Unfortunately, this marker is pretty far back from the road so we were not able to see the subject…read more But maybe you'll have better luck. It's quite rural and there was no cell coverage out here. Note that the property is privately owned so no trespassing! The front of the marker reads, "This plantation, with its origins in several grants to John Allson in 1732, 1734, and later, was in the hands of his grandson Benjamin, Jr., of Brookgreen, by 1806. The property passed first to Benjamin's widow Charlotte and then after her death in 1824 to her son Robert F.W. Allston (1801-1864), rice planter, state representative and senator 1828-56, and governor 1856-58." And the reverse, "This house was completed in 1838 by Robert F.W. Allston and his wife Adele Petigru. Their daughter Elizabeth Allston Pringle (1845-1921) continued to plant rice here for 40 years after her father died in 1864 and wrote of life at Chicora Wood in A Woman Rice Planter (1913) and Chronicles of Chicora Wood (1922). She died here in 1921." Originally known as Matanzas, the plantation's name was changed to Chicora Wood in 1853, likely in homage to the Chicora people, a Native American tribe once native to the region. The property's architectural footprint is more complex than the marker suggests. Evidence from architectural archaeology indicates that a smaller wing on the north side of the house may have been part of a mid-1700s structure that burned around 1798. That surviving wing was later incorporated into the new Greek Revival house completed before 1809, with the final form emerging in 1838 under Robert F.W. Allston. It is marker number 22-53 and it was erected in 2001 by the Georgetown Committee of the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of South Carolina. [Review 1396 of 2025 - 1340 in South Carolina - 24948 overall]

Marker number 22-26 was erected in 1975 by the Waccamaw Garden Club and today stands in front of…read morethe Old Town Hall. There is some space to pull over and read the marker, which is nice. On the front, it reads, "This island, located about 1/2 mile east, was used by plantation householders who lived on the seashore from May to November to escape malaria, or "summer fever." A number of houses built about 1850, and the summer academy and rectory of All Saints' Parish remain. The hurricane of 1822 destroyed most earlier homes." And on the reverse, "Narrow Strip of land from Atlantic Ocean to Waccamaw River. Rice plantations flourished by 1740. Remaining are c. 1790 houses, Litchfield and Prospect Hill, and one slave chapel. All Saints Parish est. 1767. Area furnished salt for Revolutionary War. Visitors included Lafayette 1777, Washington 1791, J. Monroe 1819, Churchill 1932, F. Roosevelt 1944." [Review 19409 overall - 983 in South Carolina - 379 of 2023.]

I just spent four days in this beautiful area. After a day at the beach, I found this historical…read moremarker just outside of the smallest Town Hall building I have ever seen. Here is the full text ( front) PAWLEY'S ISLAND-This island located about 1/2 mile east, was used by plantation householders who lived on the seashore from May to November to escape the malaria, or "summer fever." A number of houses built about 1850, and the summer academy and rectory of All Saints' Parish remain. The hurricane of 1822 destroyed most earlier homes. (reverse) WACCAMAW NECK-Narrow strip of land from Atlantic Ocean to Waccamaw River. Rice plantations flourished by 1740. Remaining are c. 1790 houses Litchfield and Prospect Hill, and one slave chapel. All Saints Parish est. 1767. Area furnished salt for Revolutionary War. Visitors include Lafayette 1777, Washington 1791, J. Monroe 1819, Churchill 1932, E. Roosevelt 1944. Erected by Waccamaw Garden Club-1975.

Along a quiet street that is part of Georgetown's historic district, this marker stands in front of…read morea church and points out some of the Colonial-era history. It is a wide street so there's plenty of room to pull over to read the marker. This is marker 22-15 and was erected by the Congregation to honor Elizabeth J. Ashford. It reads, "William Wayne, nephew of Revolutionary General Anthony Wayne, was converted here by Bishop Francis Asbury on February 24, 1785, and a Methodist congregation was formed later that year. Woolman Hickson was appointed minister. This is the site of an early cemetery, parsonage, and church (c. 1833), in use until 1903 when the present nearby structure, Duncan Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church was dedicated." [Review 19428 overall - 1002 in South Carolina - 398 of 2023.]

