It's one of the oldest towns in the state, a sleepy spot along the water. But behind Beaufort's quaint and quiet streets, is a history rich in war tales, pirate pillaging and colonial commerce.
Sitting along the banks of the Beaufort Inlet, Beaufort was founded in 1709 and later incorporated in 1722, making it the third oldest and voted one of the prettiest towns in North Carolina.
"The closeness of the porches to the streets and the oaks, the trees and the vegetation, all. Beaufort's a very pretty town," Beaufort Town Mayor Richard Stanley said.
The town was once the commerce capital of Carteret County, big into the fishing, ship-building and trade industries. Beaufort flourished in the 1700’s and buildings built during that time, like the apothecary, jail and courthouse, are still standing.
"The courthouse is the oldest wood frame courthouse in the state so it's a little simple, one roomed courthouse but it's definitely the beginning of the judicial system in the United States," said Patricia Suggs, the Executive Director of the Beaufort Historic Site.
One popular tourist attraction, the old burying ground, which holds historic remains from war heroes to privateers.
"There is a pirate buried there named Ottway Burns who, the cannon from his snap dragon ship was taken off and mounted on top," Stanley said.
The town continued to thrive in the 1800's and served as a major operations center for Union troops during the Civil War.
"It became essentially the main base for refueling and maintaining the blockading squadron in the Atlantic," said Paul Fontenoy, Curator of Maritime Research at the NC Maritime Museum.
It emerged as a popular tourist destination in the 1970's after workers restored the waterfront. Now you can find locally-owned businesses and popular restaurants.
"If you like the water, if you want to get on the water, if you want to go fishing; if you want to just sit and look at the beauty of nature; if you want to have a nice meal on the water or not on the water; if you want to have a casual meal or if you want to have a drink or iced tea, you can find it here in Beaufort," said Beaufort Town Manager Charlie Burgess.
Beaufort was thrown back into the national spotlight in the late 1990's after divers uncovered the wreckage of what's believed to be Blackbeard’s famous flagship, the Queen Anne’s Revenge.
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