https://www.nps.gov/reer News releases from Reconstruction Era National Historical Park. en-us https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/networkannouncementmarch2026.htm Mon, 02 Mar 2026 05:46:00 EST The National Park Service announces the inclusion of two institutes of higher learning to the Reconstruction Era National Historic Network. This national network connects sites across the country who provide education, interpretation and research related to the period of Reconstruction. The Reconstruction era, lasting from 1861 to 1900, includes stories of freedom, education and self-determination. https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/networkannouncementmarch2026.htm https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/network-announcement-sept-2025.htm Thu, 11 Sep 2025 20:00:00 EST In September 2025, the National Park Service announces the addition of four new sites to the Reconstruction Era National Historic Network. https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/network-announcement-sept-2025.htm https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/reconstruction-era-national-historic-network-announces-the-inclusion-of-seven-new-sites.htm Tue, 03 Jun 2025 20:00:00 EST On June 5, 2025, the National Park Service announces the addition of seven new sites to the Reconstruction Era National Historic Network. https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/reconstruction-era-national-historic-network-announces-the-inclusion-of-seven-new-sites.htm https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/optoutside2024.htm Mon, 18 Nov 2024 01:00:00 EST Reconstruction Era National Historical Park invites the public to attend a free Junior Ranger Park Explorer Program at Camp Saxton on November 29, 2024 any time between 11 am and 2 pm. https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/optoutside2024.htm https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/exhibit-opening.htm Thu, 14 Nov 2024 10:37:00 EST Reconstruction Era National Historical Park invites the public to attend a free program celebrating the opening of the park’s visitor center exhibit, Lay of the Land. The program will take place Saturday November 23 at 1 pm at the park visitor center, located at 706 Craven Street in downtown Beaufort. https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/exhibit-opening.htm https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/reer-gmp-fonsi.htm Fri, 18 Oct 2024 03:40:00 EST Reconstruction Era National Historical Park is pleased to announce the availability of the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the historic park’s General Management Plan/Environmental Assessment (plan/EA). The FONSI, signed by the regional director on September 9, 2024, describes the final decision of the National Park Service. https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/reer-gmp-fonsi.htm https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/reconstruction-era-national-historical-park-to-temporarily-close-downtown-visitor-center-for-floor-installation-project.htm Mon, 19 Aug 2024 05:17:00 EST BEAUFORT, SC- Reconstruction Era National Historical Park will temporarily close the Visitor Center/Old Beaufort Firehouse in downtown Beaufort from August 22-30, 2024 for a floor installation project in the building. https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/reconstruction-era-national-historical-park-to-temporarily-close-downtown-visitor-center-for-floor-installation-project.htm https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/reconstruction-era-national-historical-park-to-host-sunrise-nature-walk-at-penn-center-national-historic-landmark-district.htm Tue, 02 Jul 2024 10:49:00 EST Reconstruction Era National Historical Park invites the public to experience sunrise on St. Helena Island with a ranger guided nature walk along the Capers Creek Nature Trail at the Penn Center National Historic Landmark District on Saturday July 13 at 6:30 am https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/reconstruction-era-national-historical-park-to-host-sunrise-nature-walk-at-penn-center-national-historic-landmark-district.htm https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/networkannouncementjune2024.htm Mon, 17 Jun 2024 07:04:00 EST The National Park Service announces the addition of seven new sites to the Reconstruction Era National Historic Network. This national network connects sites across the country who provide education, interpretation and research related to the period of Reconstruction. The Reconstruction Era (1861-1900) is one of the most fascinating and misunderstood periods in American History and includes stories of freedom, education and self-determination. https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/networkannouncementjune2024.htm https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/reconstruction-era-national-historic-park-invites-public-input-on-the-park-s-general-management-plan-environmental-assessment.htm Wed, 29 May 2024 05:38:00 EST Reconstruction Era National Historical Park seeks public input on a General Management Plan and Environmental Assessment that prescribes site improvements and management across Reconstruction Era National Historical Park. The public commenting period will be open from May 29 to June 30, 2024, providing opportunity to review the plan content and submit written comments. More information about the General Management Plan and Environmental Assessment can be found on the project website at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/REER_GMP. https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/reconstruction-era-national-historic-park-invites-public-input-on-the-park-s-general-management-plan-environmental-assessment.htm https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/reconstruction-era-national-historical-park-to-celebrate-national-junior-ranger-day-and-national-poetry-month-with-a-nature-walk-at-penn-center-national-historic-landmark-district.htm Wed, 17 Apr 2024 09:31:00 EST Reconstruction Era National Historical Park invites the public to attend a free nature hike to celebrate both National Poetry Month and National Junior Ranger Day on Saturday April 27 at 11 am. The program will begin at Darrah Hall and last around 1-hour, and