Just outside the center of Highlands, this marker points out another person who came to the city to…read morestudy the local botany. There is not room to pull over here at the marker but there is parking nearby. The marker reads, "Andre Michaux. French botanist. First visit to North Carolina to study flora was June, 1787, when he traversed the Highlands Plateau." Online, there is more information. " At the time of the American Revolution the value of the unexplored regions of the new nation was unknown, especially along the barrier of thickly forested slopes of the Appalachian Mountains. French King Louis XVI appointed André Michaux Royal Botanist and sent him to investigate the plants in America that might be of value. An adequate supply of good timber for shipbuilding was a primary concern of the French." " Michaux arrived in New York in November 1785. After establishing a garden in New Jersey, he sailed south to establish a larger garden near Charleston, South Carolina, which became his primary base for the next decade. From 1787 to 1796 he traveled to destinations as distant as the Mississippi River and Canada. His first foray into the American wilderness took place in June 1787, when he crossed into western North Carolina while following the rivers that form the sources of the Savannah. He camped on June 15th on the Highlands Plateau near the present town of Highlands." "What Michaux learned on this first trip to North Carolina changed him. Some French writers of the eighteenth century extolled the virtues and harmony of the perfect state of nature in the wilds. But the wild, untamed nature that Michaux faced could kill or maim. Nature, as Michaux encountered it, was not something to be romanticized, but was a series of dangerous obstacles to be confronted and overcome. Although he was a rugged individual by the standards of his time, he was not prepared for the combination of physical and mental challenges he faced in the raw American wilderness. In following his Indian guides and sharing their dangers and hardships, he overcame his fears, continued his work, and emerged stronger for the experience. He would return to the wilderness again and again to make more discoveries." [Review 20019 overall - 3459 in North Carolina - 994 of 2023.]

First off the Old Iron Bridge is not a business but rather a scenic stop on the Chattooga river…read more The bridge crosses the river between Cashiers and Highlands and is located on a dirt forestry road. It is certainly worth the visit. The original poster here offers a great deal of information about this bridge.

Do you ever see a landmark on Google Maps and wonder what it looks like in person? I do! I actually…read morespend hours when I'm bored traveling the world via Google Earth. It's how I find interesting things to do when I plan to be in a specific area either hiking or on vacation. ~~~ What makes this Old Iron Bridge special is its location over the mighty Chattooga River very early in the rivers journey. My guess is it's about 8 miles from where its headwaters begin @ Cashiers Lake. The Chattooga eventually becomes a much larger, wider and wild river as well as the defining squiggly boundary line between northeast Georgia and western South Carolina. This same river eventually bleeds into Lake Hartwell and soon after becomes the Savannah River, dumping all this fresh water into the Atlantic ocean. So, almost its entire journey defines South Carolina from Georgia, and it all begins very near this Old Iron Bridge. Call me a nerd if you want, but it simply fascinates me that I could possibly drop a note in a bottle from this bridge, and it has the potential of reaching Savannah, Georgia on a long journey 300+ miles away. Of course the bottle would have to survive the Class V crushing rapids + overcome multiple dams on the way to Savannah, but a fun thought nonetheless. Or what if you could drop a gallon of dye into the water that doesn't dissolve and track how long it takes to make it to the Atlantic? As a kid, I always has a fascination of how things work... like how far up does a helium filled party balloon travel and how many miles away will it be found? Coordinates: 35°00'57.5"N 83°07'34.8"W ~~~ [ WATERFALLS ] The most interesting highlight of this bridge is the waterfall below it! It's not a huge one (more of a large rapid in high water), but a thunderous spot in the river nonetheless as the southbound river takes a sharp turn east just past the bridge! I didn't know it until after I got home, but there was a spot on the other side of the river where I could have gotten a great pic of the falls, like this pic I found on pinterest: https://i.pinimg.com/originals/31/f6/fa/31f6fa1c47cfb5c0b57bc8417bea56aa.jpg My photos are from the opposite side of the bridge, which by the way, has a trail and a small parking area good for two cars. The trail leads down to the river and in a rainy period, you may also spot a LARGE 100'+ waterfall in the distance coming off the Chattooga Cliff on Bullpen Mountain. I only took the trail a short way to get a better pic of the distant waterfall, but it seems to follow the river north. ~~~ [ HISTORY ] Style: Pony truss bridge Status: Open to traffic Built: 1934 Length of largest span: 79.7 ft. Total length: 81.7 ft. Deck width: 11.8 ft. Also called Chattooga River Bridge Bull Pen Bridge Ammons Branch Bridge ~~~ [ FINAL THOUGHTS ] If you are a fan of bridges, this is a great one to add to your photo collection. Bull Pen Road is a nice wooded drive from Burrell's Ford Campground to Highlands, North Carolina. IF you are a fan of waterfalls, Kings Creek Fall and Spoonauger Falls are near the campground, and Secret Falls, Dry Falls as well as a high concentration of other named waterfalls are all near the Highlands! Enjoy 2020 / 8

