The Beaufort Style
10 Sep 2021
Historic Beaufort Foundation’s annual Fall Festival of Houses and Gardens offers the unique opportunity to visit inside private houses, gardens and country estates.
Just as Charleston and Savannah developed unique individual styles of residential architecture in the early years of the 18th century, so did their smaller neighbor located between the two on Port Royal Island in the old Beaufort District. Beaufort, South Carolina’s second oldest town, founded in 1711, did not grow as fast as the two larger, more urban towns but was just as strategically located on a bend in the Beaufort River.
The Beaufort Style reflects the rural setting of the new town plan that was laid out following the natural bends of the river, as it wraps around Beaufort’s famous Point. Sometimes referred to by architectural historians as a “plantation style come to town.” Beaufort’s architectural heritage clearly reflects both topographic and climatic conditions, with key design elements that ensured more comfort in the sub-tropical climate of the South Carolina Lowcountry.
Take the short journey south this October to experience the charm and character of this smaller 18th century town and explore the architecture and setting of the National Historic Landmark District. The festival will be held October 22, 23 and 24. For more information, call 843-379-3331 or visit historicbeaufort.org
