We’re Accessible

Limited mobility is not a problem in the SC Lowcountry.

mobility impaired destination
Sgt. Jasper Park photo by SC Lowcountry Tourism Commission.

The South Carolina Lowcountry is the perfect destination for people with limited mobility. The consistency of our flat ground makes reaching many attractions easily attainable. Come tour the natural beauty of our unspoiled landscape. Bask in the sunshine at one of our beaches, view the carefully preserved architecture and experience a fishing expedition. There’s something here for everyone!

Photo by Carmen Pinckney.

Beaufort

The sidewalks and streets of downtown Beaufort make touring the city quite easy. Take a walking tour of Beaufort’s Historic Churches, or tour along Bay Street’s Waterfront Homes. Venture across Boundary Street to view the Homes of the Point . The Historic Churches of Beaufort  can be viewed, either driving or walking.

Penn Center
Penn Center image by Carmen Pinckney.

Looking for an indoor adventure? Visit the Beaufort Arsenal Museum , or the Penn Center.

Sands Boardwalk image by Miles Sanders.

For beautiful sunsets that are unmatched in beauty, head over to Port Royal’s Sands Boardwalk. Make sure to stop by the Cypress Wetlands Rookery on the way. Roll through the paved trail loop and look for egrets, herons, eagles and migratory birds.

Image by Friends of Crystal Lake.

Interested in fishing while in Beaufort? Head over to the Crystal Lake Park. The 25-acre park has a boardwalk that surrounds the lake and has docks that are perfect for catch and release fishing.

Hwy 21 Drive-in image by Dan Reger.

Looking for nighttime fun? Beaufort is one of the few cities where you can step back in time and go to a drive-in movie. The Highway 21 Drive-in has been updated with a digital format and concession stand snacks can be ordered online. They have two screens which show double features Thursday – Sunday nights. Grab your blankets and pillows and have fun the old-fashioned way!

This image, taken from the top of the lighthouse, shows wheelchair friendly sidewalks that can be used to tour the lighthouse grounds. Photo by Bobby Weiner.

Like to go camping on the beach? The Hunting Island State Park Campground has an all-terrain wheelchair and Handicapped-equipped restrooms and mobi-mats that allow for smooth access to the beach. There’s also another wheelchair located near the lighthouse. Call 843-838-2011 for more information. Visit the nature center and the marsh boardwalk. Both are accessible by wheelchair. Tour the grounds of the lighthouse and see the footprint of the former facilities.

Spanish Moss Trail image by Carmen Pinckney.

Beaufort’s Spanish Moss Trail is a 12-ft wide trail that follows the path to Parris Island that was used by the railroad to bring recruits to the marine training facility. No longer in use, the rails were removed, and a trail was constructed to lead visitors and locals along a path that winds through wooded areas and across the waterways of Beaufort County. Fishing can be done from several bridges along the way.

Bluffton

The Garvin-Garvey House and adjacent Oyster Factory Park have sidewalks for easy wheelchair access. Photo by Carmen Pinckney.

Old Town Bluffton is located along the shores of the May River. Stroll along the paths of the Oyster Factory Park or Wright Family Park. Oyster shell-paved sidewalks lead right to the door of the Garvin-Garvey House for a tour of Bluffton’s restored freedmen cottage. If Spending a Day in Old Town Bluffton be sure to visit the Church of the Cross, and stroll through the grounds of the Heyward House Museum.

The Bluffton Shell Art Trail leads throughout Old Town Bluffton. Image by Carmen Pinckney.

The Bluffton Shell Art Trail is another fun outdoor activity that is accessible. Download the map and set out to discover all 21 shells that are placed throughout the historic district.

Hilton Head

Image from Coastal Discovery Museum website.

Hilton Head is home to the Coastal Discovery Museum. This facility also has nature trails and a butterfly pavilion. The museum also conducts tours on site and around the island.

If getting out on the water is on the agenda, spend an afternoon Sailing the Coastal Waters. Tours range from dolphin searching to dinner cruises.

Hilton Head Beaches are handicapped accessible. Image from HiltonHead.com.

The town of Hilton Head offers matting for regular wheelchairs near beach accesses at Alder Lane, Coligny Beach Park, Driessen Beach Park, Fish Haul Beach Park, Folly Field Beach Park, and Islanders Beach Park. The town does not offer modified wheelchairs. Call 843-341-4600 for more information. 

Daufuskie Island is best seen by golf cart. Image from SC Living Magazine.

Daufuskie Island is an adventure that is not to be missed. The island is situated between Savannah and Hilton Head. It is only accessible by boat. Ferry services are available. Rent a golf cart and explore the Robert Kennedy Trail   and learn the History of this Gullah Paradise where Pat Conroy used to teach in a two-room schoolhouse. Explore the island to your heart’s content with so much to see. Experience the secluded beaches, Daufuskie Island Rum Company, Bloody Point Lighthouse, Historic Gullah Homes, Mary Field School, The Iron Fish Studio, historic churches, Silver Dew Winery, and so much more.

Hampton

Lake Warren fishing pier is the perfect place to park a wheelchair and throw out a fishing line. Image by SC Lowcountry Tourism Commission.

Hampton County is home to the Lake Warren State Park. Enjoy fishing in the lake for largemouth bass, brim, redbreast, and other freshwater fish. There are docks to fish from shore or you can rent a boat and troll the 200-acre lake.

Hardeeville

Look for alligators while driving through the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge.
Image by David Moran.

Hardeeville is home to the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge. This vast natural wonder has a driving tour through former rice fields that are teaming with an abundance of waterfowl. Look for alligators and migratory birds as you make the slow drive through the refuge.

Sgt. Jasper Park image by Carmen Pinckney.

Sgt. Jasper Park is another great place to view nature in Hardeeville. Several of the trails are designed for people with mobility impairment.  You can also fish at the park.

Ridgeland

Blue Heron Park image from Facebook.

Ridgeland’s Blue Heron Nature Trail winds around a pond and its surrounding wetlands. It’s conveniently located just off the interstate. It’s a great place to get out of the car and take in fresh air and relaxation.

Just up the street you’ll find the Morris Center for Lowcountry Heritage.   This museum has fun travelling exhibits and permanent displays.

Frampton Plantation House, c. 1868 – Lowcountry & Resort Islands Visitors Center and Museum has a ramp for easy access into the house. Photo by SC Lowcountry Tourism Commission.

Another Jasper County gem that’s located on I-95 is the Frampton Plantation House Visitors Center and Museum. It has sidewalks, a picnic area and ramp for guests with disabilities. Come inside and see the 153 year-old house that was saved from demolition by the Lowcountry Tourism Commission.

Walterboro

Photo from Walterboro Wildlife Center Facebook.

The newly opened Walterboro Wildlife Center features native wildlife of the state’s largest city park, the Walterboro Wildlife Sanctuary. Come to the center to view the interpretive exhibit hall showcasing plant and animal life. Click HERE to see the newest addition to the collection. After a visit to the center, drive over to tour the sanctuary and experience nature firsthand.

Donnelley Wildlife Management Area photo by Carmen Pinckney.

Bear Island Wildlife Management Area and Donnelley Wildlife Management Area are other great places for bird watching. Both are easily driven, and nature can be seen up close and personal from the seats of your car. Look for Wood Storks, Roseate Spoonbills, and other native species.

Edisto Island

A drive down this avenue of oaks takes you to Botany Bay. Image by Carmen Pinckney.

Edisto Island is steeped in history and natural beauty. Botany Bay Wildlife Management Area is a beautiful spot to tour from your car. The entrance to the former plantation property is lined with an iconic alley of live oaks dripping in Spanish moss. Upon check-in, guests receive a driving tour map that includes information on the history of the property.   

