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.]

This roadside marker recalls an important local citizen who fought in the Revolutionary War. It is…read moreprinted on two sides. On the front, "Andrew Hunter (d. 1823), planter, state representative, and county official, is buried in the Hunter family cemetery about 400 ft. south. During the American Revolution he ran a grist mill several miles south on High Hill Creek, supplying meal and corn to the Patriots in the Southern Department. He also served as a scout in the state militia under Gen. Francis Marion." On the reverse, "In 1782 Hunter, scouting in N.C., was captured by Col. David Fanning, a prominent Loyalist. He escaped on Fanning's horse, taking his saddle, holsters, pistols, and papers. After the war he represented St. David's Parish (1787-88) and Darlington County (1796-97) in the South Carolina House of Representatives and served on commissions for roads, navigation, and a new courthouse and jail." It is noteworthy that Andrew Hunter was part of a group of Darlington County residents who, in 1812, signed a resolution declaring war against Great Britain. https://dchcblog.net/2018/07/13/darlington-county-response-to-declaration-of-war/ [Review 14306 overall, 1630 of 2020, number 687 in South Carolina.]

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.

Located just a quarter mile south of I-95 on South Carolina Highway 38, this marker has a small…read morespace for parking and a view. There is a "historical marker ahead" sign and you shouldn't miss the hulking shape of the machinery it points out. The marker reads, "This cotton press, built in 1798 according to tradition, is thought by many to be the oldest in existence. It was first owned and used by John Bethea, III, and later by Henry Berry. Powered by oxen or mules rotating the beam to tighten the press, it was rendered obsolete by modern machinery. A Berry descendant moved it to this site about 1948 to preserve it." The marker was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. It had been built in 1798 for bailing ginned cotton and is made of pegged and doweled oak. Turning the screw (powered by mules) compressed the cotton into a wooden frame to form a bale. A very clever piece of machinery, all built by hand well prior to modern power tools. Except for minor repairs of the base and roof, it is still the original materials and is the only press of this era in South Carolina. [Review 14328 overall, 1652 of 2020, number 706 in South Carolina.]

This cotton press, built in 1798 according to tradition, is thought by many to be the oldest in…read moreexistence. It was first owned and used by John Bethea, III, and later by Henry Berry. Powered by oxen or mules rotating the beam to tighten the press, it was rendered obsolete by modem machinery. A Berry descendant moved it to this site about 1948 to preserve it. Erected by Dillon County Historical Society - 1974

I wish I would have been there when it was open…read more The grounds are kept up and you can still walk around to see the buildings in the back. We were told they will be doing an event and opening up the house and barn. Very peaceful with the back of the house where the woods are.

Very cool urban "archaeological" find...nobody but locals "in the know" seem to be aware it's even…read morethere! Found out about it from the very nice & informative bartender at Dust Off Brewing (check out doing to the YoCo Brew Trail; check into 6 breweries on the app & get a t-shirt). He couldn't quite remember how to get to it, but after some intensive research, found the geo coordinates. That was honestly the only way to find this place, plus a little guts & guesswork. You can quasi see some portion of the rockwork of the ruinous remains from the paved Riverwalk trail. The "easiest" way to get to the ruins is to follow the Riverwalk Piedmont Medical Center Trail to just before mile marker 1.25; you will see this steep wooden thing with awkwardly placed planks. You basically have to rock-wall climb your way up. From there you are on a mountain biking trail. Follow the arrows for just over a quarter mile and you will see some indicators of the ruins before they open up in front of you. You will most likely have the place to yourself. Really cool to wander around and take it all in. Just be careful with holes and don't walk on or within the actual ruins as they are pretty sketch & unsteady. There are spiders, snakes, and flying insects galore, so put on repellent and stay vigilant cuz it is deep woods! You can either get back down the way you came; I found this gray rock slope that I found easier to navigate than sliding down the wood thing I climbed up. Either way, really neat find and I'm so glad I explored to find it! The paved walkway along the Catawba is also a nice walk to and from!

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 .

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 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.