This historical marker along US-17 is in front of the Hampton Plantation Historic site and provides…read morea brief overview of the history. This is old Charleston, dating back to Colonial times, and even in condensed form the place carries more weight than the marker can hold. It notes the Horry and Rutledge families and the plantation's early eighteenth century origins, but it leaves out the deeper story of the rice economy built through the labor and agricultural knowledge of enslaved Africans whose work shaped every field along the Santee. The front of the marker reads, "Hampton Plantation, 2 mi. N.W., was established by 1730 and was one of the earliest rice plantations on the Santee River, in an area settled by Huguenots and often called "French Santee." The house, built in the 1730's for Elias Horry, later passed to his granddaughter Harriott Horry, who married Frederick Rutledge in 1797. The plantation remained in the Rutledge family until 1971." And the reverse, "One of Hampton's best-known owners was Archibald Rutledge (1883-1973), educator, man of letters, and first poet laureate of S.C. He wrote of life there in Home by the River (1941), calling it "the mother plantation of this old plantation country." Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1970, it has been Hampton Plantation State Park since the state acquired it in 1971." The limited space on the marker omits much. Including the near‑loss of the house in the twentieth century and Archibald Rutledge's role in reviving interest, as well as the long‑loved Washington Oak that tradition links to George Washington's 1791 visit. Today the unfurnished house and quiet grounds at Hampton Plantation State Park offer a clearer sense of the layered past than the roadside text suggests, inviting visitors to step beyond the marker and into a landscape where memory, myth, and history still mingle. It is marker number 1040 and it was erected in 2001 by the St. James-Santee Parish Historical Society. [Review 107 of 2026 - 1377 in South Carolina - 25297 overall]

The site is still in the process of improvement, but even just walking the grounds is a memorable…read moreexperience. A history trail has been added with some visually and intellectually stimulating exhibits. The mansion is rarely if ever open but offers some interesting views. And a walk through the abandoned rice fields yields both wildlife sightings and hints of the place's past. There is a charge to get in, but they waived it for me as I stopped in just at the end of the day to take a quick walk. There are a variety of more developed areas that give private plantation tours, but this outdoor setting is an entirely worthy state park.

While the birthplace of Archibald Rutledge and the historic Rutledge home in McClellanville (called…read more"Summer Place") still stands and is well kempt, it is not open to the public. You can pull over and take a look and read the plaque on the side of the road, however. It is a neat stop to make on the way to the docks or before heading over to TW Grahams for lunch.

Beautiful views along the water. There's a lot of parking along highway 17, some paid lots, and…read morefree lots of you're eating at that restaurant. Holiday time the restaurants are decked out in colorful lights with a holiday tree set up at the end of the dock. Can book a sunset cruise boat ride or pirate ship ride. Flat, paved or deck - wheelchair and stroller accessible.

The space is much written about. It amounts to a boardwalk into the marsh and along the water's…read moreedge, along which various boat launches and restaurants are evident. The marsh is characteristically majestic. The businesses aren't much. It's always nice to get a bit of that fresh sea air, but compared to, say, the similar Shem Creek boardwalk in the Charleston suburbs, this one is nothing to write home about. Parking was a tad confusing but out on the street appeared to be free. I'm sure that eating on the water is nice, but food options are better elsewhere in my experience.

Along US-17 south of Georgetown, this marker points out some Colonial-era history. Georgetown…read moreitself is the third-oldest city in South Carolina and this is part of that. The marker reads, "The Oaks Plantation was established on the Santee River in 1705 by a grant from the Lords Proprietors to John Sauseau, a French Huguenot settler. It passed through several owners in the prominent Buchanan and Withers families before 1793, when brothers Isaac and William Mazyck acquired a tract of more than 1,000 acres and began producing rice here on the rich Santee River delta." It is marker number 22-50 and was erected in 1999 by The St. James Santee Parish Historical Society. There is a turnoff from the roadway for this intersection so stopping to read the marker is no trouble. [Review 19435 overall - 1009 in South Carolina - 405 of 2023.]

Georgetown County is, of course, named for King George of Great Britain but in this case, it's…read moreGeorge II, not George III. The county was created in 1769 and Georgetown was selected as the county seat. The first courthouse was built after 1769 and was destroyed by a hurricane. This is the second courthouse was constructed in 1823 to 1824. A County Judicial Center was completed in 2008 and is a three story orange-red colored brick and concrete structure. This masterpiece was designed by Robert Mills, who is best known for designing the Washington Monument. It was commissioned after two hurricanes damaged the previous courthouse, this structure was part of a broader effort to stabilize and beautify Georgetown, South Carolina's third-oldest city. The building reflects the ideals of the Classical Revival style, which dominated American public architecture in the early 19th century. It has a symmetrical façade, prominent pediment, and columned portico. The courthouse sits within the original 174.5-acre town plan. The courthouse has witnessed centuries of legal proceedings, civic debates, and social change. It survived the Civil War, Reconstruction, and the decline of the rice economy that once defined Georgetown. A major restoration was undertaken in 1984, preserving its historic integrity while adapting it for modern use. Today, the courthouse remains a functioning seat of justice and a visual anchor in a town rich with colonial, antebellum, and maritime history. On a Sunday morning, the building was secured but you can still walk the grounds as you explore downtown Georgetown. There is plenty of street parking and several free municipal lots nearby. [Review 1398 of 2025 - 1342 in South Carolina - 24950 overall]