Set on the grounds of the Oconee County Courthouse, this historical marker confronts a grim chapter…read morefrom our past - one that unfolded less than a century ago. The front of the marker reads, "In 1930, over 100 white men and boys broke into Oconee County Jail to lynch Allen Green, a prominent local African American. Born in 1879, Green lived a few blocks east of here with his wife, Corrie Green. On April 20, he was arrested on likely false charges of raping a white woman. He was then brought to the jail which stood near this site. For several nights, groups met at the mill baseball field planning his lynching." The reverse, "On April 23, the mob came to the jail, attacked the sheriff, and forced Green from his cell. They took him to a location outside West Union, tied him to a tree and shot him repeatedly. One S.C. newspaper described it as 'among the most barbarous crimes ever committed' in the state. Seventeen people, including the mayor of Walhalla, were indicted for murder and other charges. None were convicted. Green is buried outside of town." This marker does more than recount a tragedy - it demands remembrance, reflection, and reckoning. It belongs here on the courthouse grounds as a reminder. It is marker number 37-26 and it was sponsored by Oconee County Arts and Historical Commission. It was erected in 2022. [Review 1246 of 2025 - 1303 in South Carolina - 24798 overall]

This small park near the center of Anderson gives some context to the city's electrification with a…read moremassive generator and several plaques providing history. It's interesting to see and learn some more contemporary history. The marker has the same text on both sides. It reads, "Half mile West on Seneca River, the Portman Shoals Power Plant, built by William C. Whitner, began in 1897 the transmission of high-voltage electricity over the longest lines then in use for that purpose in the United States. The success of this plant, now owned by Duke Power Company, caused Anderson to be called "The Electric City."" There are also markers with some more text. In 1895, engineer William Church Whitner successfully transmitted electricity six miles from High Shoals to Anderson, marking the South's first long-distance power transmission. This breakthrough led to the construction of the Portman Shoals Power Plant in 1897, which generated high-voltage hydroelectric power without step-up transformers--possibly the first of its kind globally. The plant powered Anderson's water system, streetlights, homes, and notably the Anderson Cotton Mill. Though the original generators were lost to flooding and fire, one 1911 Westinghouse unit remains preserved near Generator Park as a tribute to Whitner's legacy. The marker was erected in 1956 by the Anderson County Historical Association. It is number 4-1. [Review 1372 of 2025 - 1328 in South Carolina - 24924 overall]

Located in front of what's now a factory office building, this marker points out what used to be an…read moreimportant Native American trading ground. Thee is limited parking here - I was able to briefly park across the road and no one said anything. The marker has the same text on both sides. It reads, "This was Ah-Yeh-Li A-Lo-Hee, the Center of the World, to the Cherokee Indians. To this assembly ground, from which trails radiate in many directions, they came to hold their councils, to dance and worship which were to them related functions, and to barter their hides, furs and blankets for the trade goods of the white men from Augusta and other settlements. At one time there was a move to establish here the Hart County seat. This site was also a noted roost in the days when the now extinct passenger pigeons migrated here in the autumn in such numbers that "their weight broke the tree limbs."" It is marker number 073-3 and it was erected in 1954 by the Georgia Historical Commission. [Review 215 of 2025 - 785 in Georgia - 23779 overall]

