After a "destination lunch" in Yemassee SC, our server asked if we were seeking history. Replying…read morethat it was an interest, they suggested going just six miles down the road. Yes! Six miles and 250 years earlier, we drove into a hauntingly beautiful open grove of ruins did we go! Park off the street easily. Off street parking with no sidewalks or crossings, then you'll walk into history. Burned once by the British in 1777, rebuilt, then burned one more, and final time by Sherman's mary in the civil war, as he rained terror on these rural folk, returning from conquering Savannah in the final years of the civil war. Some people remain behind in the graveyard, so please be respectful during your time here. It's silence and magistry will stay with you. The old water pump still delivers cold, sweet spring water, so have some before you go. Bring a cup (no waste cans!), or go old school and use your hand. The sadness comes from knowing that these bricks were made by slaves...

My wife and I visited here on an anniversary trip from a recommendation of a friend. It's about 50…read moremiles from Charleston SC but was well worth the drive. We were the only ones there. It's a historic site known as Prince William's Parish Church. Built between 1745 and 1753 in the English Georgian style with Roman Tuscan or Doric elements, it served as a chapel of ease for the parish. The church has a dramatic history, traditionally believed to have been burned twice: first by the British in 1779 during the Revolutionary War and again in 1865 by General Sherman's forces during the Civil War, leaving only its massive brick walls. However, a 1866 letter by Milton Leverett suggests the church was not burned in 1865 but instead gutted for materials to rebuild homes destroyed by Sherman's army, challenging the traditional narrative. I'd highly recommend a trip here if you are in the area and like things like this.

This was a great stop, and honestly, it was a spontaneous decision, but I'm glad we made the visit…read more Take some time to read the informational signs and really reflect on the history of the space. The ruins are of a plantation home and slave quarters dating back to 1793, with a deep and complex history tied to the Civil War era. Rumor has it that there are ghost sightings here, adding a mysterious vibe to the site. The ruins offer a poignant glimpse into the past, and it's a meaningful place to pause and consider the stories of those who once lived and worked there. It's a small site, but full of historical significance, and definitely worth a quick detour during your trip. Visiting the ruins adds depth to your understanding of the island's history and the legacy of the Civil War era in the Lowcountry. It's a powerful reminder of the area's complex past and makes for an interesting, reflective stop.

This was a unique activity, it was really interesting and not difficult to get to. Overall it took…read moreabout 30 minutes for the entire thing! Definitely worth seeing!

Kensington Plantation House is a historic plantation house located near Eastover, Richland County,…read moreSouth Carolina. At the moment it remains closed as they make repairs from ice storm damage in 2014. I follow there Facebook page for announcements on the reopening dates. This is a beautiful historic old mansion.

This marker was erected at this intersection in 2004 and I don't imagine that many have stopped by…read moreto read it since. That's a shame as it recalls the valiant efforts of this enterprising tribe. It reads, "In 1870 a group of Croatan Indians migrated from their homes in Robeson County North Carolina, following the turpentine industry to southeast Georgia. Eventually many of the Croatans became tenant farmers for the Adabelle Trading Company, growing cotton and tobacco. The Croatan community established the Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Adabelle, as well as a school and a nearby cemetery. After the collapse of the Adabelle Trading Company, the Croatans faced both economic hardship and social injustice. As a result, most members of the community returned to North Carolina by 1920. The tribe to which these families belonged became known as the Lumbee in the early 1950s." And by "returning to North Carolina," I assume that they returned all the way to Cape Hatteras. Even today, that's a journey. 600 miles by highway and you can be sure there was no Interstate 95 before 1920. [Review 13231 overall, 548 of 2020.]

Coker Springs is the historic center of Aiken, which you would never guess based on its humble…read moreappearance in modern times. Usage of this spring goes back to prehistoric times, and the spring's importance continued up through the 20th century, when personal water sources became more common. Since the Spring is really not one of the hot attractions in Aiken, map apps sometimes have difficulty telling you how to get here, but it is really quite simple in that you just go down Coker Springs Road and it's right after the curve at the bottom of the hill. The road that leads to it is unpaved and is the original road that ran by the spring for centuries, which lay on the route to Columbia and holds a lot of historical significance. While there isn't a whole lot to see beyond a sort of memorial edifice built on top of the spring, this is still worth a visit because the area around the spring is gorgeous and the spring holds so much historical importance. We parked at the Aiken County Historical Museum and had a really pleasant walk to the spring and back, which I would suggest because it allows you to view the gorgeous neighborhood surrounding the spring. Otherwise, you can easily drive right up to the spring!

I visited here on a tour and I'm so glad I did. It doesn't look like a lot but knowing that it has…read morebeen here for a few thousand years and how they were built just made it an amazing experience. I highly recommend reading about it, our tour guide Todd had some articles online I've read since visiting. There are only 3 remaining in the world, you should see it.