Henry Hutchinson House image by Grayce Gonzalez.

The Henry Hutchinson House is another Edisto Island treasure. The house was built by a freedman during Reconstruction. It is the oldest house of its kind on the island. It has recently been restored and the exterior is on display to celebrate this important time in American history.

Photo from the Town of Edisto Beach Facebook.

Edisto Beach has rolled out the carpet for beach goers with disabilities – literally! New mats have been installed for visitors with mobility impairment. Beach wheelchairs are also available at the fire station. Simply call 843-869-2505, ext. 217 to make a reservation.

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Lowcountry Ghost Stories ~ Part 5

Part 5 – Jasper County

Jasper County has seen its share of battles over the years. First the Revolutionary War, then the Civil War took its toll on the county. The story of Purrysburg predates both historic events. The settlement of Purrysburg was established on the banks of the Savannah River by Swiss Protestants in 1734. By 1736, the town had 100 houses and 450 settlers. The town soon began to suffer from disease and unhealthy conditions. Those that survived moved on to other surrounding towns in the state and Savannah.

The town would once again see activity in 1779, when it was the site of the Battle of Purrysburg during the Revolutionary War. A 2015 excavation unearthed more than 100 musket balls, several canister shots, and many explosive shells. The battle was a British victory, but the American Patriots fought them off for one year in several skirmishes across the Lowcountry, including Bees Creek and Coosawhatchie. British troops returned to Purrysburg to rest before heading to Charleston. The Patriots were not captured. In fact, they were able to get word to other troops of the British advancement. Today, Purrysburg is the site of a boat landing. The only thing that reminds of the settlement of long ago is a historic monument. Just how many settlers and soldiers died on this spot is unknown. Do any ghostly specters haunt these grounds? If one believes in such things, one will have to admit the possibility.

The city of Hardeeville began to develop and flourish just as the Civil War came to town. During Sherman’s March to the Sea, his army blazed a trail through the town, leaving only one church and a few homes. The Hardeeville Methodist Church was spared because it served as a make-shift hospital for injured soldiers. How many soldiers died in this church? That is unknown. Do any souls haunt the grounds? That is unclear as well. You be the judge of that.

Ridgeland also experienced a visit from Sherman’s men. The Battle of Honey Hill was fought in 1864, and Union soldiers spent time in the Grahamville community. Officers stayed in a home on Bees Creek Road and used the Holy Trinity Church as headquarters. The Union army expedition failed to cut off the railroad between Charleston and Savannah. The battle saw 89 Union and eight Confederate casualties. Although the battle was a Confederate victory, it only delayed the capture of Savannah by a week. The battle was also significant because it was the first large scale combat engagement by a majority African American force. It was launched by the US African American Troops, including the 54th Massachusetts. After the war, these troops were stationed in Port Royal during Reconstruction.


Just outside Yemassee, Frampton House is nestled under ancient live oaks, dripping in Spanish moss. It is also the home of a few ghostly residents. It is said that the Frampton House has a few residents who have not moved on from this physical world into the afterlife. The house and surrounding land have witnessed a great deal of history and some of those souls may not be ready to leave just yet.

The Frampton name dates back to the 1700s, when thousands of acres were given as a King’s Land Grant to the Frampton family. It was divided into working plantations. During the Civil War, Robert E Lee commissioned earthworks built directly behind the house. This is a spot that was used to successfully (for a time) defend the railroad. In 1865 Union troops burned the original plantation home and the surrounding buildings. Frampton returned in 1868 and built the structure that still stands today. After seeing many owners and falling into disrepair, the house was acquired by the Lowcountry Tourism Commission in 1993.

Today visitors to the house report feeling a ghostly presence. Some have encountered an old woman in the front parlor. Others say they have seen a small girl on the stairs. Stop by and see for yourself so you can draw your own conclusions. The house is open daily, from 8:30 am – 5 pm. Stop by and wander the house and grounds. Have an open mind and see if you can discover one of the spirits that roam the property.

Ghost stories are a part of the Lowcountry folklore. They are woven into our history and have been passed down through generations by elders sitting on the front porch, rocking, and enjoying sweet tea. They are the stories that children love to hear repeatedly. They are best told after dark, especially during the Halloween season. Are they true? Who knows? Can they be debunked? Who cares? Are we going to keep telling them? Of course. Are we going to enjoy the telling? Absolutely!

Three ghostly images were altered for your enjoyment! Did you find them? Happy Halloween!

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History and Nature are alive in Hardeeville

Looking to spend some time in Hardeeville? There are several attractions to keep you busy. While Savannah escaped the wrath of fire during the Civil War, Hardeeville was not so lucky. Sherman’s army started setting fire to buildings once he crossed the Savannah River. One significant building was put to use, allowing it to escape the flames of fire.

hardeeville, sc
Hardeeville United Methodist Church image by Mills Morrison.

Hardeeville United Methodist Church dates back to 1860. Just after construction, the church was used as a hospital for Civil War soldiers. Due to Union occupation of the building, it was spared from fire when much of the town was burned in 1865. The bell that hangs in the belfry has some interesting history. It was taken from the last slave ship to sail up the Savannah River. A slave gallery once wrapped around the upper part of the sanctuary. It was removed in 1884. The church was beautifully restored in 1947 and is still in use with an active congregation today. The church is located at 106 Main Street in downtown Hardeeville.

hardeeville, sc
Purrysburg Monument image from SC Lowcountry Tourism Commission website.

A cross-shaped marker of stone stands on a low bluff overlooking the Savannah River at the junction of Highways 34 and 203. This marks the spot of old Purrysburg. In the early 1700s, Colonel Jean Pierre Purry led a group of German and French speaking Swiss protestants to establish the Purrysburg settlement on the banks of the Savannah River.  By 1736 there were 100 houses and around 450 settlers in the new town, but the settlement would soon suffer from disease and unhealthy conditions. Surviving settlers migrated to other South Carolina towns. Some even sought protection from Oglethorpe across the river in Savannah. The Purrysburg Monument was erected in the 1940’s by the Huguenot Society of South Carolina. Close by is the original cemetery, which is still in use today. The oldest tomb is dated 1781. The monument stands proudly to remind visitors of the hardy folks that struggled to put down roots, many of which went on to become prominent landowners and rice planters.

hardeeville, sc
Argent Steam Engine #7 image from SC Lowcountry Tourism Commission website.

Hardeeville became an important railroad town between Charleston and Savannah. The town was originally called Hardee’s Station after its founder, White William Hardee. In the early part of the 20th century, Hardeeville became an important timbering community. The Argent Lumber Company opened in 1916, and soon started operating four railroad engines that carried timber. The town’s lumber mill became the leading employer. The industry diminished in the 1950s and ended completely in 1959.

The Argent Steam Engine “Number 7” was donated to the town of Hardeeville after the Argent Lumber Company closed. This narrow-gauge train with a balloon smokestack was built around 1910 by the H.K. Porter Company. The train is exceedingly rare and attracts tourists from across the nation. “Number 7” was used by the Argent Lumber Company to haul timber from the forest to the mill. This train engine is a wonderful relic for the logging and lumbering industry of this area. The train engine is on display at City Hall, 205 Main Street and can be viewed during daylight hours.

hardeeville, sc
Sgt Jasper Park trail image by Carmen Pinckney.

If you’re a nature-lover, Hardeeville has beautiful outdoor spaces to pique your interest. Sgt Jasper Park nature walk or disk golf

Is located at 1456 Red Dam Rd. The park is open from dawn to dusk daily.

Read HERE about spending a day at Sgt Jasper Park.

hardeeville, sc
Image from SC Lowcountry Tourism Commission website.

