About Historic Beaufort Foundation

Historic Beaufort Foundation is a 501-(C) (3) non-profit membership organization. Its mission is to support the preservation, protection and presentation of sites and artifacts of historic, architectural and cultural interest throughout Beaufort County, South Carolina.

The Foundation was organized in 1967 by a group that had earlier banded together in the 1940s to save the circa 1804 Lafayette Building (now known as the John Mark Verdier House) from demolition.  This same group of farsighted citizens recognized that the historic buildings and settings that define the character of Beaufort were threatened, and began the long-term effort to inventory and document the city's historic resources. The first inventory, completed in 1969, was successful in the nomination of the 304-acre historic district to the National Register of Historic Places that same year. In 1974, the Beaufort Historic District was named a National Historic Landmark, one of the first three in South Carolina.

In 2001, the Foundation entered into a 99-year lease agreement with the City of Beaufort to operate and administer the Beaufort Arsenal as a museum.  Founded in 1939, the Beaufort Museum has been housed in the circa 1852 Beaufort Arsenal since its founding.

The role of Historic Beaufort Foundation is to:

Advocate for historic preservation

• actively participates in the community planning process
• works with owners to identify preservation strategies for their properties
• identifies, anticipates and responds to preservation issues

Build community awareness about the historic resources of Beaufort County

• operates museums at the Verdier House and the Beaufort Arsenal
• implements ongoing educational programs for students and adults
• conducts the Fall Festival of Houses and Gardens
• publishes A Guide to Historic Beaufort and a book of historic interiors, Beaufort documents and designates the county's historic resources 

Preserve and protect the historic resources of Beaufort County

• development of an initiative to protect city's NW Quadrant
• preservation easement program
• revolving fund
• "hands on" rehabilitation projects
• historic rehabilitation consulting services

Foundation Offices and Staff

Our offices are located at 713 Craven Street, Beaufort, South Carolina in the historic Beaufort Arsenal.

Office hours are from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday.

All staff may be contacted by telephone at (843) 379-3331 or by fax at (843) 379-3371.