/Sesquicentennial_Information_community_events

The Lowcountry Civil War Sesquicentennial Commemoration December 1-4, 2011

The Coastal Discovery Museum and the Lowcountry Civil War Round Table, Inc. have partnered as lead sponsors to present the “Lowcountry Civil War Sesquicentennial Commemoration” on December 1- 4, 20ll. Additional partners include the Beaufort Country Historical Society, Beaufort History Museum, Archaeology Society of South Carolina, Historic Beaufort Foundation, Bluffton Historic Preservation Society, Heritage Library Foundation, Hilton Head Island Land Trust, Mitchelville Preservation Project, Port Royal Plantation and the University of South Carolina Beaufort (USCB).

Community events schedule: Thursday, December 1st 10:00 – 4:00 – Exhibitions at the Verdier House, Historic Beaufort Foundation – guided tours given on the half hour, $10 per person o o

“The Beaufort Volunteer Auxiliary: Guardians of the Lowcountry since 1776” “The Life and Times of Congressman Robert Smalls”

1:30 PM “Finding Historic Mitchelville” Panel Discussion and tour by the Mitchelville Preservation Project and Tour of Fort Howell by the Hilton Head Island Land Trust (additional transportation fee may apply, donations accepted for tour) 3:00 PM Bluffton Historic District Walking Tour presented by the Bluffton Historic Preservation Society. Guided tour of Bluffton’s National Register Historic District includes a 30-minute tour of the Heyward House and an hour walk through old town. Registration is limited to 30 participants. $15 fee paid to Bluffton Historic Preservation – contact Heyward House Historic Center 843-757-6293 or at HeywardHouse@gmail.com

All Day – Information tables representing Beaufort County’s Heritage and Cultural organizations. No Charge.

Friday, December 2 All Day – Information tables representing Beaufort County’s Heritage and Cultural organizations.

10:00 – 4:00 – Exhibitions at the Verdier House, Historic Beaufort Foundation – guided tours given on the half hour, $10 per person o o

“The Beaufort Volunteer Auxiliary: Guardians of the Lowcountry since 1776” “The Life and Times of Congressman Robert Smalls”

1:30 & 3:30 PM – Fort Mitchel Lecture – offered by the Heritage Library Foundation and addressing the role of Fort Mitchel in fortifying Hilton Head Island by Union forces. $5 per person registration fee requested (Heritage Library Foundation members, students and children under 12 are free.)

Evening reception and grand opening of the new temporary exhibition: “Civil War in the Lowcountry” at the Coastal Discovery Museum Saturday, December 3 All Day – Information tables representing Beaufort County’s Heritage and Cultural organizations.

10 AM – 4 PM - Fort Mitchel will be staffed by volunteers from the Heritage Library Foundation for information and brief tours on Friday and Saturday from 10-4, donations accepted on site by the Heritage Library Foundation.

10:00 – 4:00 – Exhibitions at the Verdier House, Historic Beaufort Foundation – guided tours given on the half hour, $10 per person o o

“The Beaufort Volunteer Auxiliary: Guardians of the Lowcountry since 1776” “The Life and Times of Congressman Robert Smalls”

1:30 & 3:30 PM – Fort Mitchel Lecture – offered by the Heritage Library Foundation and addressing the role of Fort Mitchel in fortifying Hilton Head Island by Union forces. $5 per person registration fee requested (Heritage Library Foundation members, students and children under 12 are free.)

Civil War Living History Encampment at Honey Horn (all day, no charge to attend) 10 AM – 3 PM “What the Heck is it?” – Artifact display and identification at Honey Horn by the Archaeology Society of South Carolina, Hilton Head Island Chapter.

Sunday, December 4 Closing of Commemoration service at Honey Horn Plantation Civil War Living History Encampment (until Noon) Until noon – Information tables representing Beaufort County’s Heritage and Cultural organizations.

Please note: •

Additional tours, talks and programs may be scheduled by partner organizations. A full schedule of offerings will be made to all registrants in advance of the program.

Location of all events, tours and lectures will be confirmed two weeks in advance of the program.

In addition, there are lectures, performances and activities planned by the Coastal Discovery Museum and the Lowcountry Civil War Roundtable. These are available on a limited basis, with paid registration.

Registration for the Full 4-day ticket gives you access to all of the following events (as well as all ‘Community Events’ listed above). The scheduled events are as follows: Thursday, December 1 Morning lectures (9:30 AM until Noon): “The South Prepares for Invasion” – Dr. James (Bud) Robertson, Jr. (Retired Professor, Virginia Tech and Virginia Center for Civil War Studies “Setting the Stage: Plantation Era and Beaufort County’s Preparation for War” – Dr. Steve Wise (Parris Island Museum) Evening theatrical performance - “The Road Home” – 7:30 PM A Journey of the Early Years of the Civil War Compiled by Clarence Felder Directed by Chris Weatherhead Produced by ACTORS' THEATRE OF SOUTH CAROLINA "The Road Home" is a journey and weaving of thoughts, words, songs and speeches of those caught in the maelstrom of the early years of the war. It

explores many different circumstances, from the loving pleadings of a lonely wife, to soldiers' jaunty camp tales, the moving opinions of Frederick Douglass and a Confederate general's observations of Robert E. Lee after the defeat of Gettysburg, all wrapped in the music that spurred the hearts of both armies as they fought, prayed and longed for home...

Program held at Hilton Head Island High School – Visual and Performing Arts Center.

Friday, December 2 Morning lectures (9:30 AM – Noon): “Secession and the Fire Eaters: The War Begins” – William (Jack) C. Davis (Virginia Center for Civil War Studies, Virginia Tech) “Commodore Samuel Francis DuPont, the Union Blockade and Preparations for the Department of the South” – Col. Kevin Weddle, Ph.D. (U.S. Army War College, Carlisle PA) Afternoon: Re-creation of the Battle of Port Royal Sound - Narrated boat tour, including lunch, of Port Royal Sound recreating the Naval battle of Port Royal – led by Michael Coker (author of The Battle of Port Royal Sound) Saturday, December 3 Morning lectures (9:30 – Noon): “South Carolina Volunteers: Gen. David Hunter and Black Regiments in the Civil War ” – Dr. Joseph Glatthaar (Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill) Roundtable Wrap-up and Book Signing – Steve Hoffius and Dr. Larry Rowland (editors of The Civil War in South Carolina: Selections from the South Carolina Historical Magazine) We are now offering to the public the opportunity to make reservations for this event: Full 4-day ticket: $325 per person (after November 10th - $375 per person) [Special pricing is available for Teachers. Please call for information.]

Daily tickets:

Thursday: $150 per person Friday: $150 per person Saturday: $100 per person

Reservations may be made by calling the Coastal Discovery Museum – 843-6896767, ext. 223 or visiting the website at: www.coastaldiscovery.org.