
1st South Carolina Infantry marker of African Descent in Beaufort; (c) Soul Of America
Beaufort
The Gullah Festival
Memorial Day Weekend, the original festival organized in 1986 by the Gullah Festival of South Carolina, Inc.
PHONE: 843-525-0628
WEBSITE: http://www.gullahfestival.net
Beaufort National Cemetery
One of the first U.S. National Cemeteries designated by President Lincoln. It holds the remains of veterans from every conflict between the Civil War and the Persian Gulf War. It contains hundreds of graves of โColored Troopsโ for both Union and Confederate armies from the Civil War. Graves of some of the all-Black 54th Massachusetts Infantry can be found in section 16; in 1989, 19 Union soldiers of the all-Black Massachusetts 55th Infantry were re-interred with full military honors. Their remains were found on Folly Island, S.C. in 1987. Their grave is marked with a bronze plaque near section 56.
ADDRESS: 1601 Boundary Street
PHONE: 843-524-3925
Grand Army Hall
The first Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) post had been organized in Decatur, Illinois in 1866. In 1892, African Americans of the Georgia and South Carolina GAR organized one of their own โ David Hunter Post No. 9, and in 1896. It became the center of African American community activities, including the annual โDecoration Dayโ celebrated on May 30th.
ADDRESS: 706 New Castle Street
First African Baptist Church
Circa 1865 Parishioners include Anita Prather, folklorist and storyteller through her โAunt Pearlie Sueโ character, which was made into a program for PBS. Church historian Darryl T. Murphy is also the curator of the Penn School exhibit at Penn Center and is working to preserve Negro Spirituals (Sea Island Spirituals). The church remains open and active, while under renovations. ADDRESS: 601 New Street
PHONE: 843-524-6886
Grace Chapel A.M.E. Church
Founded in circa 1869.
SUNDAY WORSHIP: 10a
ADDRESS: 502 Charles Street
PHONE: 843-524-6091
Tabernacle Baptist Church
Built circa 1811, it was originally built for white members of the Baptist Church of Beaufort, it was officially formed as an African American church during the Civil War in 1863. The oldest gravestones in the churchyard are of the white slave owners. There are post-Civil War burial markers of black members as well as the Smalls Family, including Robert Smalls, Sarah Williams, Hannah Jones, and Annie Wigg.
SUNDAY WORSHIP: 11a
ADDRESS: 911 Craven Street
PHONE: 843-524-0376
WEBSITE: http://www.gullahfestival.com