beaufort fall tour of homes

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Visit Beaufort South Carolina! The Official Travel & Tourism Guide to Beaufort, SC

Fall Festival of Houses and Gardens

Event details.

This event finished on 23 October 2022

• Venue: Historic Beaufort
• Categories: Event , Show on Calendar , Tours

Join the Historic Beaufort Foundation for their Fall Festival of Houses and Gardens.

Historicbeaufort.org/event/fall-festival-of-houses-gardens-in-the-beaufort-style/, our publications.

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Beaufort Lifestyle

All About Beaufort, Port Royal and the Sea Islands

Historic Beaufort Foundation Preserving Beaufort’s Historic Architecture & Celebrating Its Contemporary Architecture

story by CAROL LAUVRAY

Its coastal beauty, architectural charm, and storied history draw thousands of folks to Beaufort each year to visit and live. Voted the South’s Best Small Town by Southern Living magazine and perennially ranked high on the lists of best places to retire and live, Beaufort is the quintessential small Southern town. Beaufort’s historic character and charm have survived and flourished largely due to the ongoing efforts of Historic Beaufort Foundation (HBF). Chartered in 1965, HBF has been at the forefront of the preservation movement, fighting to preserve the integrity of local landmarks, neighborhoods, and the National Historic Landmark District for more than 50 years, and is a local partner of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. To fulfill its mission of “supporting the preservation, protection, and presentation of sites and artifacts of historic, architectural and cultural interest throughout Beaufort County,” the nonprofit Historic Beaufort Foundation holds a variety of fundraising events during the year. Two of its most popular and successful events are the Beaufort, South Carolina Architects’ Tour held each March and the annual Fall Festival of Houses and Gardens in October.

The Annual Architects’ Tour The fifth annual Architects’ Tour was hosted by Historic Beaufort Foundation last month on Saturday, March 16 and featured five private homes selected by local architects who live and work in Beaufort. HBF promotes the event saying, “This tour celebrates the creative and distinctive contemporary architecture that interprets the Lowcountry and gives it a definite 21st-century look.” Isabella Reeves, HBF’s Director of the Fall Festival of Houses and Gardens and Special Events, stated, “It was another great tour and our sincere thanks go to the architects who participated: Bill Chambers, Jane, and Michael Frederick, Rob Montgomery, and Cooter Ramsey of Allison Ramsey, as well as to the homeowners and to Gilbert Law Firm, the sponsor of the event. This tour is a perfect counterbalance to the Fall Festival of Houses—Beaufort is home to the finest architecture, both historic and contemporary. Next year the Architects’ Tour will be held on March 15, 2020. Save the date!” Ms. Reeves said that architect Joel Newman of Thomas & Denzinger usually participates in the annual Architects’ Tour as well. “We have very gifted architects in Beaufort and it’s important to recognize their contributions to the city. They represent the next generation of fine architecture in Beaufort and the surrounding Lowcountry.”

The Fall Festival of Houses & Gardens: October 25, 26 & 27, 2019 Each October for more than 20 years Historic Beaufort Foundation has hosted an event that provides a rare opportunity to visit private historic houses, gardens, and plantations in and around Beaufort. This year, the Fall Festival of Houses and Gardens will be held Friday, October 25 through Sunday, October 27. Ms. Reeves explained that the annual Fall Festival of Houses and Gardens is Historic Beaufort Foundation’s primary fundraiser and the proceeds from the event are used to support the organization’s preservation efforts. The houses on this year’s tour represent three centuries of Beaufort architecture: Friday’s and Saturday’s tours feature historic properties, while the Sunday tour features newer homes and focuses on the kitchen, with local chefs offering a sampling of their specialties at each home. The Walking Tour of Beaufort’s Historic District on Friday, October 25 will include several private houses in the city’s National Historic Landmark District featuring a variety of architectural styles. Friday’s tickets will be available for two different timeframes: 1 PM – 4 PM or 2 PM – 5 PM. Tickets for the Saturday, October 26 tour, Ramble Around Beaufort, will include several homes in and near Beaufort and will be offered from 10 AM – 3 PM or 11 AM – 4 PM. These self-paced tours offer a distinctive opportunity to observe how contemporary lifestyles are lived within the framework of Beaufort’s unmatched architectural heritage. According to Isabella Reeves, two of the many historic homes to be featured during the 2019 Fall Festival of Houses and Gardens are the Robert Means House at 1207 Bay Street, which was built in 1800 and owned by a prominent Beaufort merchant and planter, and the Dr. Joseph Johnson House (also known as “The Castle”) located at 411 Craven Street, which was built just prior to the outbreak of the Civil War and served as a Union hospital during the war. She noted that the Wimbee Creek Farm, an organic flower farm located off Highway 21 past Lobeco, will be part of Saturday’s Ramble Around Beaufort Tour.

The Kitchens & Cuisine Tour on Sunday, October 27 will allow you to experience culinary Beaufort, as local chefs create regional specialties you can sample in the kitchens of private homes around Beaufort. The chefs featured this year represent Saltus River Grill, Breakwater Restaurant & Bar, Beaufort Bread Company, and the Foolish Frog, along with Leigh Pingree of the Kitchen, and Hank and Wanda Yaden with their She Crab Soup from the Port Royal Farmers’ Market. Tickets for Sunday’s culinary tour will be limited to 300 people. The timeframes for Sunday’s culinary tour are 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM or 12:30 PM – 3:30 PM. A brochure with detailed information about this year’s Fall Festival of Houses and Gardens will be available in July 2019. Tickets for the three-day event will also go on sale in July. During the weekend of the 2019 Fall Festival of Houses and Gardens, a luncheon and special presentation by well-known interior designer Marshall Watson will be held Friday, October 25. Mr. Watson will be signing his latest book, The Art of Elegance: Classic Interiors. In addition to Historic Beaufort Foundation’s events, Maison Beaufort, a collection of vendors offering antiques, art, and furnishings for the home and garden, will be held at Tabby Place the same weekend. The weekend promises to be chock full of exciting and interesting places to see and things to do in downtown Beaufort.

