Once the home of one of the nation's first schools for freed slaves, the Penn Center has a small museum that covers Gullah culture and traces the history of Penn School. Two sites on the property became part of the National Reconstruction Era Site in 2017: Darrah Hall, the school building, and Brick Baptist Church, which was originally constructed by slaves who were not allowed to worship inside. Freed slaves took control of it in 1861.
Penn Center
Lowcountry
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
25.09 MILES
For those looking for an escape just a touch less discovered than Hilton Head Island, this idyllic island offers a sublime day trip and a window into the…
ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge
20.48 MILES
Formerly occupied by large rice plantations, this area fell out of use after the Civil War and was bought up by sportsmen who turned it into a hunting…
7.85 MILES
Lush and inviting Hunting Island State Park impresses visitors with acres of spooky maritime forest, tidal lagoons and a bone-white beach littered with…
27.81 MILES
There's only one large-scale, working tea plantation in the US, folks, and this is it. A trolley tour takes visitors around the property, offering plenty…
29.74 MILES
With fewer services and a vibe that feels more remote, this stretch of beach is a great place to relax. You can watch massive container ships drift in…
Henry C Chambers Waterfront Park
6.34 MILES
Overlooking the bay, this iconic downtown anchor is flanked by dining options, shops and art galleries. Many of Beaufort’s festivals and events are held…
6.72 MILES
This fascinating museum covering Marine Corps history contains antique uniforms and weaponry, but is most engaging for its exhibits chronicling the…
6.47 MILES
At low tide on a warm day, Beaufort's sandbar is the place to drink and be drunk. It's only about a mile south of the Henry C Chambers Waterfront Park and…
Nearby Lowcountry attractions
1. Henry C Chambers Waterfront Park
6.34 MILES
Overlooking the bay, this iconic downtown anchor is flanked by dining options, shops and art galleries. Many of Beaufort’s festivals and events are held…
6.35 MILES
Until his death in 2016, South Carolina's literary great Pat Conroy called Beaufort home. The city inspired some of his most famous works, including The…
6.47 MILES
At low tide on a warm day, Beaufort's sandbar is the place to drink and be drunk. It's only about a mile south of the Henry C Chambers Waterfront Park and…
6.7 MILES
Tucked into an old federal courthouse, this history museum tells the largely unfamiliar story of the earliest Europeans to settle in North America, and we…
6.72 MILES
This fascinating museum covering Marine Corps history contains antique uniforms and weaponry, but is most engaging for its exhibits chronicling the…
7.85 MILES
Lush and inviting Hunting Island State Park impresses visitors with acres of spooky maritime forest, tidal lagoons and a bone-white beach littered with…
15.61 MILES
A Smithsonian Affiliate, this museum is well worth a trip for its exhibits highlighting the island's rich Gullah history, natural wonders and other…
8. Heyward House Museum & Welcome Center
19.82 MILES
The Bluffton Historical Preservation Society has meticulously preserved this circa-1841 Carolina-farmhouse-style home, converting it into a welcome center…