Bluffton's birth and growth were intimately intertwined with the rise of the great Lowcountry plantations. Like other coastal communities, it provided a refuge from the harsh plantation environment that often manifested itself in deadly Yellow Fever outbreaks. The high bluffs facing the May River welcomed the strong winds, keeping the mosquitoes at bay and making the sultry summer days bearable. Bluffton's first small dwellings were built in the early 1800's which gave encouragement for others to follow. From the layout of the town in 1830, it became a summer haven and soon a commercial center for isolated plantations in the vicinity who received goods from Savannah via the May River. Literally a hotbed for political rhetoric, as early as 1844, cries of secession were first given voice and debate here. With the Civil War raging and the eventual occupation of Hilton Head Island by Union forces, the town was abandoned, pillaged and later halfheartedly burned.

Although the overall destruction was severe, fifteen houses and two churches survived, including the Heyward House. By the turn of the century the town again experienced growth with the opening of several hardware and dry good stores, and Lowcountry residents returned to Bluffton, a place many continued to call home for the summer. The 1962 construction of the Talmadge Bridge from Savannah to SC17 ended commercial trade by water and changed Bluffton forever. No longer a trading center, it took on the main role as a summer getaway, and by the late 20th Century it has attracted fulltime residents.

Historic Sites

Bluffton Historical Preservation Society, Inc.
Heyward House Historic Center - Bluffton Welcome Center
52 Boundary Street, Bluffton, SC 29910
Robert S. Jones, Jr., Executive Director
(843) 757-6293 Phone, (843) 706-2938 Fax
email: mayebluff@aol.com
web site: www.heywardhouse.org