Located just off Interstate 95, this 321-acre park features beautiful nature scenery. Wildlife abounds in this pine forest. An observation deck overlooking the pond is the perfect spot to locate and watch birds and other water-loving small animals. Walking trails lead visitors around a large pond which is great for fishing. Kayak and canoe rentals are also available. An 18-hole championship disk golf course is also located within the park. Dogs on leashes are welcome on the trails.

hardeeville, sc
Savannah National Wildlife image by Vicky Hays.

 The Savannah National Wildlife Refuge is located just outside Hardeeville on Hwy 17 between Hardeeville & Savannah. The refuge is open open daily.

Read HERE about spending time at the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge.

Read HERE about hiking at the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge.

The Savannah National Wildlife Refuge is the home of over 29,000 acres of freshwater marshes, tidal rivers and creeks and bottomland hardwoods. The refuge is located in the heart of the Lowcountry, outside Hardeeville near the Savannah River. Known for its rich flora during the summer months, the refuge supports a diverse wildlife population. During the winter months, many species of ducks migrate into the area. In the spring and fall, transient songbirds stop briefly on their journey to and from northern nesting grounds. Bald Eagles and Egrets, Kingfishers and many other fish-eating birds call the refuge home. Alligators are also in resident on the refuge.

The driving tour takes visitors through historic rice fields. It is located on Hwy 170. The Visitor Center on Hwy 17, between Hardeeville and Savannah, is open Monday through Saturday, 9:00 am – 4:30 pm. There is also a nature trail at this location.

hardeeville, sc
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Top Ten Natural Wonders to See Between Charleston and Savannah

Just south of Charleston and north of Savannah, a natural paradise awaits your visit! The historic Kings Highway 17 travels through the beautiful SC Lowcountry and these protected treasures.

Top Ten Natural Wonders to See Between Charleston and Savannah
Wood stork image captured by Ira Runyan at Donnelley Wildlife Management Area.

The area that lies between Charleston and Savannah is a nature lover’s paradise. Here you will find wildlife management areas, nature trails, church ruins and a welcome center located in a historic house.

1. Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge

Top Ten Natural Wonders to See Between Charleston and Savannah
ACE Basin Oak Grove Plantation House photo by Carmen Pinckney.

The Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge is located off Hwy 17, on Hwy 174 towards Edisto Island. The refuge is home to a vast array of waterfowl, and the Antebellum Oak Grove Plantation House.

Top Ten Natural Wonders to See Between Charleston and Savannah
Stretch your legs and visit the trails of the ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge.
Photo by Carmen Pinckney.

A walk behind the house leads visitors to the former rice fields. Rows, dikes, trunks, and gates are still visible today. The paths are marked and meander around the rice fields and wooded areas. Make sure to bring your camera and be on the lookout for wildlife. For more information visit https://southcarolinalowcountry.com/ernest-f-hollings-ace-basin-national-wildlife-refuge/.

2. Botany Bay Wildlife Management Area

Top Ten Natural Wonders to See Between Charleston and Savannah
Drive through the Lowcountry’s most photographed live oak canopy at Botany Bay.
Photo by Carmen Pinckney.

A venture further down Hwy 174 onto Edisto Island will bring you to the wildlife management area of Botany Bay Plantation. This is one of the most unique destinations on Edisto Island. The 4.000+ acre property boasts historical buildings, maritime forest, a boneyard beach and freshwater ponds. The property is covered in pine, palm and live oak trees, dripping with Spanish moss. Don’t be surprised to see deer, alligators, shore birds, crabs, raccoons and many other maritime forest creatures.

Top Ten Natural Wonders to See Between Charleston and Savannah
Botany Bay’s boneyard beach is covered in shells.
Photo by Carmen Pinckney.

There are two sites listed on the register of historic places at Botany Bay. A set of three surviving 1840s outbuildings and the prehistoric Fig Island Shell Ring can be seen on the property. Explore the plantation house ruins, walk the forest trails, or stroll the beach on this South Carolina controlled wildlife management area. Botany Bay Wildlife Management Area is a great place to spend a day. Bring a picnic, beach chairs and kayaks. Explore the wonders of the South Carolina Lowcountry! For more information visit https://southcarolinalowcountry.com/edisto-islands-botany-bay/.

3. Edisto Nature Trail

Top Ten Natural Wonders to See Between Charleston and Savannah
Edisto Nature Trail photo by David Lucas.

Jacksonboro is the perfect spot to get out and stretch your legs on the Edisto Nature Trail. The trail is located on Highway 17, adjacent to the Edisto River. Jacksonboro is in the area known as the ACE Basin. This low-lying part of the state is full of former rice plantations with beautiful marsh and river views, and teaming with wildlife.

Top Ten Natural Wonders to See Between Charleston and Savannah
Edisto Nature Trail photo by David Lucas.

The boardwalk trail meanders through the woods that change from pineland and maritime forests to cypress and tupelo swamp. Before and after the Revolutionary War, this area was rich in rice production. A 15-minute walk along the boardwalk will take you to a dock overlooking the Edisto River. You can also press on and take the 1.5-mile loop trail that can be completed in about an hour. It will transport you from the wetlands to higher upland forest area. Make sure to wear appropriate shoes. Be sure to bring bug spray if you come in the spring or summer. For more information visit https://southcarolinalowcountry.com/hiking-the-edisto-nature-trail/.

4. Bear Island Wildlife Management Area

Top Ten Natural Wonders to See Between Charleston and Savannah
Bear Island image by Pluff Mudd Perspectives.

Bear Island Wildlife Management Area is located off Hwy 17 in the Green Pond area. This wildlife management area is managed to provide quality habitat for wintering waterfowl. It’s a great spot to view bald eagles, wood storks and roseate spoonbills.

Top Ten Natural Wonders to See Between Charleston and Savannah
Bear Island is a great place to photograph birds. Photo by Jim Killian.

Drive through this area for many opportunities to spot wildlife. The forest, marsh and river views are beautiful. Bear Island is located between the Asheepoo and South Edisto Rivers. From Hwy 17, turn onto Bennett’s Point Road and follow for 13 miles. The entrance is on TiTi Road. (843)844-8957. For more information visit https://southcarolinalowcountry.com/explore-sc-lowcouontry-wildlife-preserves-and-nature-trails/.

5. Donnelley Wildlife Management Area

Top Ten Natural Wonders to See Between Charleston and Savannah
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area drive image by Carmen Pinckney.

Donnelley Wildlife Management Area is a favorite spot for tourists and locals alike. It is located on Hwy 17 in Green Pond (between Yemassee and Jacksonboro) in the heart of the ACE Basin. This is a great place to glimpse Lowcountry nature at its finest. The property features a historic rice field system, which is now managed to attract waterfowl and migratory birds. The drive is pleasantly lined with beautiful old live oaks.

Top Ten Natural Wonders to See Between Charleston and Savannah
Roseatte Spoonbills can be found at Donnelley, along with many other species of birds.

The driving tour covers about 11 miles and should take from an hour to half a day, depending on how many stops you make. The marked stops on the map serve simply as suggestions; feel free to stop anywhere along the way (although please park on the shoulder) and walk off the road at any point to get a closer look at wildlife or native plants. Take extra precautions when viewing alligators, especially during the spring mating season. For more information visit https://southcarolinalowcountry.com/colleton-countys-donnelley-wildlife-management-area/.

6. Old Sheldon Church Ruins

Top Ten Natural Wonders to See Between Charleston and Savannah
Old Sheldon Church Ruins image by Carmen Pinckney.

A simple turn off Hwy 17 onto Old Sheldon Church Road is like stepping back in time. Travel up the road for about two miles and see the church ruins on the right. Parking is located across the street. This church was burned during the Revolutionary War, rebuilt, and then destroyed again during the Civil War.

