Beaufort Historic District
Encyclopedia
Beaufort Historic District is a historic district
in Beaufort, South Carolina
. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1969, and further was declared a National Historic Landmark
in 1973.
The historic district is renowned for its impressive collection of antebellum architecture that reflect the Federal, neoclassical
, and Greek revival
styles that were popular during the interwar period, along with the widespread use of tabby
. A variety of homes, gardens, commercial buildings, houses of worship and graveyards are featured in the district, with some sites open for public inspection. Continuous efforts at rehabilitation and conservation underline the community's commitment to maintaining the historic nature of the district, which has attracted much acclaim and popularity from visitors and media outlets.
Downtown is centered along Bay Street, Beaufort's historic commercial street. It includes other nearby streets and is mainly commercial in character. Located between the Beaufort River and Bay Street is the newly renovated Henry Chambers Waterfront Park, which overlooks the Beaufort River and is home to many of the city's festivals and events. Most non-tourist commercial services have since relocated to other areas in the city, leaving mostly restaurants and shops that showcase various art, handicrafts, and antiques.
The Point neighborhood (also known as the Old Point) is home to some of Beaufort's largest, oldest, and most expensive homes. Defined as the land between Carteret Street and the Beaufort River, this portion of downtown does not follow the major street grid and was once an area where a timber mill operated. Homes in this area range from the impressive mansions that overlook the Beaufort river to Victorian
and Queen Anne style homes along Craven Street. Streetscapes are typically dominated by an impressive live oak
canopy, often accompanied with Spanish moss
.
The Bluff area is located along Bay Street and North Street, immediately west of downtown. The large homes in the area are some of the most recognizable in the city and have a scenic overlook of the Beaufort River. The art deco U.S. District Courthouse is located at the western end of the Bluff.
The Old Commons neighborhood (also known as the Northeast Quadrant) is located in the northeastern portion of Beaufort's original street grid and is defined as the area between Carteret Street on the east, North Street on the south, Charles Street on the west, and Boundary Street to the north. Originally home to a hodgepodge of medium-sized homes, graveyards, and chapels, this section of downtown is undergoing reinvestment and redevelopment, yet retains a southern style of architecture. Nearly all homes in this neighborhood employ front or side porches.
The Northwest Quadrant neighborhood is loosely defined as the area between Charles Street on the east, Prince Street to the south, Ribaut Road on the west, and Boundary Street to the north. This area has for generations been the center of Beaufort's African-American community and is composed of late 19th and early 20th century homes, many in a shotgun
architectural style. Bladen Street serves as the principal street through the community and was recently renovated with improved landscaping and pedestrian access. There have been increased efforts at rehabilitation of several properties in the Quadrant, though significant financial and social obstacles often hinder these efforts.
Historic district
A historic district or heritage district is a section of a city which contains older buildings considered valuable for historical or architectural reasons. In some countries, historic districts receive legal protection from development....
in Beaufort, South Carolina
Beaufort, South Carolina
Beaufort is a city in and the county seat of Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. Chartered in 1711, it is the second-oldest city in South Carolina, behind Charleston. The city's population was 12,361 in the 2010 census. It is located in the Hilton Head Island-Beaufort Micropolitan...
. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1969, and further was declared a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1973.
The historic district is renowned for its impressive collection of antebellum architecture that reflect the Federal, neoclassical
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
, and Greek revival
Greek Revival architecture
The Greek Revival was an architectural movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, predominantly in Northern Europe and the United States. A product of Hellenism, it may be looked upon as the last phase in the development of Neoclassical architecture...
styles that were popular during the interwar period, along with the widespread use of tabby
Tabby (cement)
Tabby is a building material consisting of lime, sand, water, and crushed oyster shells. It was developed and used by English colonists in Beaufort County and on the Sea Islands of coastal South Carolina, in coastal Georgia, and in northern Florida in the Southern United States...
. A variety of homes, gardens, commercial buildings, houses of worship and graveyards are featured in the district, with some sites open for public inspection. Continuous efforts at rehabilitation and conservation underline the community's commitment to maintaining the historic nature of the district, which has attracted much acclaim and popularity from visitors and media outlets.
Neighborhoods
The district can be further divided into five unique and distinct neighborhoods. For some purposes, the Northwest Quadrant neighborhood is not considered to be in the historic district, however it is often grouped in together with the other neighborhoods.Downtown is centered along Bay Street, Beaufort's historic commercial street. It includes other nearby streets and is mainly commercial in character. Located between the Beaufort River and Bay Street is the newly renovated Henry Chambers Waterfront Park, which overlooks the Beaufort River and is home to many of the city's festivals and events. Most non-tourist commercial services have since relocated to other areas in the city, leaving mostly restaurants and shops that showcase various art, handicrafts, and antiques.