The Verdier House—HBF’s House Museum Historic Beaufort Foundation’s Verdier House at 801 Bay Street boasts a rich history. John Mark Verdier, a prominent merchant, and planter who amassed significant wealth from trading indigo and growing Sea Island cotton, built the house in 1804. The Verdier House typified Beaufort’s gracious antebellum architectural style and was the focal point of the town. During the Civil War, the Verdier House served as the Federal Headquarters while the Union Army occupied Beaufort. The house, slated for demolition in the 1940s, was saved when a group of visionary citizens rallied to save “The Lafayette Building.” This group of preservation-minded citizens evolved into the Historic Beaufort Foundation in 1965. The house was registered as a National Historic Landmark in 1971, leading to its restoration and opening as a house museum in 1976. The Verdier House is open to the public Monday – Saturday from 10 AM to 4 PM and offers guided tours. Historic Beaufort Foundation continues its mission to preserve, protect and present historic buildings and sites in Beaufort. For information on membership, visit HBF’s website at www.historicbeaufort.org.

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Designing History

Floral arrangements for the historic beaufort fall tour of homes.

The Floral Design Committee designs and provides floral arrangements to several homes on this annual tour. After being assigned homes by the Council, committee members visit homes to decide the location, color scheme and size of the arrangements needed. They collect and purchase the flowers and materials needed, and meet to create the arrangements. The project goal is to support the Beaufort Historical Society and the Beaufort Council of Garden Clubs.

For further details…CLICK here:   Historic Beaufort Fall Tour of Homes

For additional floral design photos and Flower Show Awards, visit the drop down menu for Community Events.

Garden Therapy-Planting bulb pots and designing vases with Area Nursing Home Residents.

For more information on Garden Therapy CLICK here: Benefits of Garden Therapy for Seniors

Designing vases for Meals on Wheels recipients.

Take a Walk Through the Beaufort Historic District

Many Beaufort, SC homes located in the historic district pre-date the Civil War, thanks in part to the fact that its citizens fled the city before Union troops made their way into town. Beaufort became the headquarters of the US Army, Department of the South. Most homes were converted into hospitals, offices and officer’s quarters. One home was even repurposed as a bakery.

The Beaufort historic district is a mix of Federal, Neoclassical, Greek Revival and Victorian styles. The city is also known for its widespread use of tabby construction, using oyster shells, sand, lime and ash to make an early form of concrete.

The house at 212 New Street was built by William Waterhouse for his wife. The piazzas of this late Victorian span across the eastern and southern sides of the house.  The style of this house combines Queen Anne and Classical Revival elements of design.

The Thomas Hepworth House, located at 214 New Street, is long been referred to as Beaufort’s oldest house. Thomas Hepworth was Chief Justice of the colony. He acquired an original land grant in 1717, with a stipulation that a house be built within 5 years. The Dutch-influenced home has served as a residence, Republican Headquarters, a boy’s school and a meeting place for Masons. It was converted into apartments during World War II, then restored to a single-family dwelling in the 1950s. The Colonial two-story cottage is located in the heart of the Old Point. Rumor has it that the ventilation piercings of the tabby foundation (at the back of the house) were used as rifle slots to defend against Indian attacks.

The George Mosse Stoney house is located at 500 Port Republic Street. Dr. Stoney built the house for his wife Sarah Barnwell around 1823. Visible Greek Revival details were added around 1840. The street view has a small porch, but the side and back open with large porches to catch the river breeze. When first built, this house was only one room deep.

The Cuthbert Scheper Simmer House was built in 1820. It sits on a beautiful corner lot at 915 Port Republic Street. The house was built on a high brick foundation and originally one room deep. The house was expanded in 1875. During Civil War occupation, the Cuthbert family moved to Aiken and never returned to Beaufort. The Federal Army used the home as a bakery. Harriet Tubman baked bread here when she was stationed in Beaufort with the Federal Army. The house was changed in the 1870s with the addition of the second story veranda, a cupola, a storm entrance and a beautiful iron fence. The yard has a Victorian garden that still retains its original footprint. The house also contains a basement cistern that supplies water from 120 feet underground.

The Milton Maxcy Secession House, at 1113 Craven Street, is the spot where southerners first hatched plans for secession. The house was built in 1810 as a school for boys. Edmund Rhett bought the house in the 1850s and renovated it in the Greek Revival style. Edmund and his brother Congressman Robert Barnwell Rhett hosted gatherings of like-minded southerners in the house. During the Civil War the house was used as a hospital, officer’s quarters and paymaster’s office. Civil War scribblings have been discovered on the basement walls. Governor Carroll Campbell and US Senator Strom Thurmond added their signatures to the wall. Vice President George HW Bush added his signature to the wall in 1988.

The William Fickling House sits at 1109 Craven Street. It is believed to have been built in the 1790s when Mr. Fickling came to Beaufort to teach at a boy’s school. Another theory suggests it was built in the 1820s with renovations and additions being completed before and after the Civil War. The house is now the rectory for St. Helena Episcopal Church.

The W.J. Jenkins house sits two blocks away at 901 Craven Street. Built in 1845, this house is a good example of a finely proportioned Beaufort house. Union troops occupied the house during the Civil War.

The Beaufort Arsenal is down the street at 713 Craven Street. Construction began in 1795. It was designed to house a magazine capable of containing a hundred thousand weight of gun powder and a thousand stand of arms. The Beaufort Volunteer Artillery rebuilt the complex in 1852. This army was organized in 1775 and fought in every war fought by this nation including the Revolutionary War. The Beaufort Museum is in the building today. Two brass trophy guns captured from the British in 1779 are in the yard. The guns were seized by Union troops during the Civil War at the Fall of Fort Walker in 1861. They were returned to Beaufort around 1880.

