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.

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.

Caper Harper Wheelwright

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

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.

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.

Francis Izzards Butcher Shop & Stable

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

Freedman’s Bank

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

Gabriel Haynes Tailor Shop

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

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.

James Jenkins Beef & Mutton Shop

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

Jerry Savage Wheelwright

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

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.

Mather School Bell

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Richard Dailey’s Restaurant

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

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 Robert Smalls House

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

W.C. Morrison Tin Smith

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

W.M. Mitchell Blacksmith

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

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