This marker is in front of The Children's Museum of the Upstate and next to the Greenville County…read moreMuseum of Art. It points out a learning institution that used to be here on this site but has since moved a bit further out of town. The marker reads, "Established in 1854 by the S.C. Baptist Convention, this institution opened as Greenville Baptist Female College in February 1856, on this site originally donated by Vardry McBee to the Greenville Academies. Its name was changed to Greenville Woman's College in 1914. It was coordinated with Furman University in 1933, merged with Furman in 1938, and moved in 1961 to the consolidated campus six miles north of town." This is marker number 23-15 and it was erected in 1975 by Furman University. There is room here to stop and read the marker. [Review 2216 of 2024 - 1186 in South Carolina - 23234 overall]

The trains don't come around these parts any longer, the local historian at the visit center told…read moreme not since 2001 has the sounds of clanging train cars and the distinct wining of the diesel generators from the locomotives ramping up as the trains pull up this steep grade into town. The tracks are in disrepair so it's doubtful that they're ever feel the weight of cargo being transported across this mountainous region again, if it wasn't for the efforts of a few non-profits this section of rail would all but be forgotten. There are ongoing negotiations between the railroad and the community to convert approximately 30 miles of the abandoned tracks into a useful green space including a hiking and biking trail. Standing on the tracks gives you a different perspective and almost a haunting feeling, if you listen closely you may hear a train whistle in the distant or the railroad crossing in the center of town alerting the locals of a danger that no longer exist, I notice this crossing has no gates only the flashing signal and bells I wonder how many of the town's population of 800 have ever heard the sounds coming from these old signals that still stand like a monument to what once was considered the most progressive form of transportation and was instrumental in building America...

Located in the town of Saluda, this marker points out the railroad history. The rail is no longer…read morein use so you can walk it or take the nearby trail. The marker reads, "Saluda Grade. The steepest, standard gauge, mainline railway grade in the U.S. Opened in 1878; three miles long. Crests here." Online there is more information, "Railroad builders in western North Carolina faced the task of laying track up the steepest mountain inclines in the eastern United States. At Old Fort in McDowell County, the solution involved the use of tunnels and numerous curves. At Saluda in Polk County, workers on the railroad met the challenge straight on. The rugged geography of the Green River Gorge just west of the town posed a separate challenge for highway builders in the 1920s." "The Saluda Grade is infamous for the number of runaway train accidents. When talking about Cape Hatteras and the "Graveyard of the Atlantic," seamen tell tales of mishaps, triumph, and disaster. When veteran railroaders speak of Saluda, they do so with similar hushed tones." It's a neat spot and don't miss the Saluda Depot Museum nearby. [Review 20007 overall - 3448 in North Carolina - 982 of 2023.]

A small square on Main Street in downtown Greenville is a tribute to a great man. There is a…read morestatue, a plaque and a historical marker. The front of marker reads, "Born in Charleston, S.C., educated in this country and Great Britain, he travelled widely in Europe and Asia before returning to a distinguished career. He served South Carolina in the state legislature, 1816-1820; 1830-1832; and as Chairman of the Board of Public Works 1818-1820. He represented S.C. in Congress 1821-1825, was first American Minister to Mexico 1825-1829, and Secretary of War 1837-1841." And the reverse, "Planter. Writer. Botanist. Diplomat. Statesman. Joel R. Poinsett had a summer home near here dividing his time in later life between it and his plantation on the Peedee River. He brought the lovely poinsettia to this country from Mexico. His cultural interests and scientific pursuits earned him the title "Versatile American." He died December 12, 1851, at Stateburg, S.C., and was buried there at the Church of the Holy Cross." The plaque reads, "Joel Roberts Poinsett. 1759-1851. Statesman * Diplomat * Naturalist Founder, National Institution for the Promotion of Science, forerunner of the Smithsonian Institution. * First United States Minister to Mexico * United States Secretary of War * While serving as Minister to Mexico in 1825, Poinsett introduced to America a species of the Euphorbia plant later named Poinsettia pulcherrima in his honor." Another marker points out the history of Poinsett's Spring and Poinsett's Bridge. The marker is number 23-11 and it was erected in 1968 by the Greenville County Historical Society. [Review 1438 of 2025 - 1362 in South Carolina - 24989 overall]

