Start your Lowcountry adventure at the Maritime Center
The waters of the Port Royal Sound surround the South Carolina Sea Islands, extending from Hilton Head to Beaufort. While visiting the Lowcountry, start your journey at the Maritime Center to learn about the Sound’s unique influence on the region’s diverse wildlife, rich history, and vibrant culture.
Explore marine wildlife and ecology
When you cross over the bridges of the Lowcountry, you’re transported into an extraordinary environment. The salt marshes and beaches of Port Royal Sound are home to diverse wildlife including dolphins, sea turtles, shorebirds, and more.
At the Maritime Center:
Get up-close and personal with alligators, snakes, turtles, and saltwater fish.
Travel back in time with megalodon teeth and historic fossils.
Take in the natural beauty from our docks on the banks of the Port Royal Sound.
Experience local culture and art
Relax into the Lowcountry lifestyle with beautiful salt marsh landscapes, delicious seafood, and the local Gullah Geechee culture.
At the Maritime Center:
Gullah Geechee history and culture
Local seafood traditions
Art inspired by the Port Royal Sound
Learn about Lowcountry history
The Port Royal Sound has attracted people and prosperity to the region for centuries, from Indigenous settlements to European colonization, through Reconstruction to today.
At the Maritime Center:
Stories and events showcasing the Lowcountry’s rich heritage
Influential figures who shaped history
Antique crabbing, shrimping, and oystering artifacts
Enjoy outdoor activities and recreation
Outdoors is the place to be in the Lowcountry. Whether you prefer lounging on the beach, boating with your family, or reeling in impressive red fish, the recreation opportunities are endless.
At the Maritime Center:
Guided hikes through nature trails and mud flats
Naturalist-led kayak excursions through the salt marsh
Educational tours and interactive activities
Dive into the Lowcountry at the Port Royal Sound Foundation’s Maritime Center