organizations are also hosting free events, including the Beaufort County Public Library, where the week kicks off at 2 p.m. June 28 at the downtown Beaufort branch with a presentation by Doug Bostick of the S.C. Battleground Trust. 

    The following organizations are also offering free admission as part of the Liberty Week Festival. Call or check their websites for details.

    Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

    Historic Beaufort Foundation’s John Mark Verdier House.

    Coastal Discovery Museum on Hilton Head Island

    Heritage Library Foundation on Hilton Head Island, including Zion Chapel and Fort Mitchel

    Heyward House in Bluffton

    Historic Daufuskie Foundation Museum

    Daufuskie Lighthouse and Museum

    Morris Center for Low Country Heritage in Ridgeland

    Parris Island Museum

    Port Royal Foundation Maritime Center

    Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

    Heyward House in Bluffton

    Historic Daufuskie Foundation Museum

    Morris Center for Low Country Heritage in Ridgeland

    Union Church in Port Royal

    Fort Fremont on St. Helena Island

    Parris Island Museum

    Port Royal Foundation Maritime Center

    Santa Helena History Center


  • Saturday, April 15, 2017 8:22 AM | Webmaster BHM (Administrator)

                The Beaufort History Museum’s Third Annual Spring Tea is titled “Crowning Glory – Celebrating the Role of Women’s Hats in Southern Culture”.   Patrons are invited to wear their favorite hat and to “Strut their Hattitude” as they savor delicious traditional delicacies, sip tea, learn about the fascinating allure of fashionable hats from celebrity speakers, enjoy a Parade of Hats and bid at a silent auction featuring trips, dinners and other attractive items.

                “Hats are really the stars this year,” says BHM Board President Carol Lauvray. 
    “We’ll take a look back at how meaningful church hats were and are, especially in the African American community, where they held a special significance.  We will also spotlight other occasions where hats play a key role, such as South Carolina’s legendary steeplechase thoroughbred horse races in Elloree, Aiken and Camden.  Southern women just know how to dress for a party! We are encouraging everyone to wear a beautiful hat and join in the festive spirit of the Tea.”

                The Tea is scheduled for Wednesday, May 10, from 1-4 pm at the Dataw Island Club’s scenic Carolina Room. Reservations can be made at http://tea.beauforthistorymuseum.com.  Individual tickets are $60 and tables of 10 are available for $500 (see the website for restrictions and instructions to reserve a table.) Seating is limited. Proceeds benefit the projects of the Beaufort History Museum.

                For the first time the Museum is hosting a silent auction at the Tea to include trips, dinners, cooking classes, tastings, luxury services and other attractive items available for bidding. A preview of the auction items will be posted on the Museum’s website with a “Buy it Now” option. Guests will also be able to view the items, choose the ones they like and then bid with cash or credit cards at the event.

                The principal speaker at the Tea is celebrity shoe designer and milliner Etu Evans, who will be coming to Beaufort from New York. His grandmother and mother, both of whom had extensive collections of church hats, jewels and shoes, influenced Evans’ path in the fashion industry.

                An internationally prominent designer, he studied millinery at New York’s prestigious Parsons School of Design and the Fashion Institute of Technology where he graduated with an Associate’s Degree in Footwear and Accessory Design.
    Evans’ hats have been sold in his Harlem boutique and worn across Europe and Japan and have been featured in various national television shows and publications.  For a featured auction item he will offer one lucky bidder a consultation on the most flattering hat styles and correct size for the shape of her face and stature.

                The famous Goorin Brothers Hat Company, founded in 1895, which has stores across the U.S. and in Canada with local shops in Savannah and Charleston, will also be a part of the program.  Hats and accessories will be on view along with advice on how to choose the perfect hat.

                The Clark Troutman Group, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management is sponsor of the Third Annual Beaufort History Museum Tea along with Live Oak Builders and the Carolina Cup Racing Association. Additional sponsorship opportunities are available and may be arranged by contacting Lauvray by email clauvray@beauforthistorymuseum.com.

                Beaufort History Museum, located in the historic 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 modern times.  The Arsenal address is 713 Craven Street. BHM’s hours of operation are 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM Monday – Saturday.

                To join the Museum please visit the website at www.beauforthistorymuseum.com. To learn more about becoming a Volunteer Greeter or Docent please contact Lorrie Burleynoles at lburleynoles@beauforthistorymuseum.com.


  • Monday, March 27, 2017 12:19 PM | Webmaster BHM (Administrator)

    Topics Include Harriet Tubman and Gullah Culture 

    Beaufort History Museum will present two lectures that are part of the popular historical series co-sponsored with the Beaufort County Library.  Both lectures take place at the Beaufort Branch Library located at 311 Scott Street.  Admission is free but reservations are required and space is limited.   To reserve a seat visit the Museum website at www.beauforthistorymuseum.com 

    The lectures are: 

    Tuesday, April 4  - 2 pm – Harriet Tubman: A Glimpse into the Life of a Woman of Courage 

    Hear about Harriet Tubman’s (aka, Araminta Ross) life as a slave, her escape to freedom, and her work with the Underground Railroad. You’ll learn how she helped to liberate hundreds of Lowcountry slaves in the Combahee Raid during the Civil War and about her work after the war as a humanitarian, suffragette and friend to the indigent. 