The 500 Block of Craven Street contains charming examples of Victorian architecture. These homes were built in the 1880s and 1890s. The houses are nearly identical in design and ornamentation. Newly invented woodworking machinery was invented in the late 19 th century and was implemented in the decorations of these homes.

The Castle is located across the street at 411 Craven Street. This house was built for Dr. Joseph Johnson in 1861. Some elements of the house were waylaid during the Union naval blockade. Bricks for the house were made on Dr. Johnson’s plantation on Lady’s Island. During the Civil War the house was used as a hospital. After the war Dr. Johnson reacquired his house for the sum of $2,000 in back taxes. The house remained in the Johnson family until 1981. The Italian Renaissance house is made of bricks covered in plaster. The house towers over an entire city block. The gardens contain hundreds of azaleas and camelias. Live oaks cover the yard as well. The garden also contains two ancient olive trees brought from the Mount Olives in the Holy Land.

The current house at 310 Federal Street was built sometime after the Civil War. It is known as Moorelands. It was built on the original tabby foundation of the home that burned in the 1890s. That home was used as a hospital during the war. The house sits beautifully against the backdrop of the Beaufort River.

The William Fripp House, or Tidewater is located at 302 Federal Street. It was built in 1830 by one of Beaufort’s wealthiest planters. He also owned more than 3,000 acres of land on St Helena Island with nine plantations. The home’s two-story portico faces the river to take advantage of the breeze.

Cassena sits at 315 Federal Street. Built in the early 1800s, the house was owned by sisters Ann B. Oswald and Mary Bell. After the Civil War the house was bought by a former slave of Mary Bell. The house remained in her family until it was severely damaged in the storm of 1893. It stood abandoned until 1898. The home was restored to its former glory.

The William Wigg Barnwell House sits two blocks away at 501 King Street. It formerly sat at the corner of Prince and Scott Streets until 1973. It was slated for demolition when the Historic Beaufort Foundation stepped in and saved the historic home. During the Civil War the house served as Union Hospital #4. The house stayed in the Barnwell family until 1895. The house next served as a school and apartment house. The house was purchased and restored by Savannah’s famous antiques dealer Jim Williams

411 King Street’s  F.W. Sanders House was built in 1910 after the original structure burned in the Fire of 1907.  Like so many of its neighbors, the house is built of heart-pine, but it contains mahogany woodwork.

Built in 1856, Little Taj stands proudly at 401 King Street. It looks out over a tidal basin The name refers to a modern reference due to the fact that a reflection of the house can be seen in the tidal pool across the road. The Beaufort style house was built to take full advantage of the breezes. A recent renovation revealed the corner supports of the house are made from limbs of trees that are six inches in diameter and were not sawed.

Located at 604 Pinckney Street, the Edward Means House was built between 1855-57. The brick mansion was used as Union Hospital #2 during the Civil War. The interior boasts marble mantles and a floating spiral staircase. The porches face south to capture the prevailing breezes.

The Paul Hamilton House, or the Oaks is located at 100 Laurens Street. Magnificent oaks shade the Italianate house that was built in 1855. Expansive porches wrap around two stories and three sides of this beautiful house. The house was abandoned in 1861 and used as Union Hospital #1. After the war Mr. Hamilton bid on his house and was given three days to secure the funds. He traveled to Charleston to do just that when his young son ran home to inform the family the home was going to be sold at sunset. Local citizens saved the day when they rallied to raise the funds to purchase the home in the name of Mr. Hamilton.

The Edgar Fripp House is commonly known as “Tidalholm” because the Beaufort River practically surrounds it. Located at 1 Laurens Street, this Italianate house was built in 1853 as a summer home. During the Civil War the home served as Union Hospital #7. According to family legend, when Mr. Fripp returned to Beaufort after the war, the house was being sold for taxes. He was regrettably unable to bid on the home. A Frenchman who was sympathetic to the South won the bid on the home. He then presented the deed to the former owner, then returned to France before the debt could be repaid.

The Berners Barnwell Sams House can be found at 201 Laurens Street. This home was built in 1852 with massive Doric columns and plantation-made brick. The flat roof is topped by a lovely balustrade. The Classic Revival home was used as a hospital during the Civil War. The dependency outback used to contain a cookhouse, blacksmith shop, laundry room, storeroom and servant’s quarters.

Elizabeth Hext House is located at 207 Hancock Street. Built in 1720, the house is considered to be one of the oldest homes in Beaufort. This early example of Beaufort architecture is set high on a tabby foundation. The house remained in her family until 1864, when it was sold by the US Tax Commission for $640.

The John Archibald Johnson House can be found at 804 Pinckney Street. This three-story house was built by Dr. Johnson in the 1850s. It was used as a hospital during the Civil War. The house sustained damage in the 1970s and slated for demolition when the Historic Beaufort Foundation purchased the property. It was resold to new owners who wanted to restore the historic property. The home reflects the prosperity of the time it was built. The wrap around piazzas can be accessed from multiple rooms, allowing breezes to enter the house in the summer.

The Talbird-Sams House sits at 313 Hancock Street. This simple example of Beaufort architecture was built around 1786. The house served as part of Union Hospital #3 during the Civil War.

The Robert Smalls House proudly stands tall at 511 Prince Street. Robert Smalls was born into slavery at this home in 1839, to the household of John McKee. At 12, Smalls was sent to Charleston, and remained there until the outbreak of the Civil War. He worked for the Confederacy on the CSS Planter. During a daring act of heroism, Smalls sailed the ship through the Charleston harbor to freedom. After presenting the ship to the Union Army he became a Union soldier. After the war he returned to Beaufort and bought the home where he was formerly a slave. After his return to Beaufort he was elected as the first African American Congressman.