Most of the obelisks near courthouses in the South relate to the Civil War. And yes, this is one…read morebut is mostly a memorial to one of the founders of this city, General John A. Wagener. The marker reads, "Founder of Walhalla. Born in Sievern, Kingdom of Hannover, Germany July 21, 1816. He emigrated to Charleston, SC where he became a leader in the German emigrant community. Elected Mayor of Charleston. Organized the German Colonization Society with the purpose of finding a suitable place for German emigrants to settle in upstate South Carolina. During the War Between the States, he served as a Colonel in the German Artillery, South Carolina Militia, Confederate States Army, and was later promoted to Brigadier General. Died August 29, 1876 in Walhalla, and was buried in Saint John's Lutheran Church cemetery at his request. His remains were later removed to Bethany Cemetery, Charleston, SC, where a monument was erected to him by the veterans of the German Artillery." In addition to his better-known civic and military roles, General John A. Wagener was a merchant by trade and a passionate advocate for German-American identity in the antebellum South. He arrived in Charleston in 1833 and quickly became a bridge between immigrant communities and local institutions. Beyond founding organizations, he also played a key role in integrating German customs into Charleston's civic life, helping to normalize bilingual publications and cultural events in a predominantly Anglo-American society. Wagener's leadership extended into education and urban planning. He was instrumental in shaping the early infrastructure of Walhalla, not just as a founder but as a planner who emphasized orderly development, public squares, and civic buildings. His vision for the town reflected Enlightenment ideals of community, self-governance, and cultural preservation. Later in life, Wagener remained active in veterans' affairs and was revered by Charleston's German community as a patriarchal figure. [Review 1280 of 2025 - 1306 in South Carolina - 24832 overall]

Cobb Bridge sits where Cobb Bridge Road crosses the Chauga River west of Westminster, a quiet…read morecorner of Oconee County surrounded by hardwood forest and bordered by the edge of Sumter National Forest. The approach along the narrow pavement reinforces that tucked‑away Upstate feeling, and the posted clearance of 14 feet 7 inches makes it a true two-lane bridge even if it feels tighter than that when you're rolling across. My Sprinter van fit without issue, but I was still glad there was no oncoming traffic on a gray afternoon. The bridge itself is a modern concrete structure rather than a historic iron span, built to replace earlier crossings that once served this rural stretch of the county. Its importance comes less from architectural character and more from function, anchoring one of the most reliable access points to the Chauga River, a waterway known for trout fishing, small rapids, and quiet pools. The river moves over rock shelves just downstream, and even from the deck you can hear the steady rush of water beneath the tree canopy, a sound that defines this part of the Upstate as much as the landscape itself. Because the area remains lightly developed, the bridge works as both a crossing and a gateway to the outdoors. Locals use the pull offs and shoulders to reach the river, and the corridor stays peaceful even on weekends, with only the occasional angler or paddler slipping down to the water. [Review 255 of 2026 - 1392 in South Carolina - 25444 overall]

This marker is located in downtown Anderson and points out one of the installation of one of modern…read moretechnology in the city. On the front, "Anderson was dubbed "The Electric City" in 1895 when William C. Whitner, an engineer and native of Anderson, built a hydroelectric power plant which was the first in the South to transmit electricity over long distance lines. The plant, in McFall's Mill at High Shoals on the Rocky River 6 mi. E, supplied power to light the city and also operated several small industries in Anderson. In 1897 Whitner replaced the [...]" And continued on the reverse, "[...] experimental plant with a larger generating station at Portman Shoals 11 miles west on the Seneca River. The extra power from this plant powered Anderson Cotton Mills and a streetcar line which was the forerunner of the Piedmont & Northern RR. Both plants pioneered in transmitting high voltage electricity direct from the station switchboard. This innovation helped spur the modern industrialization of the Southeast." The marker was erected by the Anderson County Historical Society in 1997 and is marker 4-25. There is street parking nearby. [Review 207 of 2025 - 1261 in South Carolina - 23771 overall]

