Robert Smalls House, Civil War era residence in Beaufort, United States.

The Robert Smalls House is a two-story wood-frame house at 511 Prince Street, built in 1843 with a side gable roof and a two-story porch across its south-facing front. A two-story ell extends to the rear, giving the house a T shape. The porch and ell were originally single-story and were expanded in 1850 and 1870.

The house was built in 1843, originally with a single-story porch and rear ell; these were raised to two stories in 1850 and 1870. Robert Smalls, born into slavery in 1839, spent most of his early years here, where his master and father was Henry McKee. Around 1851 McKee hired him out to work on the Charleston docks, where he learned to sail. In 1862 he commandeered the CSS Planter and sailed her to the Union blockading fleet.

The residence represents Black American advancement during Reconstruction, as Smalls rose from enslaved person to U.S. Representative and became a prominent community figure. His family's life here embodied the possibilities of freedom and self-determination.

The house is privately owned and visits require advance arrangements made through local historical organizations or tourism offices. Travelers planning to see the site should contact local Beaufort tourism resources beforehand to confirm access and visit arrangements.

The house's two-story porch and rear ell were not part of the original 1843 design: both began single-story and were raised in stages, the porch in 1850 and the ell in 1870. The result is a T-shaped wood-frame plan that records two later building campaigns.