The Daniel Hingston Blythewood House can be seen at 711 Prince Street. This house is another fine example of early Beaufort style. Mr. Blythewood was a British merchant and sea captain. He built this house in 1792 for his wife Elizabeth Taylor. She convinced him to give up life on the sea to become a Baptist missionary. The home is built on a tabby foundation and flanked with chimneys.

901 Prince Street is the site of the Frederick Fraser House. The 1803 home is built on a raised foundation and is fronted by double verandas. The exterior is made of brick covered in stucco and scored to resemble masonry blocks. The first-floor veranda is accessed by way of double stairs. A Palladian doorway accesses the second.

Beaufort’s lovely homes fan out in every direction from here. Take a walk and get lost on the beautiful streets framed in Spanish moss draped live oaks.  Stroll through the church yards while you’re here. Bring the camera and capture the images for future viewing. Beaufort is sure to amaze you.

You can also read about the Architectural Treasures of Bay Street.

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HBF 2024 Annual Membership Meeting & Reception

HBF Annual Membership Meeting & Reception Monday, June 3, 2024 5:30 – 7pm Lowcountry Produce Market & Cafe 302 Carteret Street Join HBF for our 2024 Annual Membership Meeting & […]

October 2024

Hbf fall festival of houses & gardens.

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Beaufort Old Homes Tour & More

Event Description

Get a peek inside beautiful homes and gardens throughout Beaufort, North Carolina’s third oldest town, during the annual Beaufort Old Homes Tour. This event is a great way to spend time with the family when visiting North Carolina’s Crystal Coast.

Enjoy walking tours of private historical homes, buildings on the Beaufort Historic Site , gardens, churches, the Old Burying Ground and more.

The Beaufort Old Homes Tour also offers narrated bus tours of the historic district and other great accompanying events.

And while you’re in Beaufort , you’ll find plenty of great food at local restaurants, local treasures in quaint shops, or even a glimpse of the wild horses across Taylor’s Creek.

Old Homes Tour Event Info

June 28 @ 10am – June 29 @ 4pm

Tickets: $25

Purchase tickets online or call (252) 728-5225. Tickets may also be purchased in-person at the Beaufort Historic Site.

Proceeds from the Old Homes Tour along with other events go toward historic preservation and educational programs of the Beaufort Historical Association. Founded in 1960, the BHA is a non-profit organization which owns and operates the Beaufort Historic Site.

Transportation

• Shuttle transportation will be available during both days of the tour.
• Golf carts will also be sweeping the Historic District looking for any tour-goers in need of a ride!
• Tickets are $25 and are good for both days of the tour.
• It is recommended to start the tour at the Beaufort Historic Site where programs, maps and a guide to all of the activities will be available.
• The tour is meant to be taken at your own pace. To make your walking tour more enjoyable and to protect the beautiful floors of the historic houses, comfortable, flat-soled shoes are recommended.

Contact Information

Beaufort Historical Association Phone: (252) 728-522 Email: [email protected] Website: beauforthistoricsite.org

Accompanying Events

The old homes tour kickoff party & bartender challenge.

The Old Homes Tour Kickoff Party features the popular Bartenders’ Challenge as well as an art preview show from the selected Old Homes Tour artist.

When: June 1, 2024, 4-6pm

Purvis Chapel Choir Concert

Uplifting concert by the Purvis Chapel Choir held at one of the oldest AME Zion churches in the state. A great community event to celebrate the kickoff of the Beaufort Historical Association’s Old Homes Tour weekend. This event is FREE to the general public.

When: June 27, 2024, 7-9pm Where: Purvis Chapel, 215 Craven Street, Beaufort, NC

Southern Brunch Celebraton “A Happier Life” with Kristy Harvey

Join us for a Southern Brunch at the Beaufort Historic Site. Scarborough Fare Catering will be serving delicious food, there will be music by Blue Moon Jazz, and a special brunch to celebrate the release of Kristy Harvey’s brand new book “A Happier Life”!

When: June 30, 2024, 11am – 2pm

Beaufort Historic Site Bus Tour

Hop aboard and see Beaufort’s historic district from atop our 1967 English double-decker bus as narrators tell tales of Beaufort’s rich past of pirates, star-crossed lovers, and Confederate spies.

FOR TICKETS, CALL OR STOP BY THE SAFRIT HISTORICAL CENTER Where: Safrit Historical Center, 130 Turner St., Beaufort, NC

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Hours: Monday-Sunday (9am-5pm)

This year’s walking tour will feature 6 incredible homes located on the Village of Distant Island, a premier waterfront community in the Beaufort area, all professionally decorated for the Holidays by local interior designers and talented artists.

Sweet Bay – Maggie Engstrom

Maggie Engstrom is owner of Sweet Bay Inc. She has 28 years of floral experience in European Design. Maggie studied in Germany with Gregor Lersch as well as throughout the USA with other top Mentors. The team at Sweet Bay are all professional florists with backgrounds of retail experience. Each member brings unique creativity with customer satisfaction as their passion. Maggie is in her 12th season with Homes for the Holidays and her designs are always a crowd favorite. A visit to her store is “a must” at 915 Bay Street, Beaufort or check out the Sweet Bay website at www.sweetbaybeaufort.com

Tidal Creek Haven – Csernica & Courtney Tangalos

Tidal Creek Haven is a family owned and operated lifestyle shop located in historic downtown Beaufort, SC. They invite you to walk into their shop and feel as though it is your own home. The Haven is an environment that will help you relax, bring a smile to your face and encourage you to stay and browse a while, by bringing nature and the outdoors inside. They provide unique items such as one-of-a-kind driftwood furniture, indoor gardening plants and materials, handmade wreaths, as well as home accessories to make your house a home. Visit their shop at 200 Carteret Street in downtown Beaufort or check out their website, www.tidalcreekhaven.com

