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

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 16^th 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.

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 Survey, California Food Share, American 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 magazine, Beaufort 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 16^th Century until modern times.  

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 16^th Century until modern times.  The Museum’s hours of operation are 10:00 AM – 4:00 PMMonday – Saturday.

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 16^th 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.

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 16^th Century until modern times. 

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 16^th 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

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 16^th Century until modern times.  The Museum’s hours of operation are 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM Monday – Saturday.

 

 

 

 

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-20^th 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 16^th Century until modern times.  The Museum’s hours of operation are 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM Monday – Saturday. 

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 16^th Century until modern times.  The Museum’s hours of operation are 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM Monday – Saturday.