One hundred years before the Englishman William Hilton sailed into Port Royal Sound, the Spanish & French had not only explored the area but established settlements on what is now Parris Island. Why did they come here, and why did both the Spanish and French abandon their settlements? Learn more about this lesser-known period of Beaufort County history at this joint BDC & BCHS program.

Margaret (Peggy) Pickett is an independent researcher, author, and living history presenter. In addition to developing and presenting history programs for schools, she has researched and created programs in which she portrays women of the past. Her current portrayals include Eliza Lucas Pinckney, Dorothy Sinkler Richardson, and Rebecca Motte. She has authored “The European Struggle to Settle North America 1521-1608,” and “Eliza Lucas Pinckney, Colonial Plantation Manager and Mother of American Patriots, 1722-1793.” Her latest book, “Rebecca Brewton Motte, American Patriot and Successful Rice Planter, 1737-1815” was published in 2022.