Parris Island Museum

Commanding General
Box 19001
Parris Island, SC 29905
843-228-2951

Parris Island is one of the most visited military facilities in the world, hosting more than 100,000 visitors a year. As the home of the Eastern Recruiting Region and Recruit Training for all male Marines east of the Mississippi River and all female Marines nation-wide, Parris Island expects to provide only the best experiences possible for our visitors. This is done by offering a variety of guided bus tours and ceremonies each week.

The Parris Island Museum contains more than 10,000 square feet of displays, making it one of the largest museums in the Southeast. The museum features large exhibit halls on the history of recruit training, 20th Century Marine Corps history and the history of Parris Island. Other displays depict low country military history starting with the 16th century rivalry between the French and the Spanish through the Colonial Wars, the Revolution, War of 1812, Civil War, Spanish American War, and the military facilities used during World War II. Temporary displays feature the history of Women Marines and famous Americans who served in the Marine Corps.

John Mark Verdier House Museum

801 Bay St
Beaufort, SC 29902-5565
843-524-6334

The Verdier House, built in 1800-1805 by John Mark Verdier, a prosperous merchant and planter, is one of the finest examples of a Federal-style home. The interior shows examples of many fine architectural details, including an elaborate arch in the entrance hallway. The Marquis de Lafayette was once a house guest and spoke to the townspeople from its steps. It was later captured by the Union troops during the Civil War and used as their headquarters. During its history, the Verdier House served as the post headquarters for Union soldiers during the Civil War, and was the site of the first telephone exchange in Beaufort. The house is in Beaufort's National Historic Landmark District.

Penn Center and York W. Bailey Museum

Land's End Rd
St. Helena Island, SC 29920
843-838-2432
Internet: http://www.penncenter.com

Located nine miles southeast of Beaufort via US 21. A fascinating place to learn and retrace the history of Gullah culture in the Lowcountry. Museum contains exhibits and rare books. The site of one of the country's first schools for freed slaves, the Penn Center is a National Historic Landmark and is a part of the Penn School Historic District. It includes 19 buildings including the Brick Church, Darrah Hall, one of the oldest buildings on St. Helena Island, old burial grounds, the York W. Bailey Museum, and Gantt Cottage where Martin Luther King Jr. lodged. Several programs are held each year.

The Beaufort Arsenal Museum

713 Craven St
Beaufort, SC 29902
843-525-7077

The Arsenal is small, but one of the most significant historical sites in Beaufort. Constructed of brick and tabby, the Arsenal was completed in 1798 following a federal mandate to create a militia and a state order to build a powder magazine and a laboratory for the making of shot and explosives. The Arsenal was rebuilt 1852. The brass guns at the front of the museum were captured from the British in 1779 and then recaptured by Union soldiers after the fall of Fort Walker. Many relics of nature, war and early industry are housed here.