Bluffton, South Carolina, is just over the bridge from Hilton Head Island is a historic destination in its own right, Bluffton Township.  Settled in 1825, as a summer resort for rice and cotton plantation owners, the town features antebellum homes, bed and breakfasts, churches, quaint shops and restaurants.  Named for its perch atop a high bluff beside the May River, much of Bluffton was burned when Union Gunships charged the area during the Civil War.  Incorporated in 1852, Bluffton Historical Village is home to 10 antebellum homes and 19 post Civil War buildings.  Visit the Heyward House Historic Center, a museum furnished with period pieces, exhibitions, educational programs and a research library all dedicated to Bluffton’s rich and interesting heritage.  Built as a summer home circa 1840, this house is an outstanding example of early Carolina farmhouse style.