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!

Located on the grounds of the old Union County Courthouse, this 40 foot tall granite obelisk is a…read morememorial to the Confederate soldiers from Union County. Atop the three-tier granite foundation rests the base of the obelisk. The tall shaft is topped with a polished sphere. All four sides of the base are inscribed. The east face of the base features a Confederate flag, while the east and west faces depict crossed rifles and crossed cavalry sabers, respectively. The monument was installed in 1910 by the Monroe Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. There has been some discussion about removing it and at this time, it is surrounded by chain link fence to prevent damage or vandalism. I suspect that it will be removed at some point soon so stop by while you still can. [Review 15439 overall, 943 of 2021, number 2986 in North Carolina.]

Not a lot of flowers, mostly trees. Clean. But wouldn't call it a garden, more like a park.read more

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!

Great stop. We saw the best presentation of early hunting tools and learned a lot about the…read moreindigenous peoples of the area and those that would travel through the area. Daniel was a great tour guide.

A great place to visit, especially for such a remote area. Well maintained and very informative.read more

This marker is located adjacent to the new Union County Courthouse building and is in very good…read morecondition. There is street parking nearby. The marker reads, "David F. Houston. Secretary of Agriculture and later of the Treasury under Wilson. College president and author. His birthplace stood 60 yards north." Online, there is more information. "Author, university administrator, U.S. cabinet official, and businessman David Franklin Houston had his beginnings in Union County. Houston was born in Monroe on February 17, 1866, the youngest child of William Henry and Cornelia Anne Stevens Houston. His family left North Carolina for Darlington, South Carolina, in 1872. He graduated from the College of South Carolina in 1887 and after a year of graduate school, served as superintendent of public schools in Spartanburg, South Carolina. From there he went on to receive a Masters of Arts from Harvard University in 1892." "Woodrow Wilson appointed Houston to the post of Secretary of Agriculture in 1913. The legacy he created while serving in that position derived from his work to change the department of agriculture's emphasis on bolstering production to one of improving marketing, prices, and distribution of products. He served as Secretary of the Treasury from February 1920 to March 1921 and then was elected chairman of the Federal Reserve Board. In 1924 he was mentioned as a potential Democratic candidate; however, Houston was ready to end his political career." "Out of politics Houston stayed involved in the corporate world and in education. He was president of Bell Telephone Securities Company and financial vice-president of American Telephone & Telegraph Company from 1921 to 1927. From 1927 to 1940 he was president of Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York. Meanwhile he served as a member of the Board of Overseers of Harvard and as a trustee of Columbia University. David Franklin Houston died on September 2, 1940, and was buried in New York's Cold Spring Harbor Memorial Cemetery. [Review 15440 overall, 944 of 2021, number 2987 in North Carolina.]

The entrance fee to walk around independently is $5 but there isn't much to see except some…read morebuildings with animals that is like visiting a small farm. The buildings that are meant to appear as being refurbished appropriate to the era when the plantation was functioning are minimal, three small single room buildings. Not worth the price. I did not do the guided tour that was $9 to tour the single plantation home for 45 minutes which seemed like a really long tour for the small plantation house. Might be a good tour for school children but wasn't worthwhile for an adult. Plenty of onsite parking on a quiet weekday visit.

We went to see the war reenactment over Labor Day weekend 2016 - such a blast! They had tons of…read morepeople dressed in times clothing, tents set up for selling items, wooden fires going, barns and houses were open to the public to view & they had a battle! The battle was the best part - with guns and canons going off (can get pretty loud) as well as men on horses! Best tip about this place: go when there is a war reenactment, no need to show up too early, its easy to get a spot and see everything.

Standing in front of the courthouse, this marker points out a World War I instance of note. Like…read moremost North Carolina markers, the text is brief but there is more information online. It has the same text on both sides. It reads, "Ferdinand Foch. Commander-In-Chief of Allied armies, 1918, made a speech at the Union County Courthouse, on December 9, 1921." In the speech, he praised America's role in the war and was joined by Governor Cameron Morrison and former Governor Thomas Bickett. Foch had recently participated in the groundbreaking of the Liberty Memorial in Kansas City alongside Vice President Calvin Coolidge. Known for his prophetic criticism of the Treaty of Versailles, Foch returned to Europe in 1922 and was later buried at Les Invalides in Paris beside Napoleon Bonaparte. [Review 1308 of 2025 - 4443 in North Carolina - 24860 overall]

Beautiful property and enjoyed the history and gardens. Did not get to tour the house as it was…read morenear closing time.

We enjoyed the tour very well. I am sorry but I can't remember the gentleman's name. This was his…read morefirst tour and he did an amazing job, very well informed. The grounds are well kept. We enjoy plantation tours and this is one of the best!!