Beaufort's "Contraband" Hospital

The "Contraband" Hospital in Beaufort, South Carolina was established during the Civil War for the medical care of freed African Americans on the Sea Islands.

• A two-story white house, surrounded by trees and tall shrubs, sits on the corner of two quiet streets. Lining the street on which the front of the house faces is a white picket fence.

Camp Saxton

Camp Saxton was established in the Fall of 1862 as home to the 1st South Carolina Volunteer Infantry, later renamed the 33rd United States Colored Troops. On January 1, 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation was read to the men of the regiment, along with hundreds of other formerly enslaved people, in a stand of live oak trees at the site of Camp Saxton.

• Camp Saxton now Fort Frederick Heritage Preserve, it is a park with large live oak trees on the edge of a marsh. In the park are the ruins of the tabby fort from the 1730s. Pinckney-Porter's Chapel is a small single-story white chapel with a tower and a front porch.

Caper Harper Wheelwright

During the Reconstruction Era, Caper Harper owned a wheelwright shop on this site.

• A white two-story building used as a law firm.

Combahee River Ferry & Harriet Tubman Bridge

The Combahee River Ferry crossing is marked by the Harriet Tubman Memorial Bridge, where Tubman and African American soldiers of the 2nd South Carolina Volunteer Infantry emancipated of over 750 enslaved people in June 1863 during the Combahee River Raid.

• The concrete bridge spans a moderately wide flowing river, with tall grass sprouting from each side of the shore.

First African Baptist Church Beaufort

Beaufort's First African Baptist Church was started during the Reconstruction Era by freed people, and has been an active African American church since 1865.

• A white gothic-style two-story church with three front-facing windows flanked by black shutters. There are three wooden doors on the front porch and tall windows on either side of the structure. A wide steeple stretches through the center on the front of the building.

Francis Izzards Butcher Shop & Stable

Starting in 1866 into the 1870s Francis Izzard owned a butcher shop and stable on this site.

• An empty lot next to an intersection.

Freedman’s Bank

The Freedman’s Bank operated on this site from 1865 until the Panic of 1873.

• A multistory brick building with a store front on the first floor.

Gabriel Haynes Tailor Shop

At the 1864 Tax Auction Gabriel Haynes bought this site and operated a tailor shop.

• A white single-story building and parking lot.

Harriet Tubman Laundry & Bakery

Located on this street was a laundry and bakery owned by Harriet Tubman 1862 to help fund her efforts with the U.S. military.

• Craven Street has a yellow Arsenal in the shape of a castle, old two-story houses, a large white church with a steeple. Somewhere on this block was Harriet Tubman’s establishment.

James Jenkins Beef & Mutton Shop

Today two stores occupy the site that was James Jenkins Beef & Mutton Shop in the 1860s and 70s.

• Two store fronts located on the first floor of a multistory building on a side street.

Jerry Savage Wheelwright

In the Reconstruction Era, Jerry Savage owned a carpentry and wheelwright shop on this site.

• A small white house with a porch.

Mather Cottage

In 1868 Rachel Mather purchased twenty acres of land with a cottage for eighty-seven dollars. The cottage acted as Rachel Mather’s home, and later became known as Mather Cottage.

• Today the space where Mather Cottage was is a parking lot. Mather cottage was a large three-story house with a wraparound porch.

Mather School Bell

The school bell at Mather was rung for the summoning of students for meals, school get-togethers and emergencies.

• The school bell is housed in a brick pavilion with a metal roof.

Mather School Coleman Hall

Coleman Hall overlooks the Beaufort River. Constructed by Charles A. Eshleman, the building was completed in 1928. Coleman Hall was the seventh building to be built on the Mather campus.

• Today Coleman Hall is a two-story tan brick building with a flat brown roof and a long-shaded walkway.

Mather School Gym

The Wildy Memorial Gymnatorium on the Mather School campus was named in honor of Melvin T. Wildy, an honorable citizen of Beaufort County, as well as a member of Brick Baptist Church, and the Beaufort County School Board.

• The only piece of the Mather School Gym that is left is the Wildy Memorial in front of the new Gymnatorium. The memorial is a red brick arch with a white porthole window in the middle of the arch.

Mather School Howard Hall

Residing close to the school bell, Howard Hall housed the campus’ chapel. The building was named after Mary Howard of Connecticut.

• Howard Hall used to stand overlooking the marsh, but now is just open land.

Mather School Sales House

Many students who lived on the Mather School campus needed a place where they could buy various goods to meet their needs. A store house was erected in the late 1800s for students to utilize and receive goods from.

• The Sales House is no longer standing now a parking lot takes its place.

Mather School Stoughton Hall

Rachel Mather died before the end of the school year in 1903, however, her legacy with the Mather School continued to thrive. New buildings were added to the campus, starting with Stoughton Hall. The building was completed in 1907.

