The campaign to create a Reconstruction Era National Monument spanned fifteen years, beginning in the final days of the Bill Clinton administration, when outgoing Interior SecretaryBruce Babbitt visited the Beaufort area, accompanied by historian Eric Foner, author of the book Reconstruction: America's Unfinished Revolution, 1863-1877.[1] The initial effort to create the national monument failed in Congress amid opposition from the Sons of Confederate Veterans.[1][4] In 2004, when the creation of a Beaufort Reconstruction History Park was being considered, the Sons of Confederate Veterans organized a campaign to persuade U.S. Representative Joe Wilson (who then represented the area of the proposed park) to oppose it. After receiving letters from the group's members and meeting with the group, Wilson told the National Park Service that he would not support the park.[4]
The proposal was revived in 2015, however, after two historians commissioned by the Park Service — Gregory Downs of the University of California, Davis and Kate Masur of Northwestern University—undertook a field study of sites associated with the Reconstruction era and issued a report entitled National Historical Landmark Theme Study on the U.S. Reconstruction Era, 1861–1898.[1][5] At an April 2016 symposium entitled "The Reconstruction Era: History and Public Memory" in Columbia, South Carolina, sponsored by Historic Columbia and the University of South Carolina History Center, Downs, Masur, and others spoke. At that symposium, a Park Service official indicated that opposition to the proposed national monument from the Sons of Confederate Veterans had softened.[4]
Two U.S. Representatives from South Carolina, Democrat Jim Clyburn and Republican Mark Sanford (whose district has included Beaufort since redistricting in 2010),[4] were major champions of the monument's designation and had sought to create the monument via an act of Congress.[6] A proposal to create the Reconstruction Era National Monument through executive action received overwhelming support at a public meeting held by Clyburn and the Park Service in December 2016.[7] The great-great-grandson of Robert Smalls—a freed slave who rose to become a member of Congress from South Carolina during Reconstruction—was a supporter of the monument's designation.[7]
A public dedication ceremony was held in March 2017.[9] The monument's dedication was also celebrated at that year's annual Original Gullah Festival.[10]
Sites that are part of the historical parkedit
The monument includes four locations in and near Beaufort, South Carolina.[11] The Beaufort area came under the control of the Union Army in November 1861. As a result, it was one of the first places in the United States where emancipated slaves "voted, bought property and created churches, schools and businesses."[1] The four sites that are part of the park are:
Darrah Hall at Penn Center[12] (originally Penn School): Founded in 1862, this was an early school in the South for freed slaves.[6][11] In 1864, it moved to its current location (now part of the monument) on Saint Helena Island.[6] Even before the national monument was declared, Penn Center was part of a National Historic Landmark District. It is significant not only for its association with Reconstruction and civil rights, but also as a center of Gullah cultural heritage.[11]
Brick Baptist Church: Located next to Penn Center, this church building was constructed in 1855 "by slaves who were relegated to its balcony out of the sight and presence of white worshipers."[6] In 1861, after the Battle of Port Royal, some 8,000 freed slaves took control of the church.[6][11] It is the oldest church on Saint Helena Island.[11]
The Old Beaufort Firehouse (706 Craven Street) in downtown Beaufort, near other historically significant sites.[6][11] The old firehouse, which is also part of the 304-acre Beaufort National Historic District,[12] now houses the visitor center for the national historic park.[13]
^ abcdBill Rauch, Can the South Make Room for Reconstruction?, The Atlantic (September 17, 2016).
^Hilary Hurd Anyaso, Historian's work foundation of new national monument, Northwestern Now, Northwestern University (January 30, 2017).
^ abcdefghEmma Dumain, Just under the wire, Obama establishes national monument to Reconstruction era in Beaufort County, The Post & Courier (January 12, 2017).
^ abStephen Fastenau, Clyburn, Park Service hear overwhelming support for Reconstruction monument, Beauford Gazette (December 15, 2016).