The Social Betty – Swinney Garrison, Kelsey Bacon, Maleia Everidge & Louise Mercer

The Social Betty is a new boutique in Beaufort on Carteret Street. They offer stunning table top, entertainment and design ideas. Cristina, the owner, is a Charleston based interior designer, who takes pride in her ability to transform spaces by marrying conceptual and uniquely designed ideas that is exclusive to each of her clients. She has over a decade of experience and has developed a keen eye for creating awe-inspiring, yet functional surroundings. Her passion for interior design is also seen in her custom line, Charleston Fine Cabinetry. The Team, Cristina, Maleia, Kelsey, Madison, Miley and Amy will be creating a Christmas Extravaganza that will inspire and spread Holiday cheer! Plan a visit to their new store at 204 Carteret Street or check out their website at www.beaufortsocialbetty.com

Jennifer Hagenbuch

Welcome to Found For Home! The owner, Jennifer Hagenbuch, started her business five years ago with a couple of things in mind. She wanted to provide design ideas and amazing décor at affordable prices in a Christian environment. After 20+ years in banking and countless decorating of friends’ homes, Jenn retired to pursue her dream and opened Found For Home. Jenn lives in Beaufort with her husband and sweet little mascot CoCo Bean. Come visit us on line at www.Found4Home.com . Merry Christmas!

Nuances – Laurie Thompson & Anna Kocuba

Dataw Island Garden Club

The Dataw Island Garden Club is an artistic group of Dataw residents who will combine their talents to bring the Christmas spirit to the Village of Distant Island tour. As a talented, volunteer organization, their members gain techniques and knowledge through guest speakers, activities and educational experience which are used to conserve, protect and beautify our natural environment. This award winning Garden Club has numerous projects on Dataw Island as well as being featured in the Historic Beaufort Foundation Fall Tour of Homes, maintenance of two entrances to the Beaufort National Cemetery, participation in the Festival of Trees and many other projects throughout the community. They also regularly take part in the Beaufort Council of Garden Club flower shows. The Dataw Garden Club will bring a fresh, magical touch to the beautiful Scandlen home. Be prepared to be dazzled!

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Historic Buildings Tour

All prized for their period collections and furnishings, our historic homes run the gamut from the rustic Leffers Cottage c.1778 and the elaborately furnished Victorian Josiah Bell House c.1825, to the award-winning restoration of the Federal-style John C. Manson House c.1825. The historic buildings include the Carteret County Jail c.1829, the Apothecary Shop and Doctor’s Office c.1857 (containing priceless pharmaceutical and medicinal artifacts used in early Beaufort), and the Carteret County Courthouse of 1796, which is the only remaining wood-framed English Circuit courthouse left intact in North Carolina. Each building depicts a different period or aspect of life in historic Beaufort.   The Historic Buildings Tour includes three of the buildings given by experienced docents in period dress.

Guided Tours Year-round Monday – Saturday  Winter (Dec – March) 10:30 am | 2 pm Summer (April – Nov) 10 am | 2:30 pm

Tickets: $15 for adults | $6 for children (ages 6-12) | free for ages 0-5, taxes are included in ticket prices. tours are also available upon request with 1 hour notice., historic district double-decker bus tour.

Hop aboard and see Beaufort’s historic district from atop our 1967 English double-decker bus! Local narrators tell tales from Beaufort’s rich past of pirates, star-crossed lovers, and Confederate spies.

April – October  Monday – Friday   1:30 pm

Saturday  11 a.m. and 1:30 pm, charters are available year-round for information, click here ., old burying ground tour.

Resting in the shade of majestic live oak trees, the Old Burying Ground holds fascinating stories about Beaufort’s 300-year-old history! Majestic live oak trees enshroud the historic gravesites within this cemetery, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. An experienced guide in period dress leads tours through the Old Burying Ground telling tales of its many colorful characters.

Year- Year-round weather Permitting  24-hour notice, call to make a reservation

For information about group tours, click here for 2023 group tour prices ., download the walking tour brochure, download the school trip brochure.

• 7 Coolest Towns in North Carolina for a Summer Vacation in 2024

North Carolina is home to some of the most amazing adventures in the country. To the west is the Appalachian Trail and Blue Ridge Parkway and to the east are gorgeous beaches and the Point near Hatteras Island , one of the best recreational angling locations in the country. Beyond the natural wonders of North Carolina also lies the amazing history within it, the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence was written in 1775, with North Carolina voting to cede from Great Britain a year before the other colonies, and being one of the first locations where Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) were used during World War II.

North Carolina has played a very important role in the history of the United States, and even today, people flock to some of the natural landscapes for once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. Beyond the cities of Raleigh, Charlotte, and Wilmington lie smaller towns, just as beautiful and impactful without the big city nuisances.

A visitor cannot go wrong by choosing to travel to Beaufort. Beaufort is located about two hours from Raleigh and Wilmington, respectively, and is typically a quieter location. Beaufort is a great location for those interested in North Carolina 's coastal history, filled with pirates, spies, and love stories, or seeing pristine natural environments.

Beaufort is the location where Captain Blackbeard's Queen Anne's Revenge was found shipwrecked and many of its remnants can be found at the North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort, having been removed and then preserved after its discovery in 1996. The Maritime Museum in Beaufort has several other exhibits and activities, with a lucky visitor being able to occasionally touch a preserved whale heart on Valentine's Day or access the museum's maritime library.

History comes alive in Beaufort with very unique history tours. Beaufort has a 1967 double-decker British bus, bright red of course, used for historic tours of the town with tales of pirates and spies in abundance. After finishing the historic tour, a visit to the Old Burying Ground, the final resting place for individuals that have spanned almost 300 years of Beaufort history, might be in order. The Old Burying Ground also has available tours year-round, as long as the weather permits.

