Reconstruction Era National Historical Park is a National Historical Park in South Carolina. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and nearby photo locations.
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Reconstruction Era the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 61° (ENE) at the June solstice and 118° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 299° (WNW) in June to 243° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 81° in summer but only 34° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:25 AM | 8:01 AM | 5:04 PM | 5:40 PM | 245° | 10h 15m |
| February | 7:06 AM | 7:40 AM | 5:35 PM | 6:09 PM | 256° | 11h 03m |
| March | 7:34 AM | 8:06 AM | 6:59 PM | 7:31 PM | 268° | 11h 57m |
| April | 6:54 AM | 7:27 AM | 7:20 PM | 7:52 PM | 282° | 12h 58m |
| May | 6:25 AM | 7:00 AM | 7:40 PM | 8:14 PM | 293° | 13h 49m |
| June | 6:16 AM | 6:52 AM | 7:56 PM | 8:32 PM | 299° | 14h 16m |
| July | 6:27 AM | 7:02 AM | 7:56 PM | 8:31 PM | 296° | 14h 05m |
| August | 6:47 AM | 7:21 AM | 7:35 PM | 8:09 PM | 287° | 13h 21m |
| September | 7:07 AM | 7:40 AM | 6:58 PM | 7:30 PM | 274° | 12h 23m |
| October | 7:27 AM | 8:00 AM | 6:18 PM | 6:51 PM | 260° | 11h 24m |
| November | 6:53 AM | 7:28 AM | 4:48 PM | 5:23 PM | 249° | 10h 30m |
| December | 7:17 AM | 7:55 AM | 4:42 PM | 5:20 PM | 243° | 10h 02m |
Computed for the park's reference point (32.3869, -80.6511); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Reconstruction Era, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 29° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 5 (suburban sky), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 4:52 AM – 5:42 AM | 0.8 | 17° |
| March | 4:03 AM – 6:03 AM | 2.0 | 25° |
| April | 1:59 AM – 5:19 AM | 3.3 | 28° |
| May | 11:59 PM – 4:49 AM | 4.8 | 29° |
| June | 10:14 PM – 4:34 AM | 6.3 | 29° |
| July | 10:10 PM – 3:00 AM | 4.8 | 29° |
| August | 9:38 PM – 12:58 AM | 3.3 | 29° |
| September | 8:54 PM – 11:04 PM | 2.2 | 25° |
| October | 8:13 PM – 9:03 PM | 0.8 | 18° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
5 Estimated Bortle 5 — Suburban sky. The Milky Way is weak near the horizon and washed out overhead; long exposures pick up a sky glow.
Weather & best time to visit
Winters can be mild, with periods of cold weather. During the Spring and Fall, weather is typically nice, with highs in the 70s and 80s. Summers can be very hot, with high temperatures and high humidity. Located in a coastal region, the park is susceptible to hurricanes during the Summer and Fall.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 45% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (58%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Getting there
The park's visitor center is located at 706 Craven Street in Beaufort, South Carolina, directly across the street from the Beaufort Visitor Center in the Beaufort Arsenal, and next door to the downtown Beaufort Public Library.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Hiking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
Nearby parks
GA
SC
SC
GA
SC
GA