HBF Dinner & Lecture: Spanish American War

The Spanish American War: More Than a Run Up a Hill will be the topic of Historic Beaufort Foundation’s Dinner & a Lecture, Monday, March 26, 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., at the Verdier House, 801 Bay Street. 

The lecture is part of a kick-off for a new exhibit at the Verdier House, “Fort Fremont: Homeland Security 1898” being sponsored by the Friends of Fort Fremont.

Dr. Mark Barnes, retired historian and senior archaeologist with the National Park Service will use period photography, illustrations, and images collected during research on an annotated bibliography of the 1898 War with Spain and the Philippine Insurrection, to discuss the conflict, its outcome, and some aspects from this war which are still with the United States of the present.

The largely-forgotten 100-day conflict touched Beaufort County with the construction and occupation of Fort Fremont on St. Helena Island and, according to Barnes, contributed to healing hard feelings remaining after the Civil War. The hospitality of the Charleston people to the northern National Guard troops was reported all across the nation.

Barnes’ lecture is a feature of the new Verdier House exhibit on Fort Fremont which opens to the public Friday, March 23. He will discuss the participation of South Carolina in the 1898 war, addressing current efforts to preserve the fort and interpret the significance of the site.

A wine and hors d’oeuvre reception begins at 5:30; the program is 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. Fee.  To reserve a seat and/or for details, call 379-3331. 

• Click here to read about Fort Fremont in the Library's Local History & Nature webpages.