For those with the time, a paddle or ferry out to Shackleford Banks may be in order to see the wild horses on the shores. Shackleford Banks is part of the larger Cape Lookout National Seashore, an internationally ranked dark sky. Occasionally, the National Park Service also hosts astronomy nights so amateur astronomists can learn about constellations.

Brevard is a mountain town that is close to the heart of many North Carolinians. Brevard is about two and a half hours from Charlotte , North Carolina and Knoxville , Tennessee , and seated between Pisgah National Forest and Nantahala National Forest. Brevard is surrounded by forests and mountains, drawing many visitors to locations like Looking Glass Rock for its hiking and climbing activities. There are also many waterfalls in Brevard, including Rainbow Falls, which requires only a short mile-and-a-half hike to see.

While you are hiking or walking around Brevard, you might see some peculiarly white squirrels in the area. Brevard has white variants of the Eastern Gray Squirrel and even holds a festival in their honor. Legend has it that a pair of squirrels were left behind when a carnival went through the town, but every resident has their own version. Importantly, the white squirrels make up a third of Brevard's squirrel population with people coming from all over to see them.

If you are not quite ready to put on your hiking boots for this trip, the Brevard Music Center might be just the place for you. A premier music institute focusing on classical music, the Brevard Music Center hosts a summer music festival from June to August with previous musicians being the likes of Yo-Yo Ma and Renee Fleming among the almost 100 performances each year.

When you get hungry during your adventures, head over to the Pisgah Bakehouse, a predominantly pizza location with other options like Braised Beef Cheek and Strawberry Breton Tart. Many of the incredible ingredients at the Pisgah Bakehouse are sourced locally so your dollars are even further contributing to the community.

Whether you grew up on the Andy Griffith Show as it came out on the screen or watched reruns, Mount Airy is the perfect Mayberry for you. In fact, Mount Airy was the inspiration for Mayberry. Less than two hours from Charlotte , just over two hours from Raleigh , and less than an hour from Winston-Salem , Mount Airy is a great location in western North Carolina to visit in 2024.

The biggest draw to Mount Airy is its focus on the Andy Griffith Show, the town has a replica courthouse and the Andy Griffith Museum for visitors to enjoy. After visiting the replica courthouse and touring the museum, you might be keen on heading down to Opies Candy Store to grab something sweet while strolling through Mount Airy. If you get tired of strolling, you can take a tour of the town on one of Mayberry's Squad Car Tours, with visits to some of the show's favorite places. On the Mayberry Squad Car Tours' website, it mentions that they take up to five passengers at a time for 50 dollars, making it a great, affordable attraction.

If you are not interested in the Mayberry vibes, Mount Airy has a lot to offer outside of that, surrounded by mountains and forests, Mount Airy has old bones. Home to the Rockford General Store from the National Register of Historic Places, it has been in operation since 1890. Rockford General Store is where visitors can buy a glass bottle, drink, and some candies before taking a self-guided walking tour of the historic village. For those hoping to be in the fresh air, Pilot Mountain State Park is a twenty-minute drive with options for camping, rock climbing, hiking, and paddling while overlooking the beautiful scenery. Overall, Mount Airy is the perfect little vacation spot for anyone hoping to get away.

Topsail Island

Topsail Island is in the southern part of the Outer Banks , just about an hour north of Wilmington . It has the beautiful and accessible beaches of Wilmington but a quieter atmosphere. The island is home to three small towns, all of which have just a few thousand people combined, making it a great location for someone looking for a nice beach getaway.

In North Carolina , Topsail Island is known as a great location to comb the beach for tiny shark teeth. Public access is not typically an issue, as parking is found in small lots across the southern portion of the island. Topsail Island is also a great place to sit down and have a picnic while getting your summer tan.

Topsail Island is a great location for access to the beach, but the sound side of the island is a great access for kayaking or paddle boarding. For paddlers bringing their own equipment, there are free launches around the island, but for those needing a rental, Paddle NC has a location in North Topsail where visitors can rent out equipment as well as sign up for ecotours of the sound.

After paddling across the sound, consider renewing your energy with a lunch at Splash by the Sea. Splash by the Sea is primarily seafood with other menu items, including gluten-free options like tuna nachos described as "seared ahi tuna over gluten-free crispy tortillas" with other ingredients.

For the lover of indoor environments, the Missiles and More Museum might be the best option for you. Missiles and More Museum is a great place to learn about Women Airforce Service Pilots who flew over North Carolina 's eastern coast during World War II or about Operation Bumblebee, the U.S. Navy's secret missile test program from the mid to late 1940s. After visiting the museum, you can even be able to drive past several of the watch towers that were used for Operation Bumblebee.

With mild summers, Boone is the place to be to beat the heat in a North Carolina summer. Boone is a relatively close hour and a half from Winston-Salem and just under two hours from Asheville . Boone is also surrounded by other small, beautiful mountain towns like Banner Elk and Blowing Rock while sitting very close to the North Carolina-Tennessee border.

Sitting on the Blue Ridge Parkway, Boone is also very close to the well-known Grandfather Mountain. Great for those looking to hike to the top and see the iconic Blue Ridge Mountains. After a visit to Grandfather Mountain, a tour of the Daniel Boone Native Gardens, with native plants from the region, might be in order to feel the spirit of Boone.

Tweetsie Railroad is a must-see for anyone spending more than a few hours in Boone. It is a Wild West-themed amusement park where visitors hop onto a historic locomotive, feed local animals, or enjoy events like Tweetsie Christmas and Ghost Trains during appropriate seasons. For individuals more interested in the history of Boone, a visit to the Hickory Ridge History Museum may be in order. Tours of the cabins and living history interpreters make this museum a unique opportunity to explore the town in a new light.