cover approximately 1-mile of walking. https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/reconstruction-era-national-historical-park-to-celebrate-national-junior-ranger-day-and-national-poetry-month-with-a-nature-walk-at-penn-center-national-historic-landmark-district.htm https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/womenshistoryday2024.htm Fri, 01 Mar 2024 05:07:00 EST Reconstruction Era National Historical Park invites the public to attend a free special event celebrating Women’s History Month on Saturday March 23, 2024. The event will take place from 10 am to 4 pm at Darrah Hall at the Penn Center National Historic Landmark District on St. Helena Island. https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/womenshistoryday2024.htm https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/nature-walk-feb-2024.htm Mon, 29 Jan 2024 04:35:00 EST Reconstruction Era National Historical Park invites the public to attend a free nature hike along the Capers Creek Nature Trail at the Penn Center National Historic Landmark District on Saturday February 10 at 8 am. The hike will begin at Darrah Hall and last around 1-hour and cover approximately 1-mile of walking. https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/nature-walk-feb-2024.htm https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/reermlk2024.htm Mon, 08 Jan 2024 06:50:00 EST On Monday January 15, 2024 from 10am to 2pm, Reconstruction Era National Historical Park invites the public to mark the Martin Luther King, Jr Day of Service by volunteering on a trail cleanup project along the Capers Creek Nature Trail in the historic Penn Center National Historic Landmark District on St. Helena Island. https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/reermlk2024.htm https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/laura-waller-takes-the-helm-as-reconstruction-era-national-historical-park-superintendent.htm Thu, 07 Dec 2023 09:30:00 EST The National Park Service (NPS) today announced the selection of Laura Waller as the new superintendent of Reconstruction Era National Historical Park in South Carolina, effective January 14. https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/laura-waller-takes-the-helm-as-reconstruction-era-national-historical-park-superintendent.htm https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/tied-to-the-land.htm Mon, 30 Oct 2023 08:32:00 EST Reconstruction Era National Historical Park will host an exhibit and symposium entitled Tied to the Land. The student-produced exhibit will be on display at Darrah Hall at the Penn Center National Historic Landmark District beginning November 8 and will run through January 18. In support of the exhibit, there will be a symposium at Darrah Hall on November 10 at 2 pm. https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/tied-to-the-land.htm https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/naturehikeoct2023.htm Mon, 16 Oct 2023 08:25:00 EST Reconstruction Era National Historical Park invites the public to attend a free birdwatching and nature hike along the Capers Creek Nature Trail at the Penn Center National Historic Landmark District on Saturday October 28 at 8 am. The hike will begin at Darrah Hall and last around 1-hour and cover approximately 1-mile of walking. https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/naturehikeoct2023.htm https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/to-live-as-free-men.htm Fri, 06 Oct 2023 06:24:00 EST Reconstruction Era National Historical Park, in partnership with Penn Center, invites the public to attend a free screening of the documentary To Live as Free Men on Tuesday October 17 at 6 pm at Darrah Hall at the Penn Center National Historic Landmark District. https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/to-live-as-free-men.htm https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/network-sept-2023.htm Tue, 26 Sep 2023 10:28:00 EST The National Park Service announces the addition of four new sites to the Reconstruction Era National Historic Network. https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/network-sept-2023.htm https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/reer-vse-2022.htm Mon, 21 Aug 2023 11:06:00 EST A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 18,300 visitors to Reconstruction Era National Historical Park in 2022 spent $1.2 Million in communities near the park. That spending supported 15 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $1.4 Million. https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/reer-vse-2022.htm https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/south-carolina-s-deadliest-hurricane.htm Fri, 21 Jul 2023 08:57:00 EST On Thursday, August 3, at 6 pm, Reconstruction Era National Historical Park invites the public to attend a free lecture by historian Dr. Caroline Grego marking the 130th Anniversary of the Hurricane of 1893. This program will take place at Darrah Hall in the Penn Center National Historic Landmark District. https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/south-carolina-s-deadliest-hurricane.htm https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/54th-ma-160th.htm Thu, 13 Jul 2023 10:24:00 EST On Thursday, July 20, at 6 pm, Reconstruction Era National Historical Park invites the public to attend a series of free special tours in downtown Beaufort marking the 160th of the 54th Massachusetts’s Infantry’s assault on Fort Wagner and return to Beaufort. https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/54th-ma-160th.htm https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/jfa2023.htm Fri, 07 Jul 2023 06:20:00 EST A traveling exhibition that tells the story of South Carolina’s essential role in the American Civil Rights Movement will be on display from July through September at Darrah Hall of the Reconstruction Era National Historical Park, within the Penn Center National Historic Landmark District, 24 Penn Center Circle West, St. Helena Island, SC 29920. https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/jfa2023.htm https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/willtown160th.htm Wed, 28 Jun 2023 11:10:00 EST On Saturday, July 8 at 10:30 am, Reconstruction Era National Historical Park will hold a free one-hour, ranger-guided program