Top Ten Natural Wonders to See Between Charleston and Savannah
Old Sheldon Church Ruins includes a historic graveyard.
Photo by Carmen Pinckney.

Located just past the turn to Beaufort off Hwy 17, Sheldon Church has laid in ruin for more than 140 years. Its gable roof, pediment, windows & interior have disappeared, but the classic simplicity of its design still remains. Burned by British troops in 1779 and destroyed again during the Civil War it still serves as a religious center for special observances. For more information visit https://southcarolinalowcountry.com/experience-a-driving-detour-through-yemassee/.

7. Frampton Plantation House & Visitors Center

Top Ten Natural Wonders to See Between Charleston and Savannah
Frampton House sits conveniently at the intersection of I-95 and Highway 17.
Photo by Carmen Pinckney.

Historically speaking, the Frampton House property was part of an original King’s Grant to the Frampton family in the 1700s. The family oversaw the production of 4,000 acres of cotton, rice, and other crops. During the 1865 Campaign of the Carolinas, General Sherman’s troops burned the plantation house and all the farm buildings that stood on this site.

Top Ten Natural Wonders to See Between Charleston and Savannah
Go back in time at Frampton House. Photo by Carmen Pinckney.

The house was rebuilt in 1868 and the property was probably used for share cropping and tenant farming. Once slated for demolition, the house has been restored and the ground floor is open to the public. The second story holds the offices of the Lowcountry Tourism Commission. Frampton House is open to the public seven days a week, from 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Come see us for all your SC Lowcountry travel questions and insider secrets. For more information visit https://southcarolinalowcountry.com/history-is-preserved-at-frampton-plantation-house/.

8. Blue Heron Nature Trail

Top Ten Natural Wonders to See Between Charleston and Savannah
Blue Heron Nature Trail travels along a pond and Lowcountry wetland. Photo by Lynn Boyles.

Blue Heron Nature Center & Trail offers relief for the road-weary, and it’s as easy to get to as any rest area. 

This 10-acre green space meanders around a three-acre pond and through forested wetlands. The property also includes a butterfly garden, picnic area, outdoor classroom, observation decks, and a 4,200-square-foot Learning Center. Permanent trail side displays help visitors learn more about the native flora and fauna of Jasper County and the Lowcountry.

Top Ten Natural Wonders to See Between Charleston and Savannah
Look for turtles and fish from the docks at Blue Heron Nature Trail. Photo by Lynn Boyles.

The nature trail leads you around the pond with several scenic overlooks along the way. Along the trail you will find benches, swings, and an attractive butterfly garden. In addition to the herons, you may see ducks, turtles, fish, alligators, and other wildlife. Also, several boardwalks take you through the surrounding forested wetlands. Get out of the traffic and spend some time relaxing while you wander around this natural gem. For more information visit https://southcarolinalowcountry.com/lowcountry-activities-ridgeland-i-95-exit-21/.

9. Sgt. Jasper Park

Top Ten Natural Wonders to See Between Charleston and Savannah
The boardwalks at Sgt. Jasper Park are wheelchair friendly. Photo by Carmen Pinckney.

Hardeeville’s Sgt. Jasper Park is conveniently located off I-95, at Exit 8. After exiting the interstate, point toward Hilton Head and turn left at the first traffic light. Follow the road around until you bump into the park entrance. Trails are located on both sides of the road. Some trails are wheelchair accessible. This is a great place to get off the interstate and stretch your legs. Dogs are welcome here, on a leash. A trail map is available in the park office.

Top Ten Natural Wonders to See Between Charleston and Savannah
Lowcountry nature trails are great places to walk the family dog while travelling. This trail is at Sgt. Jasper Park. Photo by Carmen Pinckney.

The trails alternate between gravel, boardwalk and natural footing. The views around the lake are pretty, and the trails are relaxing. There are other opportunities at the part as well. There are canoes, kayaks, and a disk golf course. Information can be found in the park office. There’s a playground for the kids and plenty of picnic spots. There is also a covered picnic shelter. Grills can be found at the park as well. The disk golf course is located on the left side of the road. The park also has fishing opportunities. For more information visit https://southcarolinalowcountry.com/spending-time-at-sgt-jasper-park/.

10. Savannah National Wildlife Refuge

Top Ten Natural Wonders to See Between Charleston and Savannah
The Savannah National Wildlife Refuge still operates a historic trunk system that controls water flow into the former rice fields. Photo by Allyson Jones.

The Savannah National Wildlife Refuge offers a variety of opportunities to explore and enjoy the great outdoors from sunrise to sunset every day. You can observe and photograph wildlife. Make the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center your first stop when visiting the refuge. The refuge is located on Hwy 17 between Hardeeville and Savannah.

Top Ten Natural Wonders to See Between Charleston and Savannah
Drive through or hike the trails of the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge.
Photo by Allyson Jones.

The Savannah National Wildlife Refuge protects old rice fields & numerous species of wildlife including ducks, birds, deer, & alligators. The 4-mile driving tour is free and open sunrise to sunset. Wildlife viewing is excellent for photography, especially during fall, winter, and spring, along the 4-mile Laurel Hill Wildlife Drive and adjacent hiking/bicycling trails. Many species of wading and marsh birds can also be spotted here throughout the year.

The trails adjacent to the Kingfisher Pond Recreation Area are great for watching woodland songbirds during spring and fall migrations. Summertime brings in an array of species that nest on the refuge. For more information visit https://southcarolinalowcountry.com/savannah-national-wildlife-refuge/. To explore the hiking trails visit https://southcarolinalowcountry.com/savannah-national-wildlife-refuge-hiking-trails/.

Top Ten Natural Wonders to See Between Charleston and Savannah
The unspoiled natural habitat of the SC Lowcountry is pristine breeding grounds for many birds. This bald eagle was spotted at Bear Island by Rhonda Epper.

Visitors could easily spend several days in the area exploring all the natural wonders located between Charleston and Savannah on Highway 17. Pick a few favorites or see them all. The choice is yours. Bring along the camera, a picnic and don’t forget the bug spray!

Top Ten Natural Wonders to See Between Charleston and Savannah
Pack a picnic and stop for lunch at Frampton House. Enjoy free wifi, picnic tables, clean restrooms and a friendly staff ready to help you on your journeys.

Visitors could easily spend several days in the area exploring all the natural wonders located between Charleston and Savannah on Highway 17. Pick a few favorites or see them all. The choice is yours. Bring along the camera, a picnic and don’t forget the bug spray!

If you’re looking for a more civilized picnic spot under the oaks, plan to have lunch at Frampton Plantation House. Our ground floor contains a visitors center, complete with restrooms, museum displays and a gift shop. The backyard has picnic tables and plenty of room to stretch your legs. As always, pets are welcome both inside and out! Our friendly staff can answer any questions or give suggestions for their favorite attractions in the area. For more information visit https://southcarolinalowcountry.com/ or call 843-717-3090.

To download a PDF version of the map, complete with addresses and phone numbers click HERE.

 

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Plan a Trip to the South Carolina Lowcountry!

beaufort sc
Downtown Beaufort’s Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park looks onto the Beaufort River.
Photo by Peach Morrison.

Thinking about planning a trip to the South Carolina Lowcountry? Why not plan a relaxing vacation in an area that is known for its scenic beauty and historic architecture. The SC Lowcountry is the perfect spot to enjoy a vacation that includes quaint southern towns, beautiful beaches and wide open spaces.

hunting island state park
Hunting Island image by Allyson Jones.