New Bern is about an hour west of Beaufort and two hours north of Wilmington . It was founded in the 1700s by Swiss immigrants and was the original capital of North Carolina. New Bern has been a key location throughout history, but even today, much of it is very proud of its original Swiss heritage, with symbols of a bear found throughout the town.

New Bern's long history means that it has some beautiful, old locations to admire and take pictures at, the first being Tryon Palace. With multiple structures and 16 acres of gardens, Tryon Palace is a fantastic place for visitors hoping to take beautiful pictures at a historic location, as well as art galleries for viewing. Guided tours of the various gardens, offices, and buildings are also available with varying ticket purchases.

Another claim to fame that New Bern possesses is being the birthplace of Pepsi-Cola. A store full of Pepsi-related memorabilia is currently found at the original location, creatively named The Birthplace of Pepsi-Cola. A simple stroll around downtown New Bern could find you at this location.

After a great day, seeing the sites in New Bern, sit down for a meal at Baxter's 1892, a jazz club-inspired bar and restaurant in the heart of the historic district. With desserts like a triple chocolate layer cake or Baxter's apple cobbler, while being supplied with live music events regularly held, you may never want to leave!

Little Switzerland

When heading away from the beach, Little Switzerland is the place to go. An hour from Asheville and two hours from Charlotte , this little town sits right on the Blue Ridge Parkway making it a great location to hike during the summer and the possibility of the colors starting to change at the very end of summer.

A dream stay might include waking up at La Petite Chalet, a colorful and eclectic Swiss-styled bed and breakfast before heading over to visit Emerald Village, a location to learn about North Carolina's mining industry while panning for gold, looking for gemstones, or visiting the mining museum. Outdoorsy visitors might prefer to take the three mile hike to Crabtree Falls, although it is mentioned as being a strenuous endeavor, before visiting the Little Switzerland Orchard and Winery for a taste of local ciders. If you are lucky, you might be visiting for a weekend in July or August, which means an evening of square dancing at Geneva Hall before going back to your bed and breakfast to sit around a small fire.

If you are hoping to summer at the beach, hike up a mountain, or go to an amusement park with the family, North Carolina has something available for everyone. From pirates to pioneers, spies to ghosts, there are opportunities to enjoy, and reimagine, yourself for a stay in North Carolina . Take a minute to decide where in North Carolina you want to experience the living history and gorgeous outdoors this summer and then pack your bags. If you are interested in more articles from North Carolina or did not find a perfect fit for your vacation, take a look at other World Atlas articles.

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Soaring Insurance Costs Could Force House Prices To Fall—and Some Homeowners To Forgo Coverage

When Palm Beach County Commissioner Gregg Weiss learned his windstorm insurance was doubling to $20,000 a year, his insurance agent had an unexpected solution: Pay off the mortgage on his West Palm Peach, FL, home and drop the insurance entirely.

So, two years ago, he did just that. He figured his century-old home had survived “numerous” hurricanes. The money he saved on the insurance was used instead for a new roof. He also installed impact windows in the three-bedroom home, which is located about a mile from the shore.

“It felt terrible. … [But] it just didn’t make sense anymore,” says Weiss, who is also a former mayor. “When you look at the cost-benefit analysis, I couldn’t justify the cost of that insurance anymore.”

He continues to pay his regular insurance policy.

(Getty Images)

In the past few years, insurance companies have been increasing homeowners’ premiums , dropping longtime customers, and exiting risky parts of the country entirely as climate risks and their potential losses grow due to disasters like flooding, wildfires, and hurricanes.

That has forced homeowners such as Weiss to make tough choices, such as accepting the risks if they drop their insurance coverage, paying higher premiums, or moving to lower-cost areas. (Most homeowners with a mortgage are required to have insurance, which they can drop once their loans are paid off.)

High insurance premiums are already affecting the housing markets of the most affected areas, which continue to attract new residents often due to their natural beauty.

Homes might sit on the market for longer, prices are being forced down, and deals are falling apart. And it’s expected to only get worse as communities continue to grapple with increasing climate risks and insurance premiums. These forces are likely to contribute to where people live and what happens to the communities they leave behind.

Almost half of the homes in the country are at risk of severe or extreme damage from environmental threats, affecting nearly $22 trillion in real estate, according to a recent Realtor.com® report .

“It’s making it much more expensive to live here than it was just a few years ago,” says Weiss. “It causes a lot of stress.”

Last month, State Farm said it would discontinue offering coverage for 72,000 houses and apartments in the wildfire-prone state of California beginning in the summer. This comes less than a year after it stopped issuing new home insurance policies in the state.

The news follows Farmers Insurance announcing last summer that it wouldn’t be offering any home, auto, or umbrella policies in the state of Florida. This affected about 100,000 customers.

(David McNew/Getty Images)

If these homeowners can’t find other insurance plans, they will be forced to move onto the state plans of last resort that cover the customers that private insurers find too risky. This can often be expensive and homeowners might have to pick up additional plans to cover any gaps, especially if their mortgage lenders require the extra coverage. Some will go without insurance.

About 12% of homeowners did not purchase homeowners insurance, according to a 2023 report from the Insurance Information Institute and Munich Reinsurance America.

“The biggest challenge is lots of people have made decisions based on where to live and what properties to buy based on existing insurance policies,” says  Benjamin Collier , a risk management and insurance professor at Temple University in Philadelphia. “When you change the costs, people get hurt.”

Nationally, insurance premiums rose 11.3% in 2023 and shot up 33.8% from 2018 to 2023, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence .

“In certain regions, the surge in insurance costs has been staggering, nearly tripling within a span of just a few years,” says  Jenny Lenz , managing director of Dolly Lenz Real Estate. “This sharp rise is placing immense strain on the budgets of homebuyers, with some even being forced to withdraw entirely due to insurance premiums becoming simply unmanageable or unattainable.”

