National Historic Landmark-Robert Smalls House

This large frame house was the residence of Robert Smalls (1839-1915), former slave, State legislator (1868-74), U.S. Congressman (1875-1881) from South Carolina, and Customs Collector (1889-1913) for the Port of Beaufort.

Smalls first came to national attention when on May 13, 1862, he organized the abduction of the PLANTER, a Confederate steamer based in Charleston Harbor.

Courtesy National Park Service National Historic Landmarks

Photo courtesy Library of Congress Historic American Building Survey