    Lecturer: Andrea Allen, Beaufort History Museum Board Member

    Andrea is a member of the historic Tabernacle Baptist Church in downtown Beaufort, where she is a musician for the Senior Choir and serves asSunday School Superintendent. She retired in 2015 from the Coastal Empire Community Mental Health Center, as the Assistant Director for a five-county area, after serving 37 years in the SC Department of Mental Health. She joined the Board of Directors of the Beaufort History Museum in January 2016. 

    Thursday, April 20, 2017 – 2 pm - Gullah History and Culture

    The lecture will cover the origin of the Gullah natives primarily located along the coastal areas of South Carolina and tell why they were concentrated in large numbers on various isolated islands such as Dafuskie, Johns Island, Kiawah, Port Royal and Wadmalaw. Saint Helena has the largest number of Gullah natives (6, 500) where a strong culture still exists.  Learn about their arrival as slaves through the Port of Charleston, how they were dispersed throughout the state, how their labor contributed to the wealth of the Planters and what exactly happened to these natives after the “Big Gun Shoot” (The Battle of Port Royal Sound) on November 7, 1861.

    Questions will be answered. How did they acquire the lands they now live on? What was the importance of the Praise Houses? How did the language develop? Discussion will include what makes up a culture and how is it expressed among the Gullahs. This is a lively presentation, which explains how their practices evolved into what is referred to as Gullah History and Culture.

    Lecturer: Mary Rivers LeGree is a native of Saint Helena Island. Her early years were spent on the Rivers' family compound among her parents and other relatives. She was educated in NYC and University of Detroit (BA). After retirement in 2004, Ms. LeGree returned to Saint Helena Island and lives on the property that had been purchased by her ancestors shortly after the Civil War. She is eager to share their untold history and their practices from a genuine perspective, having been brought up in the culture. She is a past Planning Commissioner for Saint Helena District, and serves as a member of the Saint Helena Community Preservation Committee.

    Beaufort History Museum, located in the historic 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 modern times.  The Arsenal address is 713 Craven Street. BHM’s hours of operation are 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM Monday – Saturday. 

    The Beaufort County Library System is a free and accessible marketplace of ideas, information, and culture that fosters learning, community, and information literacy. The Library provides open and guided access to a wide variety of media and programs to inform, inspire, and empower all its patrons in their pursuit of lifelong learning, personal enrichment, and cultural understanding. The library system operates five branch libraries throughout Beaufort County and library cards are available free of charge to all county residents and property owners. It offers free access to millions of items through a combined online catalog and digital library. 

    The Beaufort District Collection (BDC) is the Library’s special local history and archives unit. BDC staff and docents are stewards who collect, protect and share a research collection of permanent value about local history, Gullah culture, the natural southeastern coastal environment, family history and archaeology. For the BDC’s hours of operation, please visit its website at beaufortcountylibrary.org

  • Friday, March 03, 2017 9:57 AM | Webmaster BHM (Administrator)

    Lecture to Highlight A Woman Who Changed Beaufort

    Event Scheduled for March 14

    The legacy of much-loved Beaufortonian Abbie Holmes Christensen will be in the spotlight on Tuesday, March 14, when the Beaufort History Museum presents a talk as part of its popular history lecture series. The lectures, created in partnership with the Beaufort County Library, have been filled to capacity and pre-registration is required for seating.

    If you go:

    • A Woman Who Changed Beaufort — Abbie Holmes Christensen
    • Tuesday, March 14, 2017 at 2 pm
    • Beaufort Branch Library
    • 311 Scott Street

    The lectures are free to the public but space is limited, so please pre-register here.

    Hear Anne Christensen Pollitzer talk about her great grandmother Abbie Holmes Christensen and her legacy. Christensen came to Beaufort during the Civil War with her Abolitionist parents and made a lasting impact through her educational, business and civic contributions. She was an abolitionist, civic leader, businesswoman, and founder of the Port Royal Agricultural School, as well as an activist for the temperance, suffrage and civil rights movements.

    Pollitzer, a fifth generation Beaufortonian, was a teacher for 34 years and founded the Montessori School in Beaufort. Carroll Christensen Sommerville Eve, Pollitzer’s cousin, will join her in sharing her own personal memories of growing up in Beaufort with her grandmother, Abbie Holmes Christensen.

    Beaufort History Museum, located in the historic 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 modern times. The Arsenal address is 713 Craven Street. BHM’s hours of operation are 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM Monday – Saturday.

    The Beaufort County Library System is a free and accessible marketplace of ideas, information, and culture that fosters learning, community, and information literacy. The Library provides open and guided access to a wide variety of media and programs to inform, inspire, and empower all its patrons in their pursuit of lifelong learning, personal enrichment, and cultural understanding. The library system operates five branch libraries throughout Beaufort County and library cards are available free of charge to all county residents and property owners. It offers free access to millions of items through a combined online catalog and digital library.

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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