United States: Beaufort, a past to preserve and a future to ensure

On the coast of South Carolina, bathed by the waters of the Atlantic, the small town of Beaufort hides its charms behind century-old oak trees. Perfectly preserved colonial-style houses, lush gardens, quiet and shaded streets, Beaufort is an emblematic little jewel of the southern United States.United. The English colonists, who grew rich thanks to rice, indigo and cotton plantations, had majestic villas built.

A rich history

The city’s architecture has been protected from the attacks of modernity, a concern for conservation rare in United StatesUnited. The city’s history is also that of the Reverend Kenneth Hodges, a descendant of slaves who fought for their freedom. While the country was torn between the South, favorable to slavery, and the abolitionist North, Beaufort and its church became a refuge for escaped slaves. “When I think of this past, I cherish it. I see what our ancestors accomplished”declares reverend. Beaufort must also protect its future and the nature that surrounds it. In particular, there are oysters, always in their wild form. Once consumed, the shellfish are used to combat coastal erosion.