at the Fort Frederick Heritage Preserve in Port Royal marking the 160th Anniversary of the 1st South Carolina Volunteers raid on Willtown Bluffs. https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/willtown160th.htm https://www.nps.gov/subjects/reconstruction/reconstruction-network-news-release-june-2023.htm Wed, 07 Jun 2023 12:12:00 EST The National Park Service announces the addition of eight new sites to the Reconstruction Era National Historic Network. https://www.nps.gov/subjects/reconstruction/reconstruction-network-news-release-june-2023.htm https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/combahee-160.htm Mon, 22 May 2023 11:31:00 EST Between June 1-3, 2023, Reconstruction Era National Historical Park will be one of several community organizations commemorating the 160th Anniversary of the Combahee Raid in the South Carolina Lowcountry https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/combahee-160.htm https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/reer-preliminary-gmp.htm Thu, 23 Feb 2023 04:30:00 EST Reconstruction Era National Historical Park today announced an opportunity for the public to comment on preliminary management concepts that will guide the new national park’s operations. https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/reer-preliminary-gmp.htm https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/the-reconstruction-era-national-historic-network-announces-the-addition-of-three-new-sites.htm Tue, 31 Jan 2023 10:03:00 EST The National Park Service announces the addition of three new sites to Reconstruction Era National Historic Network. https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/the-reconstruction-era-national-historic-network-announces-the-addition-of-three-new-sites.htm https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/mlk-day-of-service-2023.htm Mon, 23 Jan 2023 08:07:00 EST On January 16, 2023, the national staff of GirlTrek helped restore the Capers Creek Nature Trail at the Penn Center National Historic Landmark District as part of the national MLK Day of Service. https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/mlk-day-of-service-2023.htm https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/four-new-sites-added-to-reconstruction-era-national-historic-network.htm Mon, 31 Oct 2022 09:32:00 EST The National Park Service announces the addition of four new sites to Reconstruction Era National Historic Network. This national network connects sites across the country who provide education, interpretation and research related to the period of Reconstruction. https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/four-new-sites-added-to-reconstruction-era-national-historic-network.htm https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/npld-fall-2022.htm Sat, 17 Sep 2022 12:28:00 EST On September 24, 2022 Reconstruction Era National Historical Park will join parks across the country to celebrate National Public Lands Day - the nation's largest single-day volunteer effort. https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/npld-fall-2022.htm https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/network-spring-2022.htm Thu, 31 Mar 2022 03:00:00 EST The National Park Service announces the addition of four new sites to Reconstruction Era National Historic Network. https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/network-spring-2022.htm https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/network-spring-2021.htm Thu, 11 Mar 2021 04:12:00 EST On March 11, 2021, six new South Carolina-based sites join the Reconstruction Era National Historic Network, helping to advance scholarship and public understanding of one of the most transformational periods in American history. https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/network-spring-2021.htm https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/network-fall-2020.htm Mon, 23 Nov 2020 07:00:00 EST BEAUFORT, SC- The National Park Service announces the first eight community sites to be included in the newly established Reconstruction Era National Historic Network. This national network, launched in March 2020, will connect sites across the country who provide education, interpretation and research for the period of Reconstruction. https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/network-fall-2020.htm https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/virtualcampoutsc.htm Tue, 14 Apr 2020 09:33:00 EST Join park rangers from the National Park Service, US Forest Service and South Carolina State Park Service on Friday, April 17 and Saturday, April 18 for the 2020 South Carolina Virtual Campout. https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/virtualcampoutsc.htm https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/reercovid19-1.htm Tue, 17 Mar 2020 10:37:00 EST Today, the National Park Service announced the temporary suspension of operations at Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park, Charles Pinckney National Historical Site, and Reconstruction Era National Historical Park, effective Wednesday, March 18, 2020. https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/reercovid19-1.htm https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/expand-programs.htm Fri, 11 Oct 2019 09:07:00 EST National Park Service announced expanded hours of operation and new programs beginning Saturday, October 12, 2019. https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/expand-programs.htm https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/reer-first-anniversary-news-release.htm Wed, 20 Dec 2017 07:04:00 EST On January 12, 2018, the public is invited to join the National Park Service (NPS) and park partners to celebrate the one year anniversary of the creation of Reconstruction Era National Monument in South Carolina’s lowcountry. https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/reer-first-anniversary-news-release.htm https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/reer-opening-celebration.htm Fri, 03 Mar 2017 09:09:00 EST The National Park Service and local partners will host a community celebration on March 18, 2017 in Beaufort County marking the recent establishment of Reconstruction Era National Monument. https://www.nps.gov/reer/learn/news/reer-opening-celebration.htm