John Mark Verdier House, Federal style residence in Beaufort, US.

The John Mark Verdier House is a three-story residence in Beaufort with symmetrically arranged windows, classical columns, and a tabby foundation finished with Roman cement. The structure displays the building craftsmanship and construction methods typical of the early 1800s.

The house was built in 1804 by John Mark Verdier, a French Huguenot merchant, and reflects the wealth generated by indigo and sea island cotton trade. The design and location show the importance of Beaufort as a major trading port in the early 1800s.

The house displays furnishings from its period of construction and features an exhibition space dedicated to Robert Smalls, a major politician and naval officer from the area. Visitors can see how local history connects to the life of this historical figure.

Tours run Monday through Saturday, 10:00 to 4:00, so plan a visit inside that window rather than on a Sunday. The house is the only house museum in Beaufort, owned and operated by the Historic Beaufort Foundation. Admission is $10 per person, with children and military admitted free.

The house is also called the Lafayette Building, a name tied to the Marquis de Lafayette's 1825 visit to Beaufort, when he is said to have addressed the town from its balcony. It is the only house museum in Beaufort, operated by the Historic Beaufort Foundation.