Cultural Landscape Report: Camp Saxton, Reconstruction Era National Historical Park
WLA Studio. 2023. Cultural Landscape Report: Camp Saxton, Reconstruction Era National Historical Park. Cultural Landscape Report. National Park Service. Atlanta, Georgia
This Cultural Landscape Report (CLR) is for the Camp Saxton unit of Reconstruction Era National Historical Park about four miles south of Beaufort, South Carolina. Camp Saxton derives its significance as the camp of the first African American regiment in the U.S. military (1862-1863) and its role in the events of the Port Royal Experiment (1862-1865). Immediately after the Civil War, African Americans in the Sea Islands were instrumental in the political and social movements regarding African American enfranchisement, education, and economy. This CLR applies a 1732-1873 period of significance to structure the narrative to follow. These dates correspond to the construction of Fort Frederick (1732) through the purchase and subsequent development of a portion of the project area by freed African Americans resulting from Civil War and Reconstruction era policies (1873). Fort Frederick was a key feature of Camp Saxton, serving as a dock for the encampment. This CLR aims to synthesize our understanding of the cultural landscape of the site and offer recommendations to guide its future use. The site history section of this report organizes the site into periods of development. These periods reflect both broad themes in regional history as well as specific events related to the ownership of the project site. The eleven-acre site is located on Port Royal Island, one of a string of Sea Islands along the South Carolina coastline. The cultural landscape of the study area is co-owned by the US Navy and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR). The Navy uses the northern portion of the site as the Naval Hospital Beaufort facility, while SCDNR manages the southern portion as Fort Frederick Heritage Preserve. Other units within Reconstruction Era National Historical Park are the Old Beaufort Firehouse, Brick Church, and Darrah Hall.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- WLA Studio
- Date of Issue
- 2023-09
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- REER , SER
- Keywords
- African American history, civil rights, Civil War, Fort Frederick, military, Port Royal Experiment, reconstruction, US Navy