Reconstruction Era National Historical Park is not one place. Its story — the journey from education to citizenship after the Civil War — is spread across three sites in and around Beaufort, South Carolina, plus a network of related churches, schools and halls. Park rangers suggest how to see it well.
Start at the downtown Beaufort visitor center. Credit: NPS.
The three park sites
| Site | Where | What's there |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown visitor center | downtown Beaufort | the best place to start: rangers and volunteers help you plan a route through the park's stories, and an Eastern National bookstore |
| Pinckney-Porter's Chapel | the City of Port Royal, on the historic grounds of Camp Saxton | temporary exhibits on the 1st South Carolina Volunteer Infantry; a ranger is usually on site |
| Darrah Hall and Brick Baptist Church | on the Penn Center campus, St. Helena Island | the NPS base in the Penn Center National Historic Landmark District, with exhibits on the origins of education during Reconstruction |
Tips
- Check the calendar for tours and programs at all three sites before you go.
- Mind the days. The park is open Tuesday through Saturday, except some holidays; see its hours.
- Avoid the crowds by visiting on weekdays, before 11 a.m. or after 3 p.m. Events draw crowds: the Saturday-morning Port Royal Farmers Market at Pinckney-Porter's Chapel, Heritage Days at the Penn Center, and downtown festivals.
- Plan parking. Downtown Beaufort parking can be tricky, especially on weekends, and most lots charge; the city's parking guide helps. Parking at Pinckney-Porter's Chapel and Darrah Hall is free but limited, especially during the Saturday market.
- Come prepared with good walking shoes and a water bottle; all three sites have refill stations.
- Bring the dog on walking tours if you like — but only service animals may enter the visitor centers.
Beyond the park
The Reconstruction Era National Historic Network includes other sites nearby: First African Baptist Church, Tabernacle Baptist Church, the Grand Army of the Republic Hall, Wesley United Methodist Church, the Penn Center and the Mather School.
Sources
Based on "Plan Like A Park Ranger: Visiting Reconstruction Era National Historical Park" from the National Park Service, a work of the United States government in the public domain.
In these publicationsReconstruction Era National Historical Park
Licence: CC0 1.0 (public domain) · Adapted from www.nps.gov
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