• Rachel Mather died before the end of the school year in 1903, however, her legacy with the Mather School continued to thrive. New buildings were added to the campus, starting with Stoughton Hall.

Prince Rivers Retail Store

After the Civil War, Prince Rivers owned a liquor and retail shop on this site that now acts as a chocolate store.

• This brown and green single-story building now holds a chocolate shop. It is unknown what the building looked like when Prince Rivers owned the store.

Richard Dailey’s Restaurant

In the 1870s Richard Dailey from Delaware owned an “Eating House” on Bay Street.

• Bay Street is a main street with businesses lining both sides of the street for three blocks.

South Carolina: Penn Center

Founded in 1862 as a school for freed slaves, Penn School established a commitment to Black education, community welfare, and cultural heritage that has remained strong for over 150 years. Penn School functioned as an educational institution, health clinic, farm bureau, catalyst for community action, and a repository for preserving St. Helena Island’s unique Gullah heritage and written history.

The Mather School

The Technical College of the Lowcountry Beaufort Mather Campus is located at the site of the Mather School, a Reconstruction era educational institution located in Beaufort South Carolina. Established by Rachel Crane Mather in 1868, today the campus is a part of the Reconstruction Era National Historic Network.

• The Mather Campus of the Technical College of the Lowcountry is located along Ribaut Road, a busy highway in Beaufort South Carolina. The campus consists of several modern brick buildings, a well manicured lawn, and overlooking the marsh alongside the Beaufort River. There is a state historic marker noting that this was the site of the Reconstruction era Mather School, and a large colorful mural depicts African American heroes of the 19th Century.

The Robert Smalls House

The Beaufort home of Congressman and Civil War veteran Robert Smalls.

• A brick walkway leads through a well-manicured garden to the steps of a white, two-story house. In the well-shaded garden is a rose bush and a tall magnolia tree, which towers over the home and second story porch. The brick steps leading up to the first floor porch are covered in ivy, and tall bushes flanking each side. A total of four windows are visible on either side of the front door of the home.

W.C. Morrison Tin Smith

Now a public library, in the 1860s and 70s William C Morrison operated a tinsmith shop on this site.

• A brick one story building, now used as a public library.

W.M. Mitchell Blacksmith

William Mitchel operated a blacksmith shop on this site in the 1870s.

• Now a large multistory pink building used as an inn.

Darrah Hall

• Darrah Hall
• Darrah Hall is the oldest building on the campus of the Penn Center, and is the park's base of operations for the Penn Center National Historic Landmark District.

Pinckney-Porter's Chapel Visitor Contact Station

• Pinckney-Porter's Chapel Visitor Contact Station
• Pinckney-Porters Chapel is a Reconstruction era Freedman's Chapel located in the Naval Heritage Park just outside the main gate to Naval Hospital Beaufort. The Town of Port Royal rebuilt the chapel in late 2020, and through an agreement, Reconstruction Era National Historical Park operates the site as a visitor contact station. Inside are temporary exhibits, and most Camp Saxton programs begin at this site. Pinckney-Porter's Chapel is open Fridays and Saturdays from 9am to 5pm.

Reconstruction Era National Historical Park Visitor Center

• Reconstruction Era National Historical Park Visitor Center
• The visitor center contains exhibits and information about the Reconstruction era in the low country, as well as information about visiting the various units of the park.

• Join a Ranger Program at Reconstruction Era National Historical Park
• Join a ranger for a program at any of our three sites: Downtown Beaufort, Darrah Hall, or Pinckney-Porter’s Chapel. Program time and days vary at each site; check our calendar to find out what’s happening.

• Become a M.E.O.W. Ranger at Reconstruction Era National Historical Park
• Share a photo of your cat with our rangers and earn their M.E.O.W. Ranger badge today.

• Hike the Capers Creek Trail
• Walk in the footsteps of Martin Luther King Jr. and the students of the Penn School on the Capers Creek Trail. This 0.25 mile trail through the woods of Saint Helena Island leads to a sweeping view of the marshes.

• Become a Junior Ranger at Reconstruction Era National Historical Park
• Learn how you can earn your Junior Ranger badge at Reconstruction Era National Historical Park.

• Become A B.A.R.K. Ranger at Reconstruction Era National Historical Park
• Bring your dog with you as you learn about the Reconstruction Era in Beaufort, South Carolina and they can earn their very own B.A.R.K. Ranger badge.

Black Businesses of Beaufort

Learn about some of the Black Businesses that thrived in Downtown Beaufort during the Reconstruction Era.

Memories of Mather

Prior to the Civil War within most southern states, education was illegal for enslaved people. Education was seen as a threat to the institution of enslavement, as it would spread the ideas of abolition. However, this did not stop the enslaved from learning. Many would educate themselves in secret. The question remained: what would become of education for those who had been deprived of it for so long? This tour is voiced by alumni of the Mather School and made with University of South Carolina Beaufort.