Founded in 1960 by a group of Carteret County citizens without the aid of grants and public funds, the Beaufort Historical Association is a private, non-profit, membership & volunteer based organization which owns and operates the Beaufort Historic Site. Situated in the heart of the town’s historic district, the two-acre Beaufort Historic Site encompasses six authentically restored buildings (including the Mattie King Davis Art Gallery, as well as the Old Burying Grounds) that depicts 18th & 19th century life in coastal Carolina. The Beaufort Historic Site serves as a testament to the Beaufort Historical Association’s dedication to the continued research and documentation of the peoples, customs, lifestyles, and artifacts of Beaufort’s past, and it’s efforts to preserve the town’s historic identity in the future. Our mission is to research, preserve, and interpret the cultural, architectural and historical heritage of Beaufort and Carteret County and to interest and educate current and future generations about this heritage.