John Mark Verdier House
Downtown Historic District
Built and maintained by the forced labor of enslaved people, this 1804 Federal-style mansion has been restored and furnished as it would have been prior to a visit by Marquis de Lafayette in 1825. It was the headquarters for Union forces during the Civil War. The house museum also features historical photographs, a diorama of Bay Street in 1863, and an exhibit about Robert Smalls, the first African American U.S. congressman. Run by Historic Beaufort Foundation, the museum offers docent-guided tours.
