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.
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:
“The Battle of Port Royal Sound” (Check website for more information)
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.
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.
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.
Union Church in Port Royal
Fort Fremont on St. Helena Island
Santa Helena History Center
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.
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.
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
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:
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.
The Beaufort History Museum will present the second edition of its popular Living History Encampment on Saturday, March 4, 2017 from 9 am – 5 pm in the Arsenal courtyard. Union forces that occupied Beaufort during the Civil War after the Battle of Port Royal Sound (Nov. 7, 1861) will be brought to life by more than 20 re-enactors arriving from several states.
They will stage an encampment in the walled courtyard space and provide a unique opportunity for visitors of all ages to interact with the soldiers, to participate as soldiers themselves and receive orders to join regiments, and to learn firsthand how life was lived in Beaufort during the Civil War. The Museum is partnering with other Beaufort organizations, including the Beaufort County Library, to plan and conduct the weekend’s educational events. Admission is free and donations will be accepted.
Two of the weekend’s events will take place at the Beaufort Branch Library at 311 Scott Street, adjacent to the Arsenal:
“The Living History Encampment was one of our most popular events last year, attracting approximately 800 visitors”, said Carol Lauvray, BHM Board of Directors President. “It is educational and entertaining, providing 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.”
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 soldiers' life, the Port Royal Expedition, the Emancipation of African Americans, and operations between Charleston and Savannah. Visitors will also have an opportunity to have their photos taken by Chris Morgan, a wet-plate photographer, who produces antique-looking images. (There will be a fee for his services.)
The 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. 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 the BHM Facebook page for updates and news from the Museum.
Beaufort, SC (Feb. 8, 2017) — Researching the genealogy of former slaves and their descendants can pose challenges, but two experienced researchers will provide tips to uncovering your roots during an event Feb. 18.
Kimberly Morgan and Akosua Moore will reveal what they've learned about a former slave and his many descendants through family lore, government records and library materials during a lecture presented by the Beaufort History Museum and the Beaufort County Library.
The lecture will be at 1 p.m. at the library's St. Helena Branch, 355 Jonathan Francis Sr. Road.
The event is free, but space is limited. Click here, then scroll to the "Register" button to ensure your admission. (Those who do not pre-register will not be guaranteed a seat and admitted only on a space-available basis.)
Our mission is to preserve, promote and interpret 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
