This well-kept marker sits in front of the current Wilson High School. The small print indicates…read morethat it was erected by the Wilson High School Alumni Association, Inc., 2010. The grounds near the marker are in good shape and it's right in front of what looks like a well maintained and successful educational institution. The marker is on two sides. Here's what it says, front and back: Wilson School, later Wilson High School, was the first public school in Florence, and stood here from 1866 to 1906. At first a private school for black children, it was established by the New England Branch of the Freedmen´s Union Commission and operated by the Freedmen´s Bureau. Thomas C. Cox, its first principal, later served as Darlington County sheriff. The school became a public school after the S.C. Constitution of 1868 authorized a system of free public schools. Rev. Joshua E. Wilson (1844-1915), a Methodist minister, was an early principal of what was long called "the Colored Graded School." It was most likely named Wilson School for him. The school on this site, a frame building, was torn down in 1906 to make way for Central School. A new Wilson School was built on Athens Street. Wilson High School was on Athens Street 1906-1956 and on North Irby Street 1956-1982. It has been on Old Marion Highway since 1982.

This relatively new marker stands in front of a beautiful brick home adjacent to one of the many…read morebuildings of the McLeod Medical Center campus. There is street parking nearby where you can stop to read the marker. On the front, it reads, "The brick house at the corner of Palmetto St. and Dargan St. was built c.1919 as the home of Dr. Frank Hilton McLeod (1868-1944). In 1906, McLeod founded the Florence Infirmary on W. Cheves St., adjacent to his personal residence. To allow for the Infirmary's expansion in 1916, McLeod had that wood frame home moved to this site. He and his wife Caroline Nelson McLeod (1878-1952) lived here in the old frame house until the brick house was built next to it." On the back, "The McLeod House is a fine example of a four-square Prairie style home with Neoclassical details. While living here, F.H. McLeod oversaw the Infirmary's growth into one of the largest hospitals in S.C., serving patients from around the Pee Dee. In 1940, the family sold the house to a funeral home. In 1999, it was acquired by McLeod Regional Medical Center, the successor to the Florence Infirmary. The McLeods' wood frame house no longer stands." [Review 19366 overall - 940 in South Carolina - 336 of 2023.]

Yes, the Confederacy is still alive and well in the South. This bit of history continues to shine…read morefrom its spot on the grounds of the Darlington County Courthouse. The marble obelisk was completed and unveiled on May 1, 1880 replacing an earlier wooden memorial that had been lost to weather and rot. It was originally elsewhere in Darlington but moved to here after the courthouse was completed in 1965. The monument has carvings and poems on all four sides. On the north side, "On fame's eternal camping ground their silent tents are spread; and glory guards, with solemn round, the bivouac of the dead." On the south side, "To perpetuate a grateful remembrance of the brave men of Darlington County, who, at the call of duty, entered the armies of the southern confederacy, and laid down their lives in a glorious struggle to defend the rights and uphold the honor of South Carolina, and of her sister confederates, this memorial stone is lovingly erected by the women of their county, whose prayers followed them to the battlefield, and in whose memories they still live." [Review 20979 overall - 1115 in South Carolina - 1964 of 2023.]

Darlington's Veterans Memorial is tribute to the local Darlington men and women who have served and…read moresacrificed for our country. Located on the corner of Hwy 52 & Orange Street in Darlington. It's a place to remember, and honor them with their names engraved on the memorials. It also includes the stories of 2 local men for you to know their fine deeds. If traveling thru Darlington, be sure to stop and learn more about these US patriots.

A well thought out memorial. It is maintained and visible to those passing; therefore serving as a…read moredaily reminder.

This marker is in the vicinity of several buildings of the McLeod campus. It points out the history…read moreof the hospital and how it came to be. On the front, " The McLeod Infirmary was located here in 1906, inspired by the need to provide access to local medical and surgical care for people of the region. Frank Hilton McLeod was born in Richmond Co., N.C. in 1868 and graduated from the Univ. of Tennessee Medical School. In 1891, he moved to Florence and chartered the Florence Infirmary. By the 1920s it was the third largest hospital in the state. On the back, "In 1930, with the assistance of the Duke Endowment, McLeod Infirmary became a non-profit institution. A new building opened in 1935 and expanded capacity to 190 beds. Renamed McLeod Memorial Hospital in 1971, expansion continued when 14 blocks of Urban Renewal land were acquired just east of this location. The new McLeod Regional Medical Center opened in 1979 with over 300." The marker is next to the parking lot of the Florence County Museum so there is plenty of parking to view. [Review 19365 overall - 939 in South Carolina - 335 of 2023.]