The Point neighborhood (also known as the Old Point) is home to some of Beaufort's largest, oldest, and most expensive homes. Defined as the land between Carteret Street and the Beaufort River, this portion of downtown does not follow the major street grid and was once an area where a timber mill operated. Homes in this area range from the impressive mansions that overlook the Beaufort river to Victorian
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
and Queen Anne style homes along Craven Street. Streetscapes are typically dominated by an impressive live oak
Live oak
Live oak , also known as the southern live oak, is a normally evergreen oak tree native to the southeastern United States...
canopy, often accompanied with Spanish moss
Spanish Moss
Spanish moss is a flowering plant that grows upon larger trees, commonly the Southern Live Oak or Bald Cypress in the southeastern United States....
.
The Bluff area is located along Bay Street and North Street, immediately west of downtown. The large homes in the area are some of the most recognizable in the city and have a scenic overlook of the Beaufort River. The art deco U.S. District Courthouse is located at the western end of the Bluff.
The Old Commons neighborhood (also known as the Northeast Quadrant) is located in the northeastern portion of Beaufort's original street grid and is defined as the area between Carteret Street on the east, North Street on the south, Charles Street on the west, and Boundary Street to the north. Originally home to a hodgepodge of medium-sized homes, graveyards, and chapels, this section of downtown is undergoing reinvestment and redevelopment, yet retains a southern style of architecture. Nearly all homes in this neighborhood employ front or side porches.
The Northwest Quadrant neighborhood is loosely defined as the area between Charles Street on the east, Prince Street to the south, Ribaut Road on the west, and Boundary Street to the north. This area has for generations been the center of Beaufort's African-American community and is composed of late 19th and early 20th century homes, many in a shotgun
Shotgun house
The shotgun house is a narrow rectangular domestic residence, usually no more than 12 feet wide, with doors at each end. It was the most popular style of house in the Southern United States from the end of the American Civil War , through the 1920s. Alternate names include shotgun shack,...
architectural style. Bladen Street serves as the principal street through the community and was recently renovated with improved landscaping and pedestrian access. There have been increased efforts at rehabilitation of several properties in the Quadrant, though significant financial and social obstacles often hinder these efforts.
Historic sites
Several sites individually listed on the National Register are in Beaufort and may be contributing properties in this district. These include:- The AnchorageThe Anchorage (Beaufort, South Carolina)The Anchorage, also known as William Elliott House, in Beaufort, South Carolina, is a house built in 1776. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971....
- William Barnwell HouseWilliam Barnwell HouseWilliam Barnwell House is a house in Beaufort, South Carolina.It may be included in the Beaufort Historic District, a National Historic Landmark.It was individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.-References:...
- Barnwell-Gough HouseBarnwell-Gough HouseThe Barnwell-Gough House, also known as Old Barnwell House, is a house built in Beaufort, South Carolina in 1789.It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. It may be included in Beaufort Historic District, which is a National Historic Landmark District....
- John A. Cuthbert HouseJohn A. Cuthbert HouseJohn A. Cuthbert House is a house built in 1811 in Beaufort, South Carolina. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.It may be included in the Beaufort Historic District, which is a National Historic Landmark.-References:...
- MarshlandsMarshlands (Beaufort, South Carolina)Marshlands, also known as James Robert Verdier House, is a house in Beaufort, South Carolina. It was the home of Dr. James Robert Verdier, who discovered a treatment for yellow fever.It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1973....
(NHL) - Robert Smalls HouseRobert Smalls HouseRobert Smalls House was a post-American Civil War home of Robert Smalls in Beaufort, South Carolina. An African-American slave, Smalls became a Union hero when he commandeered a Confederate ship out to Union blockaders. He went on to lead in combat and became a U.S...
(NHL) - Tabby ManseTabby ManseTabby Manse, also known as Thomas Fuller House, is a building in Beaufort, South CarolinaIt was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.The South Carolina Department of Archives and History summary is here....
- John Mark Verdier HouseJohn Mark Verdier HouseJohn Mark Verdier House, also known as Lafayette Building, is a building in Beaufort, South Carolina. It was built by John Mark Verdier, a French Huguenot, in 1795.It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971....