Historic Beaufort

Preservation efforts have kept Old Beaufort much as it was when the town incorporated in 1722. The Beaufort Historic Site, on the 100 block of Turner St., is an example of how successful those efforts have been. Nested on an acre in the heart of the quaint downtown and open year round, the site depicts 18th and 19th century coastal life. It includes 10 historic buildings ranging from c1732 to c1859.

Docents in period dress guide groups through time in six of the authentically restored buildings. All prized for their period collections and furnishings, the homes of history run the gamut from the rustic c1778 Leffers cottage and the elaborately furnished Victorian Josiah Bell House (c1825) to the award-winning restoration of the Federal John C. Manson House (c1825).

Other historic buildings include the Carteret County Jail (c1829), the Apothecary Shop and Doctor's Office (c1857) -- containing priceless pharmaceutical and medicinal artifacts used in early Beaufort -- and the Carteret County Courthouse of 1796, which is the only remaining English Circuit Courthouse left intact in North Carolina.

The Old Burying Ground, a block from the historic site, is the town's treasure. Maintained by volunteers of the Beaufort Historical Association, it is one of the few cemeteries to be listed on the Register of Historic Places. It offers quiet solitude and sacred grounds for many of Beaufort's legendary figures. Tours are offered from June through October.

Board a vintage English double-decker bus and hear costumed guides tell tales of Beaufort's rich past of pirates, star-crossed lovers, and Confederate spies. Stroll through the Mattie King Davis Art Gallery and view the works of local and regional artists. Browse through the Old Beaufort Gift Shop's extensive collection of books on local history, hand-woven rugs, locally carved decoys, fresh herbs, pottery, and much more.

The Beaufort Historic Site offers a variety of tours, seminars, volunteer opportunities and special events of interest to the whole family throughout the year. Enhanced by authentic structures, artifacts and collections, teh Historic Site has documented the lifestyles and customs of Beaufort's past to preserve its historical identity for the future.

You can learn more before you arrive on the Crystal Coast by calling toll free 800-575-4783, visiting the website at www.beauforthistoricsite.org or e-mail bha@dis.com.