Plan Like A Park Ranger: Visiting Reconstruction Era National Historical Park

Start at our Downtown Beaufort Visitor Center to collect information. NPS

Plan like a park ranger and use these insider tips to have a great visit to Reconstruction Era National Historical Park. To get more information on each tip click the drop-down and follow the links.

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Start Your Visit Downtown

The main visitor center, located in downtown Beaufort, is the best location to start your journey through our park. Volunteers and rangers can help guide you through the many stories of the Reconstruction Era and how best to follow the journey of education to citizenship throughout our sites. Our Eastern National bookstore is also located at this location.

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Visit Pinckney-Porter's Chapel

Pinckney-Porter's Chapel is in the City of Port Royal and within the historic grounds of Camp Saxton. This location shares the stories of the 1st South Carolina Volunteer Infantry through temporary exhibits. A Park Ranger is typically on site to answer questions.

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Visit Darrah Hall and Brick Baptist Church at the Penn Center

Darrah Hall is the National Park Service base of operations for the Penn Center National Historic Landmark District and is located within the boundary of the Penn Center campus on St. Helena Island. The origins of education throughout Reconstruction are covered in our temporary exhibits. Volunteers and rangers are typically on site to answer questions.

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Check the Calendar

Before visiting the park view our calendar to see what tours and programs are happening at the three sites of the park.

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Know Where You Can Park

Parking at each site varies. When visiting downtown Beaufort parking can be tricky, especially on weekends. Check out the Beaufort parking guide to find the best place to park and be aware that most lots have fees. Parking is free at Pinckney-Porter's Chapel and Darrah Hall, but there are limited spaces especially during events like the Port Royal Farmers Market every Saturday morning by Pinckney-Porter's Chapel.

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Come Prepared

When visiting any of our sites remember to wear good walking shoes and bring a water bottle. All three of our sites have refillable water stations. Check out the National Park Service trip planning guide for more information.

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Avoid the Crowds

The park is open Tuesday to Saturday each week, with exception of some holidays. For park hours check our Operating Hours and Seasons. To avoid crowds, visit on weekdays, or at off times, before 11 am and after 3 pm. Special Events around the park can increase crowds, examples of events include Saturday morning Farmer’s Markets at Pinckney-Porter's Chapel, Heritage Days at The Penn Center, and festivals downtown.

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Pets in the Park

Pets are welcome to visit the park and join our walking tours but remember that only service animals are allowed inside our Visitor Centers.

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Visit Other Nearby Network Sites

There are several Reconstruction Era National Historic Network sites in Beaufort and the surrounding area to check out. These sites include First African Baptist Church, Tabernacle Baptist Church, The Grand Army of the Republic Hall in Beaufort, Wesley United Methodist Church, Penn Center, The Mather School. Find the full list on the Network’s website.

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