How much could home prices be affected by higher insurance premiums?

Estimates vary on how much home prices could be affected by climate risk and higher insurance costs.

If home insurance premiums were expected to rise 20% annually for the next 20 years, home prices could fall as much as 10%, according to a recent report from S&P Global Market Intelligence.

Homes at risk of flooding could face even deeper price reductions. For every $1 increase in someone’s flood insurance premium, their home value falls by $41, says Shan Ge , a finance professor at New York University. In areas with high sea level risk, that $1 increase translates into a $250 home value decline. Home price appreciation also falls.

“If premiums go up by $100, home values go down by $4,100 for homes not exposed to sea level rise and by $25,000 for homes that are exposed to sea level rise,” says Ge. She was one of the authors of an academic paper that looked at how the increases in the National Flood Insurance Program premiums affected home prices.

More people are beginning to take the threat of a 100-year storm more seriously as insurance premiums rise, says Ge. Just a few years ago, the threat of a natural disaster striking their property might have seemed improbable or a problem for the distant future. But higher insurance costs that better measure their risks are hitting their budgets today .

The higher insurance costs haven’t pushed home prices down by too much—yet. With so few homes available on the market, buyers and investors are keeping prices high, even for homes in risky areas. However, experts believe it’s only a matter of time before that changes.

“In some areas, homes that are legitimately in a high-risk area, they begin to sit on the market longer. Ultimately, you begin to see discounting,” says Jesse Keenan , a sustainable real estate and urban planning professor at Tulane University in New Orleans.

The discounts are just due to higher insurance premiums. Homebuyers are also weighing the likelihood of future damages.

Higher insurance premiums are hurting home sales in some areas

Already, some homebuyers are having trouble qualifying for mortgages or are backing out of deals due to higher insurance costs, says Joe Uzee , president of the mortgage division of Gulf Coast Bank & Trust. It has 20 branches in Louisiana, a state that has been ravaged by hurricanes .

About 30% to 40% of the deals he sees in his state fall apart after someone who is under contract to purchase a home gets insurance quotes.

“They may say the insurance premium is making this payment unaffordable,” says Uzee. “It could certainly hinder a seller’s ability to sell a house.”

About 90% of Florida investors missed out on at least one deal because of insurance issues, says Rick Sharga , CEO of CJ Patrick Co., a real estate and mortgage intelligence firm. They couldn’t get insurance or couldn’t afford it for a property they wanted.

He’s personally experienced the troubles with rising insurance premiums. His insurer canceled the policy on his Orange County, CA, home due to wildfire risk. This pushed him into the state’s FAIR plan (the insurer of last resort), and he purchased an additional plan to go with it. He’s paying twice as much as he was just two years ago.

Experts say that eventually only the very wealthy and investors may be able to afford homes along the storm-prone coasts and wildfire-prone parts of the West. Everyone else, including retirees on fixed incomes, might move to nearby inland or safer counties—if they can afford to do so.

(Sean Rayford/Getty Images)

“Lower-income and middle-income people will find it increasingly challenging to live in these areas,” says Dave Jones , the director of the Climate Risk Initiative at the Center for Law, Energy, and the Environment at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law. He is also the former insurance commissioner for the state of California. “Some wealthier people and investors will move in behind those who are moving out.”

Many of the people moving to flood zones along the nation’s scenic coastlines are indeed wealthier individuals, says Parinitha Sastry , a finance professor at Columbia University in New York City.

“If people want to rebuild and retain their communities, I’m for that,” she says. However, “people who can’t afford to bear the disaster losses shouldn’t be in those areas. It’s going to wipe them out.”

Insurance premiums are often artificially low for the riskiest homes

As high as insurance costs are, they’re often artificially low for the riskiest homes.

Prices have been driven up in recent years due to rising climate risks, more people moving to vulnerable parts of the country (such as Florida), inflation increasing the costs to rebuild after a disaster, and reinsurance companies, which insure the insurance companies. When reinsurers increase their prices, those costs get passed on to policyholders.

However, federal and state governments have been trying to keep prices in check so as not to hurt homeowners or destroy communities.

For example, the federally run National Flood Insurance Program, which provides flood insurance to homeowners, has capped increases to 18% a year for most policyholders. Critics have said that this keeps premiums lower for the highest-risk properties, but requires less vulnerable property owners to pay more to spread out the risk.

In addition, each state has an insurance commissioner, many of whom must approve rate increases before insurers hike premiums. That can become a standoff in some states where each side is waiting for the other to blink first.

The result is insurance companies are pulling out of the riskiest areas, pushing homeowners into the state insurance plans.

One potential solution is to build more resilient homes that can withstand natural disasters, says Lars Powell , director of the Alabama Center for Insurance Information and Research at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

“That has to be the future,” says Powell. “Or only the rich people will live on the coast because only they can afford the insurance or afford not to have insurance.”

Clare Trapasso is the executive news editor of Realtor.com. She was previously a reporter for the Associated Press, the New York Daily News, and a Financial Times publication. She also taught journalism courses at several New York City colleges. Email [email protected].

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Billie eilish bringing 'hit me hard and soft tour' to boston's td garden this fall.

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Singer Billie Eilish is bringing her "Hit Me Hard and Soft Tour" to Boston's TD Garden this fall.

The tour will make a stop at the home of the Boson Bruins and Boston Celtics on Friday, Oct. 11.

Tickets for the tour will be available starting with the American Express Presale beginning on Tuesday, with additional presales running throughout the week.

Any remaining tickets will be available during the general on-sale starting on Friday, May 3.

The first stop of the tour will be Sunday, Sept. 29, in Quebec, and it will run through Dec. 17 before it continues in Australia ahead of her European, U.K., and Ireland arena dates, which begin in April 2025.

For more information about tickets, click here .