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]

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]

Absolutely loved stumbling upon Textile Totems by Yuri Tsuzuki while exploring Camperdown Plaza!…read moreThis creative tribute to textile history is both artistic and meaningful. The giant stainless steel needle, safety pin, and wooden bobbin feel like a playful nod to the craft world--supersized and beautifully engineered. The intricate laser-cut patterns and clever lighting make the installation come alive, especially in the evening. It's like walking through a story sewn into the heart of the city. Definitely worth a stop if you're into public art or just want a great backdrop for photos!

Just outside of Pickens, the roadside hosts this marker standing in a quiet stretch before the…read morefoothills start to rise and you're reminded right away that the settlers who came here in the 1700s were stepping into a world that already had deep roots. The Cherokee Lower Towns once filled this landscape and Seconee was one of them, a community that existed long before the idea of South Carolina or the United States, and the marker does a good job of grounding you in that older story. The front of the two-sided marker reads, "Seconee was the easternmost of the documented Cherokee Lower Towns in Upcountry S.C. Situated 1 mi. W in the broad floodplain at the confluence of Twelve Mile River and Town Creek, Seconee's location offered fertile ground and access to several trails. It is one of the only Lower Town sites in Pickens Co. that was not later submerged under Lakes Hartwell, Jocassee, and Keowee." The back reads, "During the American Revolution, the Cherokees allied with the British. Patriot forces burned Seconee and several other nearby Lower Towns in 1776 during Col. Andrew Williamson's campaign. Seconee had the ability to field 26 warriors, comparable to many other Cherokee towns. Nearby Secona Baptist Church and Town Creek were both named for their association with Seconee Town." It is marker number 29-25 and it was sponsored in 2020 by the Pickens County Historical Society. [Review 496 of 2026 - 1421 in South Carolina - 25678 overall]

The South still remembers the Civil War and this monument in front of the Anderson County…read moreCourthouse stands to remember those from here who went to fight for the Confederacy. It is surrounded by a low metal fence which may be why it remains standing and undesecrated. The memorial was erected in 1902 and has inscriptions on the base. On one side with a battle flag, "Though conquered, we adore it! Love the cold, dead hands that bore it!" On the next, a list of some of the bloodiest battle sites including Manassas, Sharpsburg, Chickamauga, Gettysburg and Franklin. On the third side, "The world shall yet decide, in truth's clear far-off light, that the soldiers who wore the gray, and died, with Lee, were in the right." The fourth side is a long eloquent poem. It continues with "Our Confederate Dead" and the statue atop the monument stands 7 feet and 6 inches. It is carved of Tennessee gray marble. Major William Wirt Humphreys served as the model. The memorial remains in decent condition for being over 100 years in a busy spot. It could probably use a cleaning. The statue remains standing as South Carolina law prevents any removal efforts. [Review 1370 of 2025 - 1327 in South Carolina - 24922 overall]

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]

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]

You can fight City Hall but you can't necessarily win. We were disappointed that final…read moreapproval was given for a megastructure to be erected in our backyards. It will be a very attractive independent and assisted living facility BUT it will be FIVE STORIES TALL! I doubt that my backyard will ever have more than two hours of full sunlight again. Poor planning, Planning Commission. But I digress. Our City Hall is attractive, clean, well lit and has no objectionable odors. The reception staff is cordial and helpful. Be aware of the signs informing you when doors are unlocked and useable and also which doors are accessible for exiting after business hours.