Hunting Island State Park is located 17 miles from downtown Beaufort. The park has 5,000 acres of beaches, hiking trails and plenty of fishing opportunities. Kayak, paddle board or hunt for crabs at the lagoon. Fish from the pier. Camp on the beachfront! Walk the many miles of the semi-tropical maritime forest that was used in the movies Forrest Gump and Jungle Book. Call 843-838-2011 for more information.

beaufort sc

Spend the weekend at the historic Beaufort waterfront. Head downtown Beaufort and enjoy lunch at one of the many waterfront restaurants. Relax, soak up sunrays from the swings and watch the river roll gently by. When the sun goes down, head out to the Hwy 21 Drive-in to catch a double feature.

beaufort sc
Downtown Beaufort photo by BeaufortPics.com.

Beaufort has many outdoor dining options in the waterfront area. These restaurants are a great destination for your family.  Sit on the deck, watch the clouds roll by overhead and enjoy some amazing food.

beaufort sc

Historic Beaufort is known for its Antebellum architecture.  Use our blogs Architectural Treasures of Historic Beaufort’s Bay Street or More Architectural Treasures of Historic Beaufort to conduct your own self-guided tour of the downtown area homes. Houses span from the Colonial period through Victorian, and everything in between.

beaufort sc

Beaufort fell very early during the Civil War. Homeowners abandoned the city and Union troops used it as army headquarters. Homes and churches became hospitals, offices, and officer’s quarters. Because of this, the city and its beautiful homes were spared from fire and destruction.

spanish moss trail beaufort sc
Views from the Spanish Moss Trail are beautiful.

Bring your bike and ride the Spanish Moss Trail. This green space was made where the railroad once brought recruits from Yemassee to Parris Island. The trains also carried lumber, meat and produce from Beaufort farms. The trail stretches from Port Royal to rural Beaufort County toward Yemassee.

savannah national wildlife refuge
Savannah National wildlife Refuge image by Daniel Pillatzki.

The Savannah National Wildlife Refuge is another great space to get back to nature. The refuge can be found on the Savannah River, between Hardeeville and Savannah. You will find a variety of opportunities to explore and enjoy the great outdoors from sunrise to sunset every day. You can observe and photograph wildlife, fish and hike the many trails.

sc lowcountry fishing
Photo by Charlotte Pinckney.

Fish the Savannah River from Millstone Boat Ramp in Hardeeville or B & C Boat Landing at the Tillman Sandridge Wildlife Management Area. Common species found in the impoundments and canals are bluegill, crappie, large-mouth bass, channel and blue catfish, bowfin, and mullet, plus striped bass, red fish, and flounder.

frampton plantation house

Visit Frampton Plantation. Conveniently located on I-95, Exit 33, The Frampton Plantation House serves as the home of the Lowcountry Tourism Commission. The downstairs is open to the public. It is used as a visitor center with museum displays, tourist information and gift shop. The backyard has a lovely picnic spot under the Spanish moss draped live oaks. There’s also plenty of room to run around with the dogs.

walterboro sc wildlife sanctuary

Walterboro’s Great Swamp Sanctuary is a beautiful place to spend some quality time. The sanctuary contains a network of boardwalks, hiking, biking, and canoe trails that are perfect for viewing a diversity of a black water bottomland habitat. Wild turkey, deer, raccoons, beaver, otter, mink, opossum, squirrels, fox, alligators, and wildcats have been spotted here. Bikes and dogs on leashes are welcome on the pathways of the sanctuary, so load up the family and make your way to this nature-based tourism gem

walterboro sc antiques

Downtown Walterboro is another great destination. The city is a popular spot for antiquing. Washington Street has a vast assortment of antiques stores loaded with interesting finds. The Colleton Museum and Farmers Market is located at the end of Washington Street. Visit their Marketplace Café for fresh bakes goods. Beautiful homes can be found everywhere in downtown Walterboro. A walk is the best way to appreciate the lovely structures that were used as summer homes for nearby plantations. Take a nice, leisure stroll to photograph these beauties. Hampton Street is a favorite walking destination. Start here and let your feet guide you through the neighborhood.

walterboro sc

Visit https://southcarolinalowcountry.com/ to plan your next adventure. Come see us! We’ll be waiting for you!

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Savannah National Wildlife Refuge Hiking Trails

Looking for a fun place to hike with a pretty view? The Savannah NWR is the perfect spot!

savannah national wildlife refuge sc
Former rice field trunk system image by Allyson Jones.

Jasper County’s Savannah National Wildlife Refuge consists of 31,551 acres of freshwater marshes, tidal rivers and creeks, and bottomland hardwoods.  Well-maintained hiking trails wind throughout the refuge, giving hikers and bikers access to these former rice fields. Explore the nearly 40 miles of trails that are built on dikes that contained rice fields dating back to the early 1700’s.

savannah national wildlife refuge sc
Little Black River Trail image by Varnana Beuria

The freshwater impoundments of the wildlife refuge are managed for migratory waterfowl and provide excellent wildlife observation points. All dikes are open to foot and bicycle travel during daylight hours, unless otherwise posted. Waterfowl are most abundant from November through February, while alligators and other reptiles are frequently seen from March through October.

Bird watching opportunities are good all year but are best from October through April when temperatures are mild, and many species of waterfowl and other wintering birds are present. The trails are primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and bird watching. The trails offer several activity options and are accessible year-round.

savannah national wildlife refuge sc
Laurel Hill Wildlife Drive image by Allyson Jones.

Motorists are welcome on the Laurel Hill Wildlife Drive, off S.C. 170, which meanders along four miles of earthen dikes through managed freshwater pools and hardwood hammocks. Many hiking and biking trails are accessible from this drive.

savannah national wildlife refuge sc
Kingfisher Loop and Tupelo Trail image by Ezrom Signim.

The Kingfisher Loop and Tupelo Trail is a 7.1 mile moderately trafficked loop trail that features beautiful wildflowers and is good for all skill levels.

savannah national wildlife refuge sc
Little Black River Trail image by Justin DeBaker.

The Little Back River Trail is a 6.2 mile moderately trafficked loop trail features a lake and is good for all skill levels.

savannah national wildlife refuge sc
Recess Plantation Trail image by Jessica Robateau.

Recess Plantation Trail is a 3.2 mile moderately trafficked loop trail featuring beautiful wildflowers and is good for all skill levels.

hiking trail - savannah national wildlife refuge sc
photo by Allyson Jones.

The Cistern Trail/Photo Blind is located along the Lauren Hill Wildlife Drive. It is a great spot to capture wildlife photos.

hiking trail - savannah national wildlife refuge sc
Plantation Island Trail and Cistern image by Allyson Jones.

Plantation Island Trail is a 2.8 mile moderately trafficked loop trail featuring beautiful wildflowers and is good for all skill levels. This small island of trees was formerly a slave community. It was once surrounded by rice fields. The cistern is still visible. It was used to collect drinking water and store perishable foods.

savannah national wildlife refuge sc
Image by Carlo Emanuel Barbi.

Raccoon Trail is a 2.6 mile moderately trafficked loop trail that features a river and is good for all skill levels.

savannah national wildlife refuge sc
Savannah NWR Visitor Center image by Mark Haskell.

The Savannah NWR Visitor Center is located on U.S. 17, seven miles north of downtown Savannah, Georgia or seven miles south of I-95 at Hardeeville, South Carolina.

hiking trail - savannah national wildlife refuge sc
Beech Hill Trail image by Alan Bourne.

