It's a Busy Week for Programs

We've got a busy week, June 24 - June 30th. We have 2 local history programs at Beaufort Branch (one on Tuesday about contemporary history and one with the Beaufort County Historical Society on Thursday about Revolutionary War history) plus there's free admission to select area museums participating in Liberty Week Free Museums Saturday.

"Paradise: Memories of Hilton Head" with Nelle and Ora Smith | Tuesday, June 26 | BDC@ Beaufort Branch, 311 Scott Street | 2 PM

Two days later we honor the first decisive American victory of the Revolutionary War (a.k.a. "Carolina Day") with a  local history program presented by one of our most popular presenters, Douglas Bostick. Indeed, native South Carolinians consider June 28 as our state's Independence day and we're hosting a second anniversary "Carolina Day" lecture to celebrate.

On 28 June 1776 nine British naval ships began a bombardment  of Charles Town (Charleston), the fourth largest and by far the wealthiest city in its American colonies. In a battle lasting about 9 hours, a small force of patriots comprised of South and North Carolinians and their Native American allies commanded by Colonel William Moultrie and Colonel William Thomson successfully defended the harbor and town from a sand and palmetto log fort on Sullivan's Island. Using the 31 guns inside the fort to concentrate "hot shot" fire on the British's two largest ships, American forces prevented the landing of 2500 British soldiers and marines. Patriot actions that day helped delay British occupation of Charleston for another 4 years.

The anniversary was first observed in 1777 as Fort Moultrie Day eventually becoming known as Carolina Day in 1875. The modern observance dates from 1995 when Charleston  historical groups helped reinvigorate the celebration of Carolina Day to help raise awareness of South Carolina's and Charleston's role in the Revolutionary War. The State Legislature agreed and passed a law: South Carolina Code Ann. sec. 53-3-140, "June twenty-eighth of each year, the anniversary of the Battle of Sullivan's Island in 1776, is declared to be 'Carolina Day' in South Carolina."

"Carolina Day Lecture" with Doug Bostick | Thursday, June 28 | BDC@ Beaufort Branch, 311 Scott Street | 2 PM  This lecture is co-sponsored by the Beaufort County Historical Society.


The Carolina Day Lecture at the Library kicks off the Liberty Week celebration here in Beaufort County (June 28 - July 4).

The Beaufort County Historical Society is sponsoring its 2nd Annual Super Museum Saturday on June 30th, 2018, 10:00 am - 3:30 pm during which some of Beaufort District's premier historical and cultural heritage sites, Daufuskie Island to Ridgeland, will open free of charge to the public to show our shared history.The countywide collaborative effort began last year as an opportunity to showcase South Carolina's Liberty Week's Colonial and Revolutionary history.

We hope that you will create your own casual day trip thru the County by checking the sites you want to see on their Facebook or websites. Some sites will have special presentations others staff on hand to answer questions. If you decide to visit the Parris Island Museum, please remember that to gain access to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot you will need to provide your driver's license, vehicle registration and proof of insurance at the gate.

Heads up: All units of the Beaufort County Library will be closed on Wednesday, July 4th.