^Melanie Eversley, Obama designates 3 civil rights sites as national monuments, USA Today (January 12, 2017).
^James Clyburn, Putting things in perspective: monuments, basketball and a flag, The State (March 21, 2017).
^Gullah Festival set for Memorial Day weekend, Bluffton Today (May 19, 2017).
^ abcdefghijJessicah Lawrence, "Beaufort designated as Reconstruction era national monument," Beaufort Today (January 16, 2017).
^ abcPlan Your Visit: Reconstruction Era National Monument, National Park Service.
^Emily Williams, How Reconstruction is being retold in Beaufort, one of the newest national parks, Post & Courier (April 22, 2019).
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Reconstruction Era National Historical Park.
Official National Park Service site
April 04, 2024
reconstruction, national, historical, park, formerly, reconstruction, national, monument, united, states, national, historical, park, beaufort, county, south, carolina, established, president, barack, obama, january, 2017, preserve, commemorate, activities, du. The Reconstruction Era National Historical Park formerly Reconstruction Era National Monument is a United States National Historical Park in Beaufort County South Carolina established by President Barack Obama in January 2017 to preserve and commemorate activities during the Reconstruction Era that followed the American Civil War The monument was the first U S National Monument dedicated to the Reconstruction Era 1 The John D Dingell Jr Conservation Management and Recreation Act signed March 12 2019 by President Donald Trump re designated it as a national historical park 2 It is administered by the National Park Service 3 Reconstruction Era National Historical ParkThe Old Beaufort Firehouse site of Reconstruction Era National Historical Park Visitor Center March 2011LocationBeaufort County South CarolinaCoordinates32 25 57 N 80 40 14 W 32 43250 N 80 67056 W 32 43250 80 67056Area64 99 acres 26 30 ha WebsiteReconstruction Era National Historical ParkU S National MonumentDesignatedJanuary 12 2017Location of Reconstruction Era National Historical Park in South CarolinaShow map of South CarolinaReconstruction Era National Historical Park the United States Show map of the United States Contents 1 Creation of the monument 2 Sites that are part of the historical park 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksCreation of the monument editThe campaign to create a Reconstruction Era National Monument spanned fifteen years beginning in the final days of the Bill Clinton administration when outgoing Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt visited the Beaufort area accompanied by historian Eric Foner author of the book Reconstruction America s Unfinished Revolution 1863 1877 1 The initial effort to create the national monument failed in Congress amid opposition from the Sons of Confederate Veterans 1 4 In 2004 when the creation of a Beaufort Reconstruction History Park was being considered the Sons of Confederate Veterans organized a campaign to persuade U S Representative Joe Wilson who then represented the area of the proposed park to oppose it After receiving letters from the group s members and meeting with the group Wilson told the National Park Service that he would not support the park 4 The proposal was revived in 2015 however after two historians commissioned by the Park Service Gregory Downs of the University of California Davis and Kate Masur of Northwestern University undertook a field study of sites associated with the Reconstruction era and issued a report entitled National Historical Landmark Theme Study on the U S Reconstruction Era 1861 1898 1 5 At an April 2016 symposium entitled The Reconstruction Era History and Public Memory in Columbia South Carolina sponsored by Historic Columbia and the University of South Carolina History Center Downs Masur and others spoke At that symposium a Park Service official indicated that opposition to the proposed national monument from the Sons of Confederate Veterans had softened 4 Two U S Representatives from South Carolina Democrat Jim Clyburn and Republican Mark Sanford whose district has included Beaufort since redistricting in 2010 4 were major champions of the monument s designation and had sought to create the monument via an act of Congress 6 A proposal to create the Reconstruction Era National Monument through executive action received overwhelming support at a public meeting held by Clyburn and the Park Service in December 2016 7 The great great grandson of Robert Smalls a freed slave who rose to become a member of Congress from South Carolina during Reconstruction was a supporter of the monument s designation 7 The Reconstruction Era National Monument created in the final