The Beaufort History Museum is participating in the new “Experience Beaufort Museum Pass” program offered by the Beaufort Inn. Guests at the Inn will receive a pass offering complimentary admission to BHM and to the Verdier House and the Santa Elena History Center.
Experience Beaufort - Museum Pass package includes:
Museum pass can only be redeemed during guests' stay. Museum pass cannot be redeemed for cash. Museum pass can only be redeemed at each location during their hours of operation; please visit websites to check their hours.
Our Second Annual Living History Encampment will be held Saturday March 4th, 9am-5pm, in the Arsenal Courtyard. Union forces who 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 people of all ages to interact with the soldiers and to learn first hand how life was lived in Beaufort during the Civil War.This is a free event with donations gratefully accepted. The Museum is partnering with other Beaufort organizations, including the Beaufort County Library, to plan and conduct the weekend’s educational events.
Make a New Year’s Resolution to Spend Time Volunteering
Beaufort History Museum Offers Greeter Program
Beaufort, SC – January 4, 2017 – This is the time when people make New Year’s promises and many resolve to give more of their time in service to the community. Those who are interested in history, enjoy interacting with visitors and have a few hours each week to spare volunteering for a worthy organization in a dynamic setting may want to investigate the new Volunteer Greeter Program at the Beaufort History Museum.
The BHM Volunteer Greeter’s role is to make initial contact with patrons, aid the Docents by directing visitors to exhibits or existing tours, answer general, non-history related questions about the museum, collect visitor information and take tickets.
The requirements for becoming a Volunteer Greeter include joining the museum, attending a two-hour training session, being available for duty at the Museum approximately six hours per month and volunteering for duties at occasional special events.
As part of the training greeters will “shadow” a seasoned Docent/Greeter for a minimum of 3 hours prior to working a scheduled shift. They will not be able to educate the Museum’s patrons or tell the stories of our local history unless they also attended the more extensive Docent Training courses. The first Greeter Orientation Class is January 18 from Noon – 2 pm at the Museum.
“Those who participate in the Volunteer Greeter program will be key members of our team. They will also be part of the larger Museum family and will be invited to special events, exclusive exhibit openings and social gatherings,” said Lorrie Burleyknoles, Docent/Greeter Educator and a member of the BHM Board. “We look forward to welcoming the new volunteers to our organization.”
She also announced the Winter 2017 Docent Training Schedule:
· January 18 - Class 1 - 8:30 -11:30 am - Docent Informational Orientation to be followed immediately by the class.
· January 25 – Class 2 - 9:30-11:30 am
· February 1 – Class 3 - 9:30 - Noon
· February 8 – Class 4 - 9:30 - 11:30 am
· February 15 – Class 5 - 9:30 - 11:30 am
It is strongly suggested that those interested in becoming a Docent reserve their space in advance. For more information please call 559-362-3237 or email lburleyknowles@beauforthistorymuseum.com
Beaufort History Museum, located in the Arsenal in Beaufort’s historic downtown, 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. 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 the website at www.beauforthistorymuseum.com or BHM’s Facebook page for updates and news from the Museum.
The Reconstruction Exhibit at the Beaufort History Museum has taken on a special relevance in light of the growing interest in historic tourism and the importance of Reconstruction in Beaufort County. Congressman Jim Clyburn and members of the National Park Service toured various local sites in Beaufort County recently to evaluate the possibility of designating the County as a national monument to the Reconstruction Era. Those who would like to learn more about Reconstruction in Beaufort County might begin by visiting the Beaufort History Museum, which is currently showcasing an exhibit that illuminates this fascinating era in the history of South Carolina and the nation. Titled “Islands of Hope in a Sea of Distress,” the Exhibit tells the stories of Reconstruction in the Beaufort District through original photos, text, documents and artifacts During Reconstruction, the period immediately following the Civil War, most of the South was suffering from devastation and upheaval. But due to the enterprising spirit of newly freed slaves and an overlapping series of propitious events, Beaufort County and the Sea Islands were propelled into a period of recovery, resurgence and prosperity. Reconstruction in Beaufort began earlier than in other areas in the south. Following the Battle of Port Royal Sound in 1861, Union troops occupied Beaufort and established headquarters, supply centers and medical facilities. Local white planters fled. With the Civil War still raging, 10,000 slaves were liberated in the Beaufort District. Schools were for whites only and it was illegal to teach slaves to read. Northern missionaries established the Penn School and Mather School to educate the newly freed men, women and children as part of the Port Royal Experiment. Robert Smalls, who was born a slave here, helped lead Beaufort through Reconstruction. Business boomed. The sources of prosperity were timber, phosphates and shipping, all spurred on by the completion of the Port Royal Railroad in1873, which provided the means to more efficiently transport products into and out of the area. Former slaves came to own land as freedmen and agriculture flourished. With these stories as the backdrop, the Exhibit concentrates on four main areas: Education, Politics, Commerce and Agriculture, presenting photos and artifacts to support the narrative. 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 Arsenal address is 713 Craven Street. BHM’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 the website at www.beauforthistorymuseum.com or BHM’s Facebook page for updates and news from the Museum.
