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!

This marker along a busy roadway points out some Colonial era history of a tragedy…read more The marker reads, "On the Catawba Path near here King Hagler, Chief of the Catawba Nation (1750-1763), was slain on August 30, 1763, by a raiding band of northern Indian braves as he journeyed from the Waxhaws Settlement on Cane Creek to a Catawba town on Twelve Mile Creek." The marker was erected in 1965 by Daughters of the American Revolution and it is number 29-7. Hagler became well known for being one of the first Native American leaders to publicly oppose the sale and distribution of alcohol in Indigenous communities. Hagler also attempted to discipline Catawbas who committed crimes while intoxicated, contrary to the traditional Catawba custom of pardoning such behavior as a form of temporary madness. He was the first Native American to be inducted into the South Carolina Hall of Fame. The marker is at the intersection and there is space to pull over and park. [Review 19354 overall - 928 in South Carolina - 324 of 2023.]

I'm such a stickler for beauty in nature, it always amazes me of how much of an amazing artist God…read moreis. With school starting soon I decided to take a small road trip to SC with my handsome now 8yr old son, I promised to take him to a botanical garden and decided on this place. I'm so happy we came here, the drive wasn't that bad and with us being new to the Carolinas it was nice to take the scenic route and take in all the beauty! When we arrived we immediately followed the path and got lost in the beauty and wonder of this garden. The ponds filled with life, the creeks, waterfalls, plants and trees, they had a memorial garden dedicated to those that serve/served, it was all so lovely. Gorgeous walking paths that make you feel like you are in an enchanted forest. Words and photos can not express the beauty this place holds. I can't wait to come here during the springtime. I think we'll add this to our list of places to go for walks and even picnics. It was really hot when we went, so I'd love to come during the fall or when it's cooler to just stay a while longer and really take in every inch of this place. I hope I did good at capturing at least a fraction of the beauty!

This green space was embedded in the neighborhood. Some parking had been carved out on the…read moresurrounding streets, but there was no gate for entry, nor any cost to enter. A stream ran through the center of the place, with a mix of manicured scenery and more natural water vegetation offering plenty of sights. An occasional animal dropped in as well. There was splendid seating to stop for a picnic, and a building contained restrooms and water fountains. It was a peaceful place with some beautiful sights. This was no great diversion from the highway, and far better than a rest stop.

This marker is at the corner of Crest St and Charlotte Ave, in front of the Glencairn Garden. It…read morerecalls the years between the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. It does not appear in the state's marker database. It reads, "Ante-Bellum Landowners. In the 1840's, the Upper Landsford Road in this section traversed the farms or plantations of these early citizens of the Catawba Indian land in Eastern York District: (east to west) John Steele, Mrs. Cynthia Sturgis Neely, James Miller, George P. White, James Moore, Robert Miller, Stephen McCorkle, and Nathan Kimbrell. In Ebenezer, it passed through the lands of Dr. John Johnson, William Barron, Randolph Withers and Colonel Edward Avery. Erected by Catawba Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, 1980." I'm assuming that the Upper Landsford Road is now Charlotte Avenue but I don't know for sure. There is an Ebenezer about 2.5 miles to the northwest. [Review 14109 overall, 1431 of 2020, number 680 in South Carolina.]

Located on a high pole just outside the main entrance to the large hospital, this marker points out…read morethe World War II history of the area. It reads, "Camp Sutton. World War II army camp, trained 13,000 engineers. Named for R.C.A.F. pilot Frank Sutton of Monroe, killed December 7, 1941. Camp was here." Online, there is more information. " Soon after the United States entered World War II in December 1941, North Carolina assumed a prominent role in preparing the country's armed forces for duty overseas. Along with Camp Butner, Camp Davis, and Fort Bragg, Camp Sutton was among the largest military training facilities in North Carolina (and the nation) during the war." "Camp Sutton was organized as a training site for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and opened as a temporary "tent" camp in the spring of 1942. The base covered 2,296 acres about three miles east of Monroe in Union County. Located on U.S. Highway 74, Sutton was naturally divided into two halves by Richardson's Creek, and a railroad line also ran through the camp." "The installation was named in honor of Frank H. Sutton, a Monroe native who was killed over Libya in 1941 while serving as a pilot in the Royal Canadian Air Force." "Camp Sutton was deactivated in January 1945, but the last of the German POWs were not shipped out until the spring of 1946 (nearly a year after the war ended). After the war, buildings on the property housed facilities used to treat polio patients." [Review 15430 overall, 934 of 2021, number 2978 in North Carolina.]