Beech Hill Trail is a 0.3 mile lightly trafficked out and back trail located near the Visitor’s Center that features beautiful wildflowers and is good for all skill levels.

hiking trail - savannah national wildlife refuge sc

The Savannah National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center is located at
694 Beech Hill Lane, just outside Hardeeville. The Laurel Hill Wildlife Drive is located on GA-25/SC-170.
(843) 784-2468

For more information on this and other Lowcountry nature-based tourism spots, visit https://southcarolinalowcountry.com/wildlife-preserves-and-nature-trails/,
 

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African American Heritage Sites

Take a trip across the Lowcountry to visit these historically significant spots.

Today’s Green Book of South Carolina pays homage to the original Green Book by highlighting African American heritage sites across the state. The original Green Book was published in 1936. It played a critical role in protecting African American travelers by providing information on safe travel and welcoming establishments across the United States. This guide was instrumental in helping black motorists navigate the dangers of racial segregation. It included gas stations, restaurants and lodging that were safe for African American travelers.

Calvin Ramsey has revived the Green Book as a guide to historically significant sites. The South Carolina Lowcountry counties of Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper are very fortunate to have 36 sites memorialized in the Green Book of South Carolina. The following sites were shared from  https://greenbookofsc.com/.

African American Heritage Sites

BEAUFORT
“Freedom Along the Combahee”: Combahee Ferry Raid

Hwy 17 at Combahee River, Beaufort County
A Union force consisting of nearly 300 members of the 3rd Rhode Island Artillery and the 2nd S.C. Volunteer Infantry, an African American unit, raided several plantations along the Confederate-held Combahee River on June 1-2, 1863.  Col. James Montgomery led the expedition.  The famed Underground Railroad conductor Harriet Tubman also participated.  More than 700 enslaved men, women, and children were freed.  Some of the freedmen enlisted in the U.S. Army.

Berean Presbyterian Church
Photo by Terry Kearns

Berean Presbyterian Church / J.I. Washington Branch Library
602 Carteret St. Beaufort
Samuel J. Bampfield, an influential African American political figure during Reconstruction, was the founder of Berean Presbyterian Church. He served as postmaster, clerk of the Beaufort County court, and a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives.  The congregation purchased this lot in 1892 and built a Gothic Revival style church.  Solomon P. Hood, a future U.S. Minister to Liberia, was appointed as its first pastor.
The Beaufort Township Library purchased the building in 1931 and used it as a segregated library for African Americans.  After the desegregation of the Township Library, the segregated branch closed.  Later, the Neighborhood Youth Corps used the building as its headquarters. USC-Beaufort purchased the site in 1993 for use as an art studio.

Camp Saxton

Camp Saxton
Ribaut Rd. on the US Naval Hospital Grounds, Port Royal
The Camp Saxton Site is nationally significant as an intact portion of the camp occupied from early November 1862 to late January 1863 by the 1st South Carolina Volunteers, the first black regiment mustered into regular service in the United States Army during the Civil War, and as the site of the elaborate ceremonies held here on New Year’s Day 1863 which formally announced and celebrated the enactment of the Emancipation Proclamation freeing all slaves in areas then “in rebellion” against the United States. This area is preserved as part of Reconstruction Era National Historical Park. However, it is located on the campus of the Beaufort Naval Hospital, an active duty military installation. As a result, this area is not currently open to public access.

Detreville House

Detreville House
701 Green St. Beaufort
Rev. James Graham built this house c. 1785. It became known as “the Mission” during Reconstruction, when Mrs. Rachel C. Mather of Boston occupied the house. She and other Baptist missionaries built Mather School in Beaufort to educate African Americans. The house is included in the Beaufort Historic District.

First African Baptist Church Beaufort

First African Baptist Church, Beaufort
601 New St. Beaufort
This church, founded in 1865, grew out of an antebellum praise house for black members of the Baptist Church of Beaufort. During the Civil War, after the Federal occupation of the town, it hosted a school for Freedmen. Rev. Arthur Waddell (1821-1895), organized the church with two fellow black ministers in 1867. Robert Smalls (1839-1915), Civil War hero, state legislator, and U.S. Congressman, was its most prominent member.

Grand Army of the Republic Hall
Image found on the Green Book of SC website.

Grand Army of the Republic Hall
706 Newcastle St. Beaufort
Although Beaufort’s black military companies remained active after the Civil War, statewide the “Negro militia” rapidly declined during the 19th century. By 1903, the only units left were two companies in Beaufort. Many black Union veterans lived in the community, and after the war they formed the David Hunter Post #9 of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization for veterans of the Union Army. Built in 1896, this meeting hall for the post is believed to be the only surviving building in South Carolina associated with the Grand Army of the Republic. It is included in the Beaufort Historic District.

Mather Museum and Interpretive Center

Mather Museum and Interpretive Center
921 Ribaut Road, building #1, Beaufort
This interpretive center chronicles the history of Mather School in Beaufort, a boarding school for freed African American females.  The institution was founded in 1868 by Boston schoolteacher Rachel Crane Mather, and is one of many post-Civil War developments that sought to educate recently emancipated African Americans.  It first served elementary school-age girls. In 1910, high school grades were added, and in the 1950s, it became a junior college.  Today, the museum is housed in the historic school’s former library, and the campus is the site of the Technical College of the Lowcountry.  Moor Hall (pictured below,) one of the campus’ original historic buildings, housed classrooms, served as an administration building, a science laboratory, a library and a bookstore.  The school of cosmetology training was housed in the basement.

Tabernacle Baptist Church

Tabernacle Baptist Church
907 Craven St. Beaufort
The Tabernacle, a meeting house and lecture room, was built by Beaufort Baptist Church in the 1840s. In 1863, Tabernacle Baptist Church was organized by Solomon Peck of Boston with most of the 500 African American members of the congregation coming from Beaufort Baptist Church. The new congregation acquired this building for their worship services. The church was rebuilt after it was damaged by the hurricane of 1893. A bust of Civil War Hero Robert Smalls is on the church grounds. Tabernacle Baptist Church is included in the Beaufort Historic District.

Wesley Methodist Church Beaufort

Wesley Methodist Church, Beaufort
701 West St. Beaufort
This church, established in 1833, was the first Methodist church in Beaufort and was founded as a mission to slaves and free blacks here and on the neighboring sea islands. The congregation had both black and white members but many more black members in the antebellum era. This church, first built in the “meeting house” form common to the Methodist church, was dedicated in 1849. In 1861, after the Federal occupation of Beaufort and the sea islands, this church hosted a school for Freedmen. Its first black minister was appointed in 1873 during Reconstruction.

Coffin Point Plantation
Image from SC Historic Properties Record.

BEAUFORT SEA ISLANDS
Coffin Point Plantation

Seaside Rd. St. Helena Island
Coffin Point Plantation, a prosperous sea island cotton plantation, became a hub of activity when St. Helena Island was captured by Union troops in 1861. With the Union occupation of the island, the Coffin family fled, and 260 slaves were left behind. The United States government developed a plan to train and educate the newly released slaves to prove their effectiveness as free laborers. This effort became known as the Port Royal Experiment.

Dr. York Bailey House

Dr. York Bailey House
US Hwy. 21 St. Helena Island
This house was built c. 1915 for Dr. York Bailey, St. Helena Island’s first African American doctor and its only physician for more than 50 years. Bailey ordered the parts for the house from a mail-order catalog and they were shipped to Beaufort, then brought across to the island by boat. The house is a good example of the vernacular American Foursquare house form. Bailey, born on St. Helena in 1881, graduated from Penn School and Hampton Institute and studied medicine at Howard University. He returned to the island in 1906 to practice medicine.

Eddings Point Praise House
Image found on Green Book of SC website.

Eddings Point Praise House
On Eddings Point Drive, .1 miles north of junction with Secondary Road 74 St. Helena Island
The small wood frame building, c. 1900, is a rare example of a praise house. Praise houses were first established on plantations as places to meet and worship. Since there were few formal church buildings on St. Helena Island, most islanders could only walk or ride to the main church on Sunday mornings. For other meetings or services, they used praise houses, holding services on Sunday night and some weeknights. There were as many as 25 praise houses on St. Helena Island as recently as 1932, but only four remain today.

