Beaufort History Museum unveils Reconstruction exhibit

A new exhibit at Beaufort History Museum tells the story of the area’s role in Reconstruction.

“Islands of Hope in a Sea of Distress” is now open in the Arsenal building on Craven Street, according to a news release. The exhibit includes uses photos, text, documents and artifacts that help explain the period leading up to and following the end of the Civil War in northern Beaufort County.

Reconstruction, the period from about 1865-77, began in Beaufort, historian and author Lawrence Rowland said in the release.

“It was the most radical social transformation the nation has experienced,” he said in the release. “The Reconstruction Period in Beaufort changed the town and the Sea Island region forever.”

The exhibit focuses on four areas: education, politics, commerce and agriculture.

History Museum board member Katherine Lang had the idea for the exhibit more than a year ago. With the museum in the Arsenal, the space and resources for such an exhibit were possible, she said in the release.

The museum is still looking for photos, oral histories, documents and other artifacts from the period. Anyone who has something to share can contact Lang at klang.beaufort@icloud.com.

The Arsenal is located at 713 Craven St. in downtown Beaufort.

Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

Tours are available.

Admission is $5 or $4 for senior citizens. Children enter free.

For information, visit www.beauforthistorymuseum.com or the museum’s Facebook page.

This story was originally published July 14, 2016 at 3:19 PM with the headline "Beaufort History Museum unveils Reconstruction exhibit."