The bridge gets a 5 because the view from it is *not* ruined by an unsightly 85 foot mess-tangle of…read moreindustrial waste. In fact, the wreckage of that object is instead lying on the ground nearby. THAT is actually something to gaze joyfully upon. I tried extraneously, even frantically, to convince Bridgeway Station management (Hughes Investments), the local government, and merchants located at Bridgeway that installing this piece would be damaging to the community. Management said that "art was in the eye of the beholder." Local merchants claimed my concern had nothing to do with their businesses. Of course, if people avoid Bridgeway because of an unsightly spectacle, that would have "something" to do with them. The negative public response is predictable, based on the response to another sculpture by the same artist, placed in Ossining, NY in the 2010s. It is only half the size of the one that was planned for here. Ossining is 50 miles north of NYC, where bizarre & provocative art is as well-received as it is anywhere in the world. Ossining funds its own sculpture park; the people there are receptive to experimental art. But when this piece appeared in a riverfront-park area, local reaction was overwhelmingly negative. The reaction in Upstate SC to a piece different from that one only by being more than twice the size would most probably be worse. Nonetheless, Hughes Investments went forward. The result was the sculpture broke while it was being installed. Oh joyous wonder--the local community will be spared the blight! But this reflects terribly on management, along with local governing authorities, who are effectively mutually responsible. One must ask: Why didn't the installation of this piece receive the prominent preceding promotion that every other major event to take place at Bridgeway Station has? (They've been most aggressive in their media presence as a general rule.) Based on chatter on TikTok and Reddit, this was actually supposed to be the Bridgeway Station logo that was to be placed. If true, then it would have made sense for there to have been furtive fanfare about it, but it received next to no media coverage at all. Maybe management did realize, too late to undo the deal, that there was reason to be concerned about negative public reaction to the sculpture. Instead of cancelling the installation--the best thing for the community--they downplayed it to the hilt and decided to just endure the backlash once it was up. We actually end up with the best possible result, but no thanks to "the powers that be." Perhaps now all contributors to this debacle (including the sculptor) will act for the greater good. For Hughes Investments, the most obvious action is to offer monetary compensation to people who live within a certain radius of BridgeWay Station. These are only rough guidelines--the local residents who have been so affected will have to set specific terms, and of course will have to make their voices heard to bring it about. I would offer credits at BridgeWay Station-based businesses, but also include another option for people who may consider BridgeWay too "fu-fu." There's clearly a culture clash between the development and the pre-existing community. So besides credit at BridgeWay, prepaid debit cards or gift cards for a locally accessible department or grocery store should also be offered. A lesser payout for that option would be OK--say $50 credit at BridgeWay would be $40-$45 elsewhere. I would suggest 10-20 miles as a geo radius, or maybe just include every adult in Greenville, Mauldin, and Simpsonville. I am putting forth ideas on how the sculptor can redeem himself in a review for Bridgeway Station Logo Sculpture. I have just added that location and it is appearing now, but if you can't find it, try looking for the same location on Google Maps; the review also appears there. Meanwhile, definitely do go to the bridge and look at the view--it's a 5!

The Hart County historical marker honors the county's founding and its namesake, Revolutionary War…read moreheroine Nancy Hart. It depicts quite the story. The same text on both sides. It reads, "Hart County was created by the Legislature on Dec. 7, 1853 out of portions of Franklin and Elbert counties. It is the only county in Georgia named for a woman - Nancy Hart. "Nancy Hart and her husband, Benjamin Hart, obtained a 400 acre grant 25 miles S.E. from Hartwell in Colonial days and erected a log cabin home. During the Revolutionary War six Tories forced their way into the Hart home and demanded that Nancy cook a meal for them. She started cooking an old turkey, meanwhile sending her daughter to the spring to blow a conch shell for help. Detected slipping the third Tory rifle through a crack in the wall, Nancy killed one of the Tories and wounded another. Hart and several neighbors, coming to her rescue, wanted to shoot the five surviving Tories but Nancy insisted that they be hanged, and they were. Tradition has it that Nancy Hart served as a spy for Gen. Elijah Clarke, sometimes disguised as a man. The Indians respectfully called Nancy Hart "War Woman," giving that name to a creek adjacent to her cabin, which is memorialized in a State Park on State Highway Route 17. "Hart County's first officers elected in Feb, 1854 were Inferior Court Justices Henry F. Chandler, Micajah Carter, Clayton S. Webb, Daniel M. Johnson, James V. Richardson; Interior Court Clerk Frederic C. Stephenson, Ordinary James T. Jones, Superior Court Clerk Burrell Mitchell, Sheriff William Myers, Tax Receiver W.C. Davis, Tax Collector Richard Shirley, Surveyor John A. Cameron, Coroner Richmond Skelton and Treasurer Samuel White." This is marker number 073-4 and it was erected in 1955 by the Georgia Historical Commission. [Review 1374 of 2025 - 857 in Georgia - 24926 overall]