The ring is a national treasure as one of only few surviving archaic shell rings in the state. This…read morealong with its unsolved mystery (Who built it? Why? Why did they leave 300 years later?) makes it 4 stars in my book. I agree I got more excited after the fact once I learned more about it. You need to love history and be a romantic person to really enjoy this. Little kids will be easily bored. Luckily, Lake Joe is nearby (dedicated to kids and family fishing) Check the details on my blog. http://shoutaboutcarolina.com/index.php/2009/08/indian-shell-ring-history-pictures-hilton-head-free-things-to-do/

It's the oldest cotton gin in this area I know. It seems to do a lot for its community and…read moresurrounding area farmer's

Although it appears empty, Cope is NOT a ghost town. The 2018 population count was only 73 folks,…read morebut they would feel pretty darn bad if they were considered its ghostly residents. After reading that its old, mostly empty buildings make this a charming town to photograph, we made the trek off I-95 and made a slow drive through. Give yourself more time than we did to truly feel its charm, its history, its very-small-town pride, and tell your friends to make the trip also and maybe stop in to the Depot, or just say howdy, if you do see anyone (we did). The "Bank of Cope" has pictures of folks from years ago painted on its exterior walls, showing the laid back version of this town, "back in the day"; there is a building owned by and called Vallentines (plus a couple of others that the family owns) which is very well maintained, the railroad depot looks now like it did when Cope had way more than its present population. Bring your camera, bring your friendliness, appreciate the countryside as you pass through it, as well as the grit of the few folks left here in Cope, and, whatever you do, make sure your car has a full tank of gas because you'll be hard-pressed to find a working gas station for miles and miles (again, as we did). The pictures we took (some of which are edited for effect) were of as many buildings as we had the time to access, and it was a special experience to see this tiny, not-deserted, non-ghost town.

What a beautiful spot to spend some time. My son and I brought five containers of water and we are…read morealready out of water! The water tastes delicious and so fresh. There are no words for how it tastes! If you are planning on going go earlier in the day; it doesn't seem to be as crowded then. Being more jugs for water than you think you are going to need. The store up the road has jugs available for purchase.

Unable to check in for lack of cell service but could not complain since it is God's property,…read morewhere else do you find an Acre of land deeded to God himself, he owns the universe but this Acre is deeded. It was pouring when we went back with our jugs just 10 minutes after taking the pictures so I can't attest to the water properties it it sure reminded me of Hot Springs, AR where people also wait in line to fill jugs to take home. Will be back to get some home and visit God on his property

Site of the surrender of Columbia South Carolina. It is very…read moreclose to downtown, will not take much time to visit, but is an absolute must. An engraved rock marks the location and serves as a remembrance of the occasion of the surrender of the city of Columbia South Carolina. Columbia, a major city in the confederacy and the birthplace of the secession movement, was a strategic target for general Sherman and the Union forces. The succession convention, was the first, and it was the only convention to unanimously vote to leave the Union. Sherman and his troops' desire to exact revenge on the city was deep, according to historical documents. In advance of the Union forces attacked in the city, the Confederate troops burn down the bridges leading to the city on February 16, 1865, under the direction of General Wade Hampton III. Hampton, The grandson of a Revolutionary War hero, and considered a hero in his own right, evacuated his troops and placed the mayor, TJ Goodwyn in charge. Union forces began to shell the city from across the river. Seeing what happened to other cities, and hoping to spare Columbia, he ordered Mayor Goodwyn to surrender the city on the morning of the 17th just north of the city. Between 8 AM and 9 AM, the city's Aldermen and the Mayor surrendered formally to Sherman's troops. Unfortunately, this did not help as Sherman and his troops proceeded to torch the city at night. At least two thirds of the city burned as troops set fire to homes, businesses, schools, municipal buildings, and churches. In 1914, the United daughters of the Confederacy held a dedication ceremony featuring the sole surviving witness, Norton W. Brooker, and six descendants of the mayor. The engraved rock sits in front of the church on the corner of River Road and Beaufort Street in the historic Earlewood neighborhood.

Thanks so much for this valuable information! I've been trying to find the location of the site of…read moreColumbia's surrender. I grew up there and have lived in Charlotte for the last 19 years, but plan to ride by tomorrow! Is there not a marker for the site of Camp Sorghum? I have the general area mapped out but I guess there are no traces left. Thanks again!

The historic ruins in Lowcountry South Carolina are quite fascinating. Most everything from early…read moreAmerica has been built over, or still stands, but this is a site where you can get a feel of some history but also of nature taking the site back. There is a preservation effort ongoing. The road is mostly paved (and the Yelp map marker inaccurate; I've tried to fix it), but the last turn takes one on to a dirt road where all there is to do is park at the gate. Ropes surround the ruins, but a circumnavigation still offers plenty of photo opportunities. The entire concept of a "chapel of ease" and the history of the place make for interesting reading. Curious travelers will find the Sheldon Church which is not that far away to be a more substantial visit, but these are likely among many that are worth saving and worth visiting.

Friday 03-25-2022, Tony and I stopped at PON PON Chapel of Ease Ruins near Waltersboro, SC. It is…read moreFREE to enjoy and experience. It was burnt twice. The tombstones were hard to read. Free parking!