days of President Obama s term was established on the same day as two National Monuments honoring the American civil rights movement the Freedom Riders National Monument and the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument 6 8 Obama created the monuments using his executive authority under the Antiquities Act which confers upon the president the unilateral authority to create most national monuments 1 A public dedication ceremony was held in March 2017 9 The monument s dedication was also celebrated at that year s annual Original Gullah Festival 10 Sites that are part of the historical park editThe monument includes four locations in and near Beaufort South Carolina 11 The Beaufort area came under the control of the Union Army in November 1861 As a result it was one of the first places in the United States where emancipated slaves voted bought property and created churches schools and businesses 1 The four sites that are part of the park are Darrah Hall at Penn Center 12 originally Penn School Founded in 1862 this was an early school in the South for freed slaves 6 11 In 1864 it moved to its current location now part of the monument on Saint Helena Island 6 Even before the national monument was declared Penn Center was part of a National Historic Landmark District It is significant not only for its association with Reconstruction and civil rights but also as a center of Gullah cultural heritage 11 Brick Baptist Church Located next to Penn Center this church building was constructed in 1855 by slaves who were relegated to its balcony out of the sight and presence of white worshipers 6 In 1861 after the Battle of Port Royal some 8 000 freed slaves took control of the church 6 11 It is the oldest church on Saint Helena Island 11 The Old Beaufort Firehouse 706 Craven Street in downtown Beaufort near other historically significant sites 6 11 The old firehouse which is also part of the 304 acre Beaufort National Historic District 12 now houses the visitor center for the national historic park 13 Camp Saxton Site Emancipation Grove at Port Royal this is the location where Union Army General Rufus Saxton publicly read the Emancipation Proclamation to a gathering of 3 000 slaves from the surrounding Sea Islands on New Year s Day 1863 6 11 Additionally it was the site where some of the first African Americans were mustered into the U S Army 11 as enlisted soldiers in the 1st South Carolina Volunteers 12 The Emancipation Oak an oak tree is located in a nearby grove 11 The area is now part of Naval Hospital Beaufort 11 The official building for the Camp Saxton site is located at the Naval Heritage Park A small white church called Pinckney Porter s Chapel houses the exhibits for Camp Saxton See also editAfrican American history History of South Carolina National Register of Historic Places listings in Beaufort County South Carolina nbsp United States portalReferences edit a b c d e f Jennifer Schuessler President Obama Designates First National Monument Dedicated to Reconstruction New York Times January 12 2017 Text S 47 John D Dingell Jr Conservation Management and Recreation Act United States Congress March 12 2019 Retrieved March 12 2019 FACT SHEET President Obama Designates National Monuments Honoring Civil Rights History White House Office of the Press Secretary January 12 2017 a b c d Bill Rauch Can the South Make Room for Reconstruction The Atlantic September 17 2016 Hilary Hurd Anyaso Historian s work foundation of new national monument Northwestern Now Northwestern University January 30 2017 a b c d e f g h Emma Dumain Just under the wire Obama establishes national monument to Reconstruction era in Beaufort County The Post amp Courier January 12 2017 a b Stephen Fastenau Clyburn Park Service hear overwhelming support for Reconstruction monument Beauford Gazette December 15 2016 Melanie Eversley Obama designates 3 civil rights sites as national monuments USA Today January 12 2017 James Clyburn Putting things in perspective monuments basketball and a flag The State March 21 2017 Gullah Festival set for Memorial Day weekend Bluffton Today May 19 2017 a b c d e f g h i j Jessicah Lawrence Beaufort designated as Reconstruction era national monument Beaufort Today January 16 2017 a b c Plan Your Visit Reconstruction Era National Monument National Park Service Emily Williams How Reconstruction is being retold in Beaufort one of the newest national parks Post amp Courier April 22 2019 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Reconstruction Era National Historical Park Official National Park Service site Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Reconstruction Era National Historical Park amp oldid 1169364673, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
