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Reconstruction Era National Historical Park

Reconstruction Era National Historical Park is a national historical park in Beaufort, Beaufort County, in South Carolina's Lowcountry. Entry is free. Park grounds hours sunrise–sunset daily. Facts read from the official page on October 25, 2026.

  • Hourssunrise–sunsetofficial hours below
  • AdmissionFree entry
  • WhereBeaufortBeaufort County, Lowcountry
  • DogsNot confirmedrules below

About Reconstruction Era

Reconstruction Era National Historical Park tells how the United States tried to bring millions of newly freed African Americans into public life after the Civil War, through sites in Beaufort, on St. Helena Island and at Port Royal. Start at the Old Firehouse Visitor Center in downtown Beaufort; Penn Center and Pinckney-Porter's Chapel are part of the park story.

Plan It In Three Lines

  1. Getting In

    Free to enter.

    sunrise–sunset

  2. Make It A Day

    St. Phillips Island State Park is about 11 miles away (straight line).

    3 places within 30 miles

Reconstruction Era Hours

Hours At A Glance

Hours in a day

  • Park groundsEvery daysunrise–sunset
  • Visitor centersEvery day9 a.m.–5 p.m.
  • Penn Center's welcome center and museum set their own hours: call Penn Center at (843) 838-7105

Bars that fade start at sunrise or end at sunset or dark, which move with the season. The full hours, word for word, are in the list below.

  • Park grounds: sunrise to sunset, every day
  • Visitor centers: hours vary by location (NPS park data lists 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. for park hours); check each site before you go
  • Penn Center's welcome center and museum set their own hours: call Penn Center at (843) 838-7105

Admission And Passes

  • Free: no fees for the national park
  • Partner sites (Beaufort History Museum, Penn Center) may charge their own fees
  • Parking around the visitor center is metered city street parking

Directions And Contact

  • Address: 706 Craven Street, Beaufort, SC 29902 (Old Firehouse Visitor Center)
  • Phone: 843.962.0039
  • Map point: 32.43210,-80.67290, from OpenStreetMap point for 706 Craven Street, Beaufort (approximate). Directions in Google Maps
  • Official page: www.nps.gov/reer/
  • Beaufort County has opened the Fort Frederick Heritage Preserve (601 Old Fort Road, Port Royal), linked to the Camp Saxton story.

Dogs And Strollers

  • The NPS pets page for this park did not load (404) when we read it on 2026-10-25; pet rules not confirmed.

Not confirmed: stroller rules. The official page we read does not mention strollers; boardwalks and paved paths may suit them, but call ahead.

Near Reconstruction Era

Around Reconstruction Era within 30 miles
10 mi20 mi30 miNSEW123
  1. 1St. Phillips Island State ParkState Parkabout 11 mi
  2. 2Hunting Island State ParkState Parkabout 13 mi
  3. 3Edisto Beach State ParkState Parkabout 22 mi

Straight-line distances between map points, not driving miles. Dots sit in their true compass direction; distance is stretched near the middle so close neighbors stay readable.

Coming Up Near Reconstruction Era

17 more on the full events calendar.

Events within 40 miles, measured in a straight line to the centre of the event's town. Dates come from our checked events list; confirm with the organizer.

FAQ

How much does it cost to visit Reconstruction Era National Historical Park?

Entry is free.

Are dogs allowed at Reconstruction Era?

The NPS pets page for this park did not load (404) when we read it on 2026-10-25; pet rules not confirmed.

What are the hours at Reconstruction Era?

Park grounds: sunrise to sunset, every day; Visitor centers: hours vary by location (NPS park data lists 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. for park hours); check each site before you go.

What We Could Not Verify

  • Holiday and storm closures change at short notice; check the official page the day you go.
  • Stroller rules are not stated on the official page.
  • The map point is approximate.

Sources

  1. NPS: Operating Hours and Seasons (read 2026-10-25)
  2. NPS: Fees and Passes (read 2026-10-25)
  3. NPS: Directions and Transportation (read 2026-10-25)
  4. NPS park data service (hours, contacts, park point) (read 2026-10-25)

Last checked October 25, 2026 by the It’s South Carolina editor. Spot something out of date? Tell us.

Cite this page: It's South Carolina, “Reconstruction Era National Historical Park”, itssouthcarolina.com/places/reconstruction-era-national-historical-park/ (updated ). By the It's South Carolina editorial team. Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page; data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.