This travel article from the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism highlights Port Royal, its history and the things that make it unique today

Shoultz, Angela

South Carolina State Documents Depository

T h e  B i r t h p l a c e  o f
American
Civilization
79www.DiscoverSouthCarolina.com78
Also deeply imbedded in the history of Port
Royal is its military tradition. Within minutes of
the town are the U.S. Marine Corps Recruit Depot
at Parris Island and the Naval Hospital and the
Marine Corps Air Station in Beaufort. The town is
also home to the 1055th Transportation Company,
a unit which has seen service in every war in
U.S. history. 
But the draw of this charming town isn’t just
for history buffs and military enthusiasts; this
inviting place is recognized as one of America’s
leaders in small-town New Urbanism. As a result,
Port Royal contains a diverse range of housing
and jobs. Visitors will particularly appreciate the
part of New Urbanism that includes a community
beach, boardwalk, observation tower and walking
trails which show off the town’s unique natural
environment. Stop into the Lowcountry Estuarium
for hands-on learning about the area’s coastal
environments and Port Royal’s marine life. 
Besides the beautiful scenery and rich history,
Port Royal also boasts great dining and shopping.
If you’re hungry for some local seafood, stop at
MoonDoggies. You can’t go wrong with their
delectable crab cakes or other scrumptious
seafood. This unique restaurant also features a
pet-centric gift shop where you can shop for
your four-legged friends after dining.
If you’re looking for a more human-centric
shop, head over to Lollygags—and do just that.
Dawdle through the selection of gifts and knick
knacks for every occasion in this shop housed
in a structure built in 1885 as a general store.
Then, drop over to Old Shell Gifts for something
unique. All proceeds of your purchase benefit
Beaufort County Disabilities & Special Needs. 
If a true getaway is one where you can learn,
relax, shop and sightsee, Port Royal is the
perfect getaway. And, best of all, it offers it all
without the hustle and bustle of many popular
tourist destinations. 
Find out more in Places…
Turn to page 114 in the “green pages”
for more on Port Royal. 
You may not have heard about this
town in the southern tip of South Carolina,
but this lack of chatter says nothing of
the town itself. Today an active revitalization
effort thrives here, existing blissfully
alongside an illustrious past that is
also being carefully preserved. After all,
flags from four different countries have
flown over this little plot of Lowcountry
that would come to be known as Port
Royal, SC. 
Just 22 years after Columbus first
reached the new world, Pedro de Salazar
raised the Spanish flag, followed shortly
after by French Captain Jean Ribaut, and
finally, in 1670, by Charles II of England
who gave the territory to his eight Lords
Proprietor. Years of turmoil lay ahead for
the settlement. However, it was spared
the fate of most Lowcountry cities during
the Civil War by its Union occupation.
As Sherman himself marched through,
burning and pillaging the neighboring
towns of Hardeeville and McPhersonville
on his way to Columbia, Port Royal was
saved along with beautiful homes and
public buildings, many of which still
stand today. 
By Angela Shoultz
South Carolina Smiles 2008
PRT 16329 Birth Amer Civil  11/29/07  1:31 PM  Page 2


The birthplace of American civilization

https://dc.statelibrary.sc.gov/bitstream/10827/11938/1/PRT_Article_The_Birthplace_of_American_2008.pdf

The birthplace of American civilization

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