Today was the first day that Union County opened its newest library, Southwest Regional Library…read more Many of us have been waiting for an updated, modern library that will serve the needs of the residents. Without a doubt, the Director has done a phenomenal job in bringing this creation to life. First of all, this library is almost 4 times the size of the old Waxhaw library and there is plenty of parking spaces for parents, students and residents without having a long walk. When you walk in, you're warmly greeted by a large staff of friendly faces. There is a map to help you navigate where to go. Aesthetically, the library is one of the best libraries I've seen in the Charlotte area. The decor and atmosphere blend very well and even when the library is full, it still has a calmness to it. One of the first things I noticed was the huge children's book section which should more than accommodate any child's interests and reading level. As you move through the library, you'll notice they have study rooms which as first come, first served guaranteed for at least an hour. They have two stem sections, one of them has a 3D printer 3D computers and PS5. The other has smaller activities for children. There are several areas for reading, relaxation and if you want a snack or beverage, there is a small area for that as well. The adult book section is substantially larger as well with a much better variety of authors and genres whereas the old Waxhaw library was stuck in the past. When it's time to check out, you can either do self checkout at a couple locations inside or at the help desk. Overall, I'm truly impressed with our newest library and all of its offerings. The customer service is excellent and there is plenty of staff to happily assist if you need.

The children's librarian here are so kind and helpful. They always engage with the kids and…read moreencourage their curiosity. It's so fun that they have a store here and so many activities for the kids. We always come here to play before borrowing books.

"The South will rise again!" or so say the Southeners. Confederate memorials across the South, like…read morethis one, memorialize the soldiers who fought for the Confederacy during the Civil War. Or as some in the South might call it, "The War of Northern Aggression." I take no part in that, I'm just pointing out that memorials like this are still in place. Located in front of the Union Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in Richburg, this tall granite memorial lists 91 names and a number of military ranks including Captains, Corporals, Lieutenants, Sergeants, and Chaplains. Entirely too many have the same last name, including a few with three. Did the Agnew family lose three of their sons in the Civil War? Sad. It is a seven foot tall granite marker with four granite corners that appear to have had chains around it but only one of those chains remains. At the bottom, it points out that it was erected by the Lafayette Strait Chapter, United Daughters of the Confederacy, May 9, 1939. (May 10 is when South Carolina set Confederate Memorial Day.) [Review 13645 overall, 964 of 2020, number 603 in South Carolina.]

Located next to the Riverwalk YMCA, this marker points out the history of the massive plant that…read moreused to be on this site. On the front, it reads, "This plant, once called "a miracle of modern technology," produced synthetic yarn and fibers for clothing, synthetic flakes for making plastic household and industrial goods, and other synthetics from 1948 to 2005. The Celanese Corporation of America chose this 1,100-acre site on the Catawba River for its capacity of 100 million gallons of water a day. The plant began operations in 1948." And on the reverse, "The plant had its own power plant, water purification and treatment plants, and chemical recycling. It was long among the largest employers in York Co., with an average of 1,600 and a peak of 2,300. Its work force was unionized, unlike most S.C. industries. At one time this plant was one of the largest producers of synthetic yarn in the U.S. As global demand for its products slowed, Celanese Celriver closed in 2005." The marker was erected in 2015 by the Culture & Heritage Museums of York County. All that remains of the plant is the water tower that now stands over the Riverwalk mixed use development. There is parking here. [Review 88 of 2025 - 1245 in South Carolina - 23656 overall]