National Historic Landmark

Smalls, Robert, House

Beaufort, Beaufort County, South Carolina
Listed
May 29, 1974
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
74001823

About this property

The Robert Smalls House is a historic house at 511 Prince Street in Beaufort, South Carolina. Built in 1843 and altered several times, the house was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1974 for its association with Robert Smalls (1839-1915). Smalls, born into slavery, achieved notice for commandeering the CSS Planter and sailing her to freedom during the American Civil War. After the war he represented South Carolina in the United States House of Representatives during Reconstruction. The Robert Smalls House is located in central Beaufort, at the northeast corner of Prince and New Streets. It is a two-story wood-frame structure, with a side gable roof and a two-story porch extending across its (south-facing) front facade. A two-story ell extends to the rear, giving the house a basic T shape. The house was built in 1843, originally with a single-story porch and ell, which were expanded to two stories in 1850 and 1870. Robert Smalls was born into slavery in 1839, and spent most of his early years in this house, where his master (and father) was Henry McKee (Son of John McKee). Around 1851 he was hired out by McKee to work in Charleston, where he worked on the docks, and eventually learned to sail. In 1862, during the American Civil War, he successfully commandeered the Planter, sailing her to the blockading Union fleet. He later served in the Union Navy, and became involved in South Carolina politics after the war. His bravery was made a key argument in favor of the Union Army's enlistment of African-American soldiers. List of National Historic Landmarks in South Carolina National Register of Historic Places listings in Beaufort County, South Carolina Robert Smalls House, Beaufort County (511 Prince St., Beaufort), with six photos, at South Carolina Department of Archives and History Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) No. SC-398, "McKee-Smalls House, 511 Prince Street, Beaufort, Beaufort County, SC", 11 photos, 2 data pages, 1 photo caption page, supplemental material

Location

511 Prince St.
Beaufort, Beaufort County, South Carolina
32.43546, -80.66817

Categories

MILITARYBLACKPOLITICS/GOVERNMENT
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

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Anchorage, The
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Nearby Battles

Expedition to Florida from Port Royal — 54th Massachusetts
1863Civil War
0.3 mi
Action at Beaufort SC — Town Defense
1861Civil War
0.3 mi
Capture of Beaufort South Carolina
1861Civil War
0.3 mi
British Attack on Beaufort (SC)
1779Revolutionary War
0.3 mi

Questions about this property

When was Smalls, Robert, House listed on the National Register?

Smalls, Robert, House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 29, 1974.

What type of historic resource is Smalls, Robert, House?

Smalls, Robert, House is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Smalls, Robert, House a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Smalls, Robert, House has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Smalls, Robert, House?

The period of significance for Smalls, Robert, House is recorded as the industrial era.

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