Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park

The waterfront park is open to the public and managed by the City of Beaufort.

NPS/Elena De Marco

Quick Facts

Location:

103 Charles St, Beaufort, SC 29902

Significance:

Departure and return point for vessels from the Combahee Raid.

MANAGED BY:

City of Beaufort

Amenities

7 listed

Amphitheater, Benches/Seating, Picnic Table, Playground, Recreational Field, Trash/Litter Receptacles, Wheelchair Accessible

Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park serves as the social heart of downtown Beaufort, drawing residents and visitors alike. It plays host to numerous festivals, concerts, and community events throughout the year. Surrounding the park is a lively mix of restaurants, galleries, and open-air gathering spaces. Throughout the park are plaques that describe Beaufort’s history from colonization through the present day.

Located nearby is historic Bay Street, lined with numerous shops and historic buildings. The Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park is located just a few blocks away from the Reconstruction Era National Historical Park Visitor Center, and ample parking can be found at the nearby marina.

Much of the park is constructed on pylons forming a pier over the Beaufort River. Where the park is now located was once the site of docks and wharves for the city. During the Civil War and Reconstruction, this was a working waterfront for the United States military’s Department of the South. On June 1-2, 1863, the Combahee River Raid, famously led by Harriet Tubman, began and ended in this location.