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2025 Beaufort History Guide

Island Express Ferry Service

Island Express Ferry Service LLC is the only authorized concessionaire to drop off at Cape Lookout Lighthouse and Shackleford Banks! Offering departures from both Beaufort and nearby Harkers Island, Island Express Ferry Service serves as the link between the communities of the Crystal Coast and the spectacularly beautiful and isolated barrier islands of the Cape Lookout National Seashore. Accommodating passengers who want to explore the miles of pristine beaches, exceptional fishing and...

Shackleford Wild Horse & Shelling Safari

Take a quick and scenic ferry ride with your experienced guide over to the pristine Outer Banks Island of Shackleford Banks, which is part of the Cape Lookout National Seashore. There, you are introduced to the wild horses of Shackleford Banks. After the tour, you are directed to one of the best shelling beaches in all of North Carolina, where you can spend some time shelling your way down the beach with Cape Lookout Lighthouse off in the distance. Shackleford is well known as one of the...

Lookout Cruises

Visitors can enjoy the Crystal Coast’s most coveted and hard-to-reach shorelines, or just embark on a breezy cruise of the open waters in search of dolphins and sunsets, with a trip that’s guided by Lookout Cruises. This local tour company that calls the central town of Beaufort its home port offers a far-reaching range of adventures that will have coastal fans of all ages soaking up the sun and enjoying the best of the Southern Outer Banks.

Beaufort Walking History/Movie Tour
Book online
$15.00 - $30.00

*Over 300 years of history plus stories about Hollywood movies and actors.* _________ Duration 2 Hours ________ About Walking tour of Beaufort’s historic district gives you a chance to learn more about our beautiful town and ask questions as...

Pat Conroy's Beaufort by Golf Cart
Book online
$20.00 - $40.00

*“I’ve come home to the place I was always writing about…. I’ve tried to make Beaufort, South Carolina, my own.”—Pat Conroy, The Death of Santini* ____ Duration and Availability - 1Hr15Mn - Monday through Sunday (7 days a week) at...

History and Movie Tour by Golf Cart
Book online
$15.00 - $32.00

*See stunning live oaks draped with Spanish Moss, and pre-Civil War houses.* ____________ Duration 1 Hour ___________ About This one hour tour by golf cart covers Beaufort’s historic district and gives you a chance to learn more about our...

North Carolina Maritime Museum at Beaufort

Dive into a wealth of coastal artifacts, folklore, and legendary figures with a visit to the North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort. Operating as one of three maritime museums along coastal NC, this distinctive site is known for its unique...

St. Helena's Episcopal Church

Visitors to historic Beaufort typically can't help but notice the distinguished St. Helena's Episcopal Church, a beautiful site with a sky-high steeple that towers over the lush, evergreen scene. In addition to its exterior beauty, the church has...

Beaufort National Cemetery

The Beaufort National Cemetery is a somber but historically important site located in the heart of Beaufort County. Quietly beautiful, with the region's renowned live oaks towering over the lines of small, white headstones, the cemetery holds a...

John Mark Verdier House

The John Mark Verdier House Museum is a wonderfully engaging Downtown Beaufort attraction for a wide variety of reasons. As the only historic planter's house in the city open to the public, the 1804 estate presents an accurate portrait of how...

Beaufort Historic Site Visitor Center and Museum

Soak up the centuries-old history of beautiful Beaufort with a visit to the Beaufort Historic Site. Renowned as the third oldest town in North Carolina, there’s a lot of history to explore in this quiet Southern Outer Banks community, and...

Port City Tour Company

Port City Tour Co. is your destination for entertainment, education, talented acting, and history! We can also deliver a catered experience for your special events.   From cool off-shore shelling and wild horse adventures to close-to-home...

There's a reason why Beaufort earned the title of the "Coolest Small Town in the USA" by national publication Budget Travel Magazine, and one of the driving forces behind this honor is Beaufort's dedicated preservation of its history, orchestrated...

Regardless of whether visitors are exploring the Beaufort Old Burying Ground via one of the area’s in-depth and fascinating tours, or simply passing by on a self-guided expedition of the historic Downtown area, the site is certainly worth a...

The Gibbs House is a picturesque home in the heart of Beaufort that has deep roots and a fascinating background. Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, this eye-catching home is a popular destination along a guided or a...