Emmanuel Alston House

Emanuel Alston House
Sec. Rd. 161, .25 mi. N of jct. with US 21 Frogmore/St Helena Island
This house is an intact and significant example of a one-story hipped roof house, an early 20th century vernacular architectural form common to St. Helena Island. It was built c. 1915 by Tecumseh Alston, a carpenter, for his brother Emanuel. Emanuel “Mannie” Alston, born 1900, lived here until his death in 1985. He served for many years as an elder at Ebenezer Baptist Church and took a prominent part in the services there.

Knights of Wise Men Lodge Hall

Knights of Wise Men Lodge Hall
14 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. St. Helena Island
The Knights of Wise Men was organized in 1870 to provide financial and farming assistance to the families of its members.  The Knights purchased this property at the rear of “The Green” in 1889 for $8.00 and built a two-story wood frame building, which burned in 1940.  The current concrete building was constructed shortly thereafter by local masons.  It is similar in fashion to the earlier building.  At its height in the 1920s, the Knights of Wise Men had some 350 members.  The lodge is still used during times of celebration.

Mary Jenkins Community Praise House

Mary Jenkins Community Praise House
355 Eddings Point Rd. St. Helena Island
Mary Jenkins Community Praise House is one of only four praise houses remaining on St. Helena Island.  The small wood frame building, which was built c. 1900, represents a vernacular architectural form that has survived since the plantation era.  Paris Capers, born in 1863, was one of the early elders.  As a place of religious worship as well as community meetings, this praise house is an important reminder of St. Helena Island’s African American heritage.

Penn Center Historic District / Reconstruction Era National Monument

Penn Center Historic District / Reconstruction Era National Monument
16 Penn Center Cir. E. St. Helena Island
Penn School was founded in 1862 by northern missionaries and abolitionists who came to South Carolina after the capture of the Sea Islands by Union troops.  The site and its collection of historic buildings were venues for education, the preservation and interpretation of sea island culture, and a strategy meeting for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. before his March on Washington in 1963.  In January 2017, Penn Center and other historic sites in Beaufort County were declared the nation’s first Reconstruction Era National Monument by President Barack Obama.  In 2019, the monument was officially recognized as a National Park.

Robert Simmons House
Image found on the Green Book of SC website.

Robert Simmons House
On unpaved road .5 mile south of US HWY. 21 St. Helena Island
This house was built c. 1910 by Robert Simmons, an African American farmer. The house is a rare surviving example of a double pen house, a vernacular architectural form once common on St. Helena Island. Double pen houses had two rooms side-by-side, each usually measuring approximately 16×16 feet. The house has been enlarged, but the original core is still distinguishable.

Campbell AME Church

BLUFFTON
Campbell AME Church

23 Boundary Street Bluffton
White Methodists built Campbell Chapel AME Church in 1853.  Nine African American freedmen, who were likely once enslaved by members of the white congregation, purchased the 19th-century Greek Revival structure in 1874.  Members of the new African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church congregation immediately altered the building and expanded the site as the church thrived.  They likely installed the cast-iron bell that is currently visible in the cupola.  The church retains historic fabric that is both original and reflective of the change in ownership. Campbell Chapel AME continues to provide a space where congregants can educate youth, worship freely, and participate in outreach ministries. This historic church was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on April 26, 2019.

Cherry Hill School
Image by Lloyd Wainscott.

HILTON HEAD
Cherry Hill School

210 Dillon Rd. Hilton Head Island
This one-room frame school, built ca. 1937, was the first separate school building constructed for African American students on Hilton Head Island. It replaced an earlier Cherry Hill School, which had held its classes in the parsonage of St. James Baptist Church. After the black community on the island raised funds to buy this tract, Beaufort County agreed to build this school. This was an elementary school with one teacher, with an average of about 30 students. It served grades 1-5 when it opened in 1937, adding grade 6 the next school year.

First African Baptist Church Hilton Head Island

First African Baptist Church, Hilton Head Island
70 Beach City Rd. Hilton Head Island
This church, founded in 1862, was originally the church in the town of Mitchelville, a Freedmen’s village established on Hilton Head by the United States Army. Rev. Abraham Murchinson, its first minister, was a former slave and the church had about 120 members when it was organized in August 1862. The church moved to the Chaplin community after the Civil War and was renamed Goodwill Baptist Church. It moved to this site by 1898 and was renamed Cross Roads Baptist Church before retaking its original name. The present church was built in 1966.

Former Home of William Simmons: Gullah Museum of Hilton Head

Former Home of William Simmons: Gullah Museum of Hilton Head
187 Gumtree Rd. Hilton Head Island
This house, built in 1930, is typical in materials and methods of construction of those built on the sea islands from the end of the Civil War to the mid-20th century. It was built on land bought by William Simmons (c. 1835-1922), who was born a slave and served in the 21st U.S. Colored Infantry during the Civil War. His granddaughter Georgianna Jones Bryan built this house in 1930 for her brother. It illustrates everyday life and the persistence of Gullah culture in an African American farm community. It was renovated in 2010-11 as the Gullah Museum of Hilton Head Island.

Fort Howell

Fort Howell
160 Beach City Rd. Hilton Head Island
This Civil War fort, named for Gen. Joshua Blackwood Howell (1806-1864,) was built by the U.S. Army’s 32nd Colored Infantry and the 144th N.Y. Infantry to defend Hilton Head and the nearby freedmen’s village of Mitchelville from potential Confederate raids or expeditions. That village, just east of the fort, had been established by Gen. Ormsby M. Mitchel in the fall of 1862 and was named for him after his death. The fort was an enclosed pentagonal earthwork with a 23-foot high parapet and emplacements for up to 27 guns. Though Fort Howell never saw action, it is significant for its design and its structural integrity.

Mitchelville Site
The Mitchelville site is preserved as the Mitchelville Freedom Park, complete with a walking trail.

Mitchelville Site
Beach City Rd. Hilton Head Island
After Hilton Head’s fall to Union forces in 1861, this town was planned for the area’s former slaves and named for General Ormsby M. Mitchel.  It was developed into neatly arranged streets and Ľ-acre lots.  The town had elected officials, a church, laws, taxes and a school for children, and was home to about 1,500 residents in 1865.  The village continued relatively intact until the 1870s and was abandoned by 1890.

Queen Chapel AME Church

Queen Chapel AME Church
114 Beach City Rd. Hilton Head
The AME denomination experienced rapid growth after the Civil War and Queen Chapel was among the early churches founded. In 1865, Charleston born AME Bishop D.A. Payne returned to S.C. and brought a group of missionaries to Hilton Head Island. They met with Rev. James Lynch, who had come to S.C. in 1863 to perform missionary work among the freedmen of Mitchelville.

St. James Baptist Church

St. James Baptist Church
209 Dillon Rd. Hilton Head Island
This church, founded in 1886 by former members of First African Baptist Church, is one of the oldest surviving institutions remaining from the town of Mitchelville, a Freedmen’s village established here by the United States Army in 1862. The present brick sanctuary, covered in stucco, is the third to serve this congregation. It was built in 1972 and renovated in 2005.

Daufuskie Island Historic District

Daufuskie Island Historic District
18 Simmons Rd. Daufuskie Island – Accessible only by ferry.
The cotton trade spurred the growth of the slave population on Daufuskie Island from 1805-1842, and ruins of slave houses and archaeological sites remain from this period. The island was largely abandoned during the Civil War, but many former slaves returned during Reconstruction, reoccupying slave houses and building churches, schools, and meeting places. In the early 20th century, the population swelled to almost 1000, with oysters, logging, and trucking providing jobs. By the 1940s and 1950s, outside competition had caused many to leave the island and search for jobs elsewhere, leaving the population in 1980 at fewer than 75 people.

