On January 12, the public is invited to join the National Park Service (NPS) and park partners to celebrate the one year anniversary of the creation of Reconstruction Era National Monument in South Carolina’s lowcountry.
Festivities will kick off at 10 a.m. with a special program featuring music and remarks from the NPS, United States Congressional delegation and park partners at the Beaufort Arsenal, located at 713 Craven Street in Beaufort. The highlight will be the unveiling of a unique piece of art by artist Sonja Griffin Evans to celebrate the park’s anniversary. From noon 4 p.m., special talks, tours and activities will be offered at each of the four sites comprising Reconstruction Era National Monument. All events are free admission.
Reconstruction Era National Monument consists of Darrah Hall and Brick Baptist Church, both located on St. Helena Island in the Penn Center National Historic Landmark District; Camp Saxton at Fort Fredrick in Port Royal; and the Old Beaufort Firehouse located at 706 Craven Street in the National Historic Landmark District in the city of Beaufort. Activities planned for the afternoon of January 12, 2018 include:
- Beaufort Arsenal - Tours of Beaufort’s downtown Reconstruction-related sites.
- Darrah Hall at Penn Center - Talks, junior youth praise dance and programs on Reconstruction.
- Brick Baptist Church - Praise dances, spirituals and educational programs.
- Camp Saxton via Fort Fredrick site - Fort tours and activities relating to the first reading of the Emancipation Proclamation at Camp Saxton on January 1, 1863.
- Old Beaufort Firehouse - NPS and park partners will offer a variety of educational information about Reconstruction and historic lowcountry.
Reconstruction Era National Monument is administered by the National Park Service and will be headquartered at the Old Firehouse in Beaufort, South Carolina. Three additional sites include Darrah Hall and Brick Baptist Church, located on St. Helena Island in the Penn Center National Historic Landmark District, and Camp Saxton at Fort Fredrick in Port Royal. Reconstruction Era National Monument is dedicated to commemorating the period from 1861 through 1900 when nearly four million African Americans, newly freed from bondage, sought to integrate into a free society and into the educational, economic, and political life of the country.
Now entering its second century, the National Park Service continues to explore new ways to help visitors connect and find their parks. For more information on park news, events and programs, follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ReconstructionNPS. Visit the park website at www.nps.gov/reer, call 843-227-1507 or email reer_information@nps.gov“>reer_information@nps.gov. You can also share your park experience with others by posting on social media with the hashtag #FindYourPark. Come find yours today.