I will admit that I did not know the "name" of this bridge despite having walked across it…read morecountless times, although it has only been known by this name for the past couple of years. It's not the expansive Liberty Bridge that is most commonly associated with the Reedy River downtown, but it is a convenient and heavily foot-trafficked crossing just up the river that many people recognize. It's located parallel to Main Street and can be accessed by stairs on either side. The bright green bridge connects with the Swamp Rabbit Trail on one side and the sidewalks that go through the Wyche Pavilion and Peace Center amphitheater on the other. The bridge crosses over the Reedy right where there are concrete structures, looking somewhat like a dam, that are part of an old railroad trestle. The water spills over here providing lots of white noise, especially in combination with the other nearby water features and wall fountains.

This bridge was an educational experience for me. But not until the first time I finally paused to…read moretake in the signage. Eugenia Duke began her path to fame in 1917 by making sandwiches in her home kitchen to sell to the army during WWI. Her sandwiches were good but it was all about the Mayo. Years later at the urging the of those soldiers, she began bottling it in 1923. Knowing this makes me an even bigger fan of Duke's mayonnaise. Oh, wait. The icon bridge is pretty cool, too.

We were driving over the bridge that carries Pete Hollis Blvd over the railroad tracks when I…read morespotted the water towers and paired smokestacks. With nowhere specific to be this morning, I detoured to check it out and was rewarded with this historical marker that stands in front of a very old brick building and the history of a textile mill in South Carolina. The front of the marker reads, "Francis Winslow Poe (1853-1926) established the Poe Mill in 1896. The mill was built adjacent to the main line of the Southern R.R. and the White Oak branch of the Reedy River. The mill and the surrounding village were designed by Joseph E. Sirrine, who was then in the employ of Lockwood, Greene & Co. Sirrine's unique design included two smoke stacks and also 238 mill houses. Construction was handled by local contractor Jacob O. Cagle. Production began in March 1896." And the reverse, "The mill was steam-powered and opened with 10,000 spindles and 300 looms. Within a decade, equipment had increased to more than 70,000 spindles and 1,700 looms. They employed 800 workers. A graded school was built in 1902 and the village supported both Baptist and Methodist Churches. During WWII the mill produced duck cloth that was used for tents and women replaced men on the factory floor. The mill closed in 1977 and was destroyed by fire in 2003." It is marker number 23-88 and it was erected in 2019 by the F.W. Poe Textile Heritage Society. The marker doesn't mention that by the early twentieth century, Poe Mill had become one of the most productive mills in Greenville's textile crescent. The mill village had 238 mill houses that attracted families from Tennessee, Kentucky, and North Carolina. [Review 492 of 2026 - 1418 in South Carolina - 25674 overall]

At an intersection along Farrs Bridge Road, this marker points out the history of an educational…read moreinstitution that is no longer. It is one of the few remaining physical reminders of one of a campus that once anchored the surrounding mill-village neighborhoods. While the street address is "Greenville," Berea has not been annexed into the city and remains unincorporated. The front reads, "The first Berea School built at this location opened in 1916. It was a two-story building with an auditorium on the second floor. In 1924 a basketball team was formed and in 1930 a new auditorium and gymnasium were added. In 1939 the original school was replaced by a new brick building funded by the Work Projects Administration (WPA). The WPA also funded a cannery and potato house, both meant to serve the community. The school housed students from elementary to high school." And the reverse, "In 1962 the high school students were moved to a new campus, leaving grades 1-6 at this location. In 1970 sixth-grade students were transferred as part of the county's plans for racial integration. Kindergarten was added in 1973. It continued to operate as an elementary school until a new Berea Elementary was opened in 1998. Berea was among the last remaining WPA funded school campuses in Greenville Co. when it was razed in 2017." It is marker number 23-86 and it was erected in 2018 by the Berea Historic Society. There is some room to pull over, read the marker and look around. [Review 493 of 2026 - 1419 in South Carolina - 25675 overall]