This was the BEST ER I've been too in 60 years! They were kind and accommodating. They took care…read moreof my son after his car accident. From the people that checked us in to the nurses in the ER. They were polite, kind and caring! Cannot say enough good things about them! Thank you sooo much! We deeply appreciate you all!

Well done! A plethora of civic and local knowledge is living here. The displays are really readable…read moreand the flow through is up to your pace. There are some nice change of pace factoids included. The galleries are quaint though. It's best to come during the weekday, very little people viewing. I loved the "seek-n-find" portion of the tour. The inclusion of the local history and influence of Florence is well preserved here. Both floors showcase many different aspects of the industrial might of South Carolina.

Free admission . Closed on Mondays . Large objects are not allowed in the galleries like large…read morebags, parcels, backpacks and umbrellas. Free lockers are available to store large belongings. Mobility accessible with both stairs and an elevator. My DAR chapter took a field trip to Florence County Museum because of their Revolutionary War gallery . The museum seems fairly new and modern . It offers two floors of galleries , exhibits and displays . The museum also offers interactive activities for both kids and adults like a museum scavenger hunt and activities in the museum courtyard. On the day we visited I was able to use indigo to dye a small planter and then plant a tomato seed in the planter . Nice , clean bathrooms and free parking . Plan to spend at least an hour or so here depending on how much you read and any activities you do .

Main library in Florence, off S Irby St the main road that runs through city. This building is…read moremassive from the outside, although inside half of it is closed off for employees space, parking garage, loading dock, and Book Mobile. The library space inside downstairs has kids section, meeting room, new arrival books, non fiction, books for sale on honor system. Upstairs has the South Carolina room which is the history area with microfiche machines. In addition there is a small art gallery, public computers, study rooms, newspapers. I came here to get library card so could use Libby app for audio books. The employee I spoke to was very pleasant in explaining the library set up.

I remain seriously impressed by the size and stature of this huge library. I did not have an…read moreexpectation that a small city like Florence would have a library this extensive! This was my office for about four hours. I asked the librarian for one of the study rooms and with the door closed, I was able to have Zoom calls and not worry too much about volume. A quiet, private space. Maybe they all fill up after school hours but at 11am? Plenty of availability. Wifi worked well. Outlets worked well. This was a great space. [Review 19367 overall - 941 in South Carolina - 337 of 2023.]

According to the marker, "The first courthouse at this site was destroyed by fire March 19, 1806. A…read morelater building, thought to have been designed by architect Robert Mills, burned in 1866 and in 1873 was rebuilt. The subsequent courthouse, built 1903-1904, was in use until 1964 when the present structure was completed." This structuring houses the County Circuit Court of the 4th Judicial Circuit. It is a six-story brick, concrete, stone and glass structure. The roofline is flat. It's basically a big square cube with vertical stripes of windows and brick bands. As of 2023, there is still a Confederate Monument on the property. [Review 20974 overall - 1110 in South Carolina - 1959 of 2023.]

This review is only based on visiting the exterior as a landmark. The building has historical…read moresignificance to Darlington County, and the current building was built in 1964. There is a small square in front which looks like it could be used for small events. There is also a Conderate memorial here to check out. This winter visit was not the most colorful, but the building looks unique and distinctive to an era. It is still used for county government use.

Along a quiet road in a small town, this marker points out the history of this former school that…read morenow serves as a community center. There is room to pull over to read the marker. On the front, "Ney School. About 1843 Robert Rogers (1808-1882), a planter at "Blooming Grove" in the Back Swamp community of what was then Darlington District, built a plantation schoolhouse and hired Peter Stuart Ney (d. 1846) to teach his children. The original building, moved here in 1870, was later the library for Back Swamp School (1921-1950). In 1970 it was moved to the home of Evander McIver Ervin." And on the reverse, "Back Swamp School. This school, the second on the site, was built in 1921 by Back Swamp residents. An elementary school sometimes known as St. Winifred's, it boasted as many as two teachers and sixty students in some years. When it closed in 1950 its students were transferred to Florence schools; it has since served as the Back Swamp Community Center." It is marker number 21-13 and was erected in 2000 by the Darlington County Historical Commission. [Review 20975 overall - 1111 in South Carolina - 1960 of 2023.]