October 25th Beaufort SC city tour- The Beaufort Historic District National Historic Landmark Marker

Beaufort Historic District (South Carolina)

By Mike Stroud, June 10, 2011 1. Beaufort Historic District Marker   Inscription. Beaufort Historic District has been designated a National Historic Landmark This Site Possesses National Significance in Commemorating the History of the United States of America 1974 National Park Service United States Department of the Interior Location. 32° 26.004′ N, 80° 40.778′ W. Marker is in Beaufort, South Carolina, in Beaufort County. Marker is on Bay Street near Bladen Street, on the right when traveling east. . Located across Bay Street from US District Court Beaufort Federal Courthouse. Marker is in this post office area: Beaufort SC 29902, United States of America.   By Mike Stroud, December 4, 2010 2. Beaufort Historic District Marker   Regarding Beaufort Historic District. National Register of Historic Places : Beaufort Historic District *** (added 1969 - District - #69000159) ♦ Bounded by the Beaufort River, Bladen, Hamar, and Boundary Streets, Beaufort ♦Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering, Event ♦ Architect, builder, or engineer: Unknown ♦ Architectural Style: Federal, Greek Revival ♦ Area of Significance: Black, Social History, Politics/Government, Community Planning And Development, Architecture, Military, Native American, Commerce, Exploration/Settlement ♦ Period of Significance: 1500-1599, 1600-1649, 1650-1699, 1700-1749, 1750-1799, 1800-1824, 1825-1849, 1850-1874, 1875-1899, 1900-1924, 1925-1949 ♦ Owner: Private , Local Gov't ♦ Historic Function: Commerce/Trade, Domestic, Religion, Social ♦ Historic Sub-function: Business, Department Store, Meeting Hall, Religious Structure, Single Dwelling, Specialty Store ♦ Current Function: Commerce/Trade, Domestic ♦ Current Sub-function: Department Store, Meeting Hall, Religious Structure, Single Dwelling, Specialty Store Beaufort is significant for its role as a major center of South Carolina’s antebellum plantation culture, its contribution to the history of the Civil War,   3. Beaufort Historic District Marker   and for its role it played in African-American history both during and after the war. Architecturally, the district is significant both for the high-style architecture produced by its pre-war planters and for the folk architectural patterns of its post-war African-American community. The antebellum architecture, unlike that of Charleston and Savannah, is generally made up of free standing Federal, Early Classical Revival, and Greek Revival style houses on large lots that is more akin to the architecture of the Southern plantations of the period, plantations brought to town and adapted to the heat of the summer weather and dampness of lowlands, as well as to the aesthetics of their waterfront settings. The town’s present appearance owes much to the events of the period between ca.1860 and ca. 1935. The buildings and structures constructed during this period display a variety of architectural forms and styles, including Italianate, Gothic Revival, Victorian, Queen Anne, and Neo-Classical, and reflect the development of the town in the last half of the nineteenth century and early twentieth century. In the 1870s, more modest houses were built on vacant lots in the older parts of town. One type was a five bay I-house, similar in form to many of the antebellum mansions, but reduced in size and of balloon construction using sawn lumber. The second type was a three-bay,   4. Beaufort Historic District Marker Base Freedom Mall Mayor Angus D. Fordham (1946-1963) Council Members:   Council Members: (1951-1955)                (1955-1959) Four Members           Four Members City Manager              City Manager   gable fronted house, often with Italianate or Eastlake detail. Many antebellum homes were also updated during this period with commercially milled porch details, bay windows, and larger window glass. Colonial Revival made an impact on residential building after the hurricane of 1893, and the bungalow dominated new construction before and after World War I. Commercial construction also reflected increasing prosperity. The historic district includes 475 contributing resources and 350 noncontributing resources. Listed in the National Register December 17, 1969; Designated a National Historic Landmark November 7, 1973.(South Carolina Department of Archives and History) Also see . . . 1. Beaufort, South Carolina, from Wikipedia. The city has been featured in the New York Times, named "Best Small Southern Town" by Southern Living, named a "Top 25 Small City Arts Destination" by American Style, and a "Top 50 Adventure Town" by National Geographic Adventure. 2. National Register Information and pictures on Beaufort Historic District. Beaufort is significant for its role as a major center of South Carolina’s antebellum plantation culture, its contribution to the history of the Civil War, and for its role it played in African-American history both during and after the war.