Beaufort, South Carolina
The city will celebrate its 300th birthday in 2011, but its written history goes back much further. Beaufort was discovered in 1514 by the Spanish and chartered in 1711 by the British. During the interim, it was fought over by the Scots, the French, the English and the Yemassee Indians. The 18th Century was a time of great prosperity in Beaufort; indigo and rice plantations thrived. Sea Island cotton also brought great wealth to the area prior to the Civil War. The city was inhabited during that war by the Union Army, which helped save the beautiful old homes in the charming neighborhood known as “The Point.” Those houses still stand today, proud testaments to Beaufort’s rich past and vibrant present; they are both admired tourists attractions and beloved family homes.
Just 20 minutes from Spring Island, Beaufort is consistently rated by Southern Living as one of the “Best Small Towns in the South” and regularly appears on lists of “best places to retire.” John Villani has included Beaufort in each edition of his book “Best 100 Art Towns in America,” and local resident Pat Conroy has enhanced the town’s legend in his celebrated novels. Several of those books became movies, including The Great Santini and The Prince of Tides, both of which were filmed in Beaufort.
To find out more about this beautiful city's history, culture and upcoming events, please visit the Beaufort Visitor and Convention Bureau website by clicking here.