Beaufort, SC – November 29, 2016 – Travel back in time and learn about the fascinating history of The Anchorage, one of Beaufort’s most acclaimed historic homes, and “Walk in Santa’s Boots” at lectures presented by The Beaufort History Museum and the Beaufort Public Library:
Title: Historic Homes of Beaufort: The Anchorage
Presenter: Beverly Eggert
Date: Thursday, December 8, 2016
Time: 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Location: Beaufort Branch Library
Hear the stories of one of Beaufort’s oldest and most famous houses, the Anchorage, and five generations of Elliotts associated with it prior to and following the Civil War. Travel the Road to Secession and learn about the fall of Beaufort to the Union, the Cuban connection to The Anchorage and South Carolina’s Trial of the Century. If walls could talk, this house would tell an incredible story!
Beverly Eggert is a retired Beaufort County English teacher, who now focuses on her four passions: reading, writing, researching, and teaching. A skilled historic storyteller, she also is the coordinator of the Lecture Series presented in partnership by the Beaufort History Museum and the Beaufort County Library. In addition to being a featured presenter for the Lecture Series, Beverly also has been a presenter for the Santa Elena History Center and the South Carolina Humanities Festival 2016.
This lecture is part of an ongoing history lecture series and each prior session was filled to capacity. While the lectures are free to the public space is limited. Please register at www.beauforthistorymuseum.com to ensure admission. (Those who do not pre-register will not be guaranteed a seat.)
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Title: “I Walked In Santa’s Boots”
Presenter: Jack Gannon
Date: Wednesday, December 14
Time: 5:00 PM Seating begins at 4:40 PM
Local author Jack Gannon served as Beaufort’s premiere Santa Claus at “Night on the Town” and the Christmas parade from 1993-2015. His recently released book I Walked In Santa’s Boots showcases his memories and includes more than 250 color photos from his appearances as Santa’s surrogate over those 22 years. Copies of his book will be available for purchase and autographing at the end of the program. Come early to visit the Model Trains exhibit. Pre-registration for this special lecture is NOT required as seating will be first come, first seated. The lecture will be held at the Beaufort District Collection, second floor, 311 Scott Street.
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
BHM's Board of Directors urges NPS to designate Beaufort as the site for their new National Reconstruction Memorial. Click here to read the resolution.
Beaufort History Museum Announces November History Lecture Dates
Series Created in Partnership with Beaufort County Library
Beaufort, SC – October 26, 2016 – The Beaufort History Museum, in partnership with the Beaufort County Library, will present two lectures in November:
The presenter for the lectures is Beverly Eggert, a retired Beaufort County English teacher, who now focuses on her four passions: reading, writing, researching, and teaching. A skilled historic storyteller, she also is the coordinator of the Lecture Series presented in partnership by the Beaufort History Museum and the Beaufort County Library. In addition to being a featured presenter for the Lecture Series, Beverly also has been a presenter for the Santa Elena History Center and the South Carolina Humanities Festival 2016.
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Thursday, October 13, 2016 – 2:00 – 3:30 PM - Historic Homes of Beaufort: The Anchorage - Learn the history of one of Beaufort’s oldest and most famous houses, the Anchorage, and about five generations of Elliotts prior to and following the Civil War. Travel the Road to Secession and learn about the fall of Beaufort to the Union, the Cuban connection to the house, and South Carolina’s Trial of the Century. If walls could talk, this house would tell an incredible story.
Beaufort History Museum Partners with Beaufort County Library - History Lecture Series Planned
The Beaufort History Museum (BHM) is partnering with the Beaufort County Library to create and present a lecture series that will focus on the fascinating history of the Beaufort District. The series, which is free to the public, runs from September 2016 through May 2017 and features two lectures each month. The September lectures are:
Carol Lauvray, BHM Board President, made the announcement of the lecture series. “ We are very pleased to be working along with the Beaufort County Library to create this interesting and entertaining lecture series. Our Education Committee has been developing the idea for the series for a while and it seemed that teaming up with the Library and utilizing their many resources would be a perfect partnership,” she said.
“Most of the lectures will take place at the Beaufort Branch Library’s Meeting Room. We have worked closely through the planning stages with Library representatives Grace Cordial and Jan O’Rourke. Their input and generous support are essential to the success of the program.” Cordial is the Beaufort District Collection Manager and O’Rourke is Assistant Director/Planning and Community Engagement.
The BHM Education Committee members are Andrea Allen, Lorrie Burleyknoles, Beverly Eggert (Lecture Series Coordinator), Ingrid Owens and Stuart Heath. They, along with Lauvray, who is also a Docent at the Museum, have initiated, planned and implemented the Lecture Series in partnership with the Library. Some of the future topics include “Historic Homes of Beaufort - The Anchorage and the Elliotts”, “ Music of the Civil War”, “The Battle of Port Royal Sound” and “Native American Myths”. A complete Lecture Series schedule will be posted on the BHM website at www.beauforthistorymuseum.com A monthly preview of upcoming lectures will also be provided.
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
