This Small Southern United States Town Has The Best Downtown

With a population of only 13,600, Beaufort is the second-oldest town in South Carolina, behind Charleston. The city is located on Port Royal Island, one of over 60 barrier islands off the southeast coast of the United States, within the Intracoastal Waterway. At only 304 acres, Beaufort’s downtown may be small; however, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1969. Many homes in the historic district are older than the Civil War. Therefore, when you stroll down the streets of downtown Beaufort, it truly feels like you have stepped back in time.

Beaufort's Expansive History

The Port Royal Sound area, around present-day Beaufort, was first visited by Spanish explorers in 1521. Control of the region later shifted among Spain, France, and England until the British founded the town of Beaufort in 1711.

Thus began Beaufort’s expansive role throughout American history. In the 19th century, when plantations were producing mass quantities of cotton, rice, and indigo, wealthy planters took to Beaufort and built summer homes in town to enjoy the coastal setting.

However, with the outbreak of the Civil War, Beaufort became a naval post, and, after an invasion in 1861 when many residents of the town fled, their homes were converted into hospitals, offices, and quarters for personnel. There was a decline in agriculture and phosphate mining after the Civil War. At the turn of the 20th century, Beaufort experienced growth in the seafood industry, truck farming, and tourism. Beaufort’s charm has attracted attention from Hollywood, which has used the town as filming locations for more than 16 motion pictures.

Downtown Attractions

The John Mark Verdier House is the only historic home in Beaufort that is open to the general public. The Historic Beaufort Foundation owns it and operates it as a historic house museum. Visitors to the house can learn about the life of Robert Smalls, a politician, merchant, publisher, and naval pilot, while also viewing another exhibit that displays a scale model of Bay Street during the time of the Civil War.

Breakwater Restaurant and Bar specializes in Southern-inspired cuisine, offering the finest seafood, steaks, and other Lowcountry-influenced dishes, complemented by craft cocktails and an extensive wine list. Guests can indulge in a fine dining experience in the spacious main dining room or book a private event in the private wine room.

The Beaufort Art Association supports over 65 local artists by showcasing their work that appears in a myriad of mediums, including oil, acrylic, watercolor, photography, woodwork, metalwork, stained glass, ceramics, and jewelry. New exhibits are regularly introduced, with featured-artist shows typically opening at First Friday receptions held every other month and exhibits rotating about every two months.

Historic Accommodation

The Beaufort Inn is a historic boutique hotel located in the heart of downtown Beaufort. It was originally constructed in 1897 as a summer home. The first guest stayed overnight in 1920, with the ownership changing hands and it being renamed as the Beaufort Inn in 1930. The inn offers a diverse range of accommodation options, including rooms, lofts, cottages, and suites. Guests of the inn receive complimentary beach passes to the nearby Hunting Island State Park; however, due to limited availability, passes are handed out on a first-come, first-served basis. Due to the inn’s location, many restaurants and shops are only a short walk from the premises. Guests can enjoy a complimentary breakfast, served daily between 7:00 and 10:00 a.m.

Annual Festivals

The Original Gullah Festival takes place in Beaufort every Memorial Day weekend. It is a large community celebration and festival hosted in Henry Chambers Waterfront Park. Visitors can experience performances of dancing, jazz, blues, reggae, and African drums, explore the vendor market for handmade arts and crafts, and taste local cuisine and traditional Gullah favorites at the food court.

The festival hosts numerous educational workshops over the weekend, including sweetgrass basket weaving, crocheting, African American quilting, doll making, and instruction on crafting West African percussion instruments.

Downtown Park

Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park is right in the middle of downtown Beaufort, popular among residents and visitors alike. The majority of the park sits on pylons, which form a pier of the Beaufort River. Throughout the park are informative plaques that tell the story of Beaufort’s history, from its early settlement to the present day. Along with the Original Gullah Festival, the park is the host of many other community events, festivals, and concerts throughout the year. Additionally, the park is lined with many of downtown’s popular restaurants, shops, and galleries, making them easily accessible from the park grounds.

The South's Best Downtown

Not many places can contain more than 500 years of history in their downtown areas, but Beaufort does just that. From its over 50 historical homes that date back to the 19th century, to its coastal setting that played a pivotal role in the Civil War, there's no place quite like Beaufort. See for yourself by visiting its numerous galleries and museums that celebrate Beaufort's life, history, and art today, and you'll agree that this is the best downtown in the southern United States.