Beaufort Historic District

The Beaufort Historic District covers 304 acres (about 123 ha) and has been on the National Register since 1969; it became a National Historic Landmark in 1973. Typical features are Federal and Greek Revival buildings and tabby, a concrete made of oyster shells, lime and sand. Beaufort was one of the few Southern towns that Union troops occupied rather than burned during the Civil War. The "Port Royal Experiment" distributed land to formerly enslaved people here and still shapes the town's history.

A walking tour leads through the district; the John Mark Verdier House (circa 1804) is a merchant's house that can be visited as a museum. Bay Street is the historic commercial street with restaurants and shops, and in front of it lies Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park on the Beaufort River. The Arsenal of 1795 houses a visitor center and history museum and makes a good starting point. The paved Spanish Moss Trail for walkers and cyclists links Beaufort with Port Royal. Two to three hours is enough for the walking tour.