Edisto Island Baptist Church

EDISTO ISLAND
Edisto Island Baptist Church
1813 SC Highway 174 Edisto Island
The original core of Edisto Island Baptist Church was built in 1818 to serve the island’s white planters. Enslaved African Americans attended the church with their owners, and the original slave gallery still lines both sides of the sanctuary. After Edisto Island was occupied by Union troops during the Civil War, most of the white plantation families left the island. In 1865 the trustees of the church turned it over to the black members. Edisto Island Baptist Church has operated as an African American church since that time.

Hutchinson House
7666 Point of Pines Rd. Edisto Island
Built by Henry Hutchinson around the time of his marriage to Rosa Swinton in 1885, the Hutchinson House is the oldest intact house identified with the African American community on Edisto Island after the Civil War. Hutchinson was born enslaved in 1860, and according to local tradition, he built and operated the first cotton gin owned by an African American on the island from about 1900-1920. Hutchinson lived here until his death in 1940.

29 Seaside School
Image found on the Green Book of SC website.

29 Seaside School
1097 SC Hwy. 174 Edisto Island
This Seaside School, which was built c. 1931 as its second building, is reported to be the oldest African American school remaining on Edisto Island. From 1931 until the construction of a consolidated school in 1954, black residents of Edisto Island received their primary education in this building, a one-story, two-room rectangular frame. In 1930, the Edisto Island school district had planned to merge Seaside with Central African American school, but the community, affected by the Great Depression, could not raise enough money for the lot and school supplies. This smaller structure was built instead.

Episcopal Church of Atonement Walterboro

WALTERBORO
Episcopal Church of the Atonement

207 Chaplin St. Walterboro
This African American congregation was formed in 1892 as a mission of St. Jude’s Episcopal Church, a white congregation. The rector of St. Jude’s supplied services for the Church of the Atonement. This distinctive Gothic Revival church was built in 1896. The wood frame building features a steep gable roof. A tower on the front, which contains the Gothic-arched entrance, is decorated with fish-scale shingles and topped with an open belfry. The Church of the Atonement is included in the Walterboro Historic District.

St. James the Greater Catholic Mission

St. James the Greater Catholic Mission
3087 Ritter Rd. Walterboro vicinity
St. James the Greater Catholic Mission is an extremely rare example of a rural, southern, black Roman Catholic parish in continuous existence from its antebellum origins to today. The site includes a sanctuary, a school, and a cemetery. The sanctuary, built around 1935 in the late Gothic Revival style and entirely clad in wooden shingles, is on the same site as two previous churches built in 1833 and 1894. The schoolhouse, constructed in 1901, is rare example of a turn-of-the-twentieth-century I-house built specifically as a school for African Americans. It provided private education for local students, regardless of religious affiliation, until 1960.

St. Peter's AME Church

St. Peter’s AME Church
302 Fishburne St. Walterboro
St. Peter’s African Methodist Episcopal Church was formed in 1867 under the leadership of Rev. James Nesbitt. This building, a Gothic Revival wood frame structure, was constructed around 1870. It features Gothic windows and a tower with an open belfry. It is part of the Walterboro Historic District.

Training the Tuskegee Airmen

Training the Tuskegee Airmen
Tuskegee Airmen Dr. Walterboro Airport
During World War II, the first African Americans in the U.S. Army Air Corps graduated from the Tuskegee Army Flying School in Alabama. From May 1944 to October 1945, some of them took further combat training here, at Walterboro Army Airfield. Several of the earliest “Tuskegee Airmen,” who had already won fame in missions in Europe and North Africa, were assigned as combat flight instructors. Trainees here flew the P-39, P-47, and P-40 fighter planes and the B-25 bomber. Officers’ quarters and enlisted men’s barracks stood just east and just west of this spot, respectively.

Hampton Colored School

HAMPTON
Hampton Colored School
Holly St., between Lightsey St. & Hoover St. Hampton
This two-room school was built under the leadership of Ervin Johnson, a local African American carpenter in 1929. It served students in grades one through eight. At first funds were so scarce it was only open from October to March. Eventually however, donations from the black community allowed it to operate for a full school year. Later, high school courses were offered. This remained the only black school in town until the Hampton Colored High School was built in 1947. Then it was converted into the lunchroom for the high school. Marker erected by Hampton County Historical Society, 1989.

Huspah Baptist Church and School
Image found on the Green Book of SC website.

Huspah Baptist Church and School
729 Magnolia St. W. Hampton
Organized c. 1873, the congregation first met in the homes of church members before erecting a permanent sanctuary. It also began operating a school for African American students around 1890. The first school burned in 1895 (arson was suspected, but never proven). It re-opened the following year. Elizabeth Evelyn Wright and Jessie Dorsey were the first teachers at the new school. Wright would go on to found Voorhees College in 1897. The school at Huspah remained in service until the County built a new school for African American students in 1927. Marker sponsored by Huspah Baptist Church, 2015.

St. Matthew Baptist Church

TILLMAN
St. Matthew Baptist Church

1454 Tillman Rd. Tillman
This church was founded in 1870 with Rev. Plenty Pinckney as its first minister and worshipped in a “bush tent” nearby until a log church was built a few years later. A new frame church was built on this site in the 1890s during the pastorate of Rev. C.L. Lawton. The present sanctuary was built in 1960 during the tenure of Rev. R.M. Youmans, who served here for more than 35 years. Marker erected by the Congregation, 2002.

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Savannah National Wildlife Refuge

Visit untamed beauty on a former rice plantation.

Savannah National Wildlife Refuge alligator
American Alligator image by Becky Mathews.

The Savannah National Wildlife Refuge offers a variety of opportunities to explore and enjoy the great outdoors from sunrise to sunset every day. You can observe and photograph wildlife, fish, or during the season, hunt white-tailed deer.

Savannah National Wildlife Refuge egret.
Egret image by Joe DeLorme.

Make the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center your first stop when visiting the refuge. Located on Hwy 17 between Hardeeville and Savannah, it is open Monday – Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., but closed Sundays and all federal holidays.

Established in 1927, the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge protects old rice fields & numerous species of wildlife including ducks, birds, deer, & alligators. The 4-mile driving tour is free and open sunrise to sunset.

Savannah National Wildlife Refuge former rice field
Former rice fields are preserved at the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge.

The Visitor Center provides visitors a more enhanced refuge experience. Friendly and knowledgeable staff and volunteers are always on-hand at the front desk to help get you where you need to go, as well as answer any questions you may have.

Savannah National Wildlife Refuge rice trunk
Rice trunks are still in use.

While there be sure to watch the 10-minute video about the refuge, its history, and current management practices. The center also includes interactive exhibits to further your understanding of the refuge’s vast wildlife and habitat resources.

Outside you’ll find the Beech Hill Trail, which leads visitors along a short, paved interpretive pathway that borders the edge of a cypress swamp. There’s also a pollinator garden filled with plants that are beneficial to butterflies, bees, dragonflies and more. It’s most active from late spring through fall.

Savannah National Wildlife Refuge egret
Egret photo by Vlad Hrybok.

A bird sanctuary contains a small arrangement of birdbaths, misters, and feeders that attract a variety of birds throughout the year; especially during the spring and fall when many birds are migrating through the refuge.

Savannah National Wildlife Refuge rice field
Photo by April Zarzycki.

The Visitor Center has clean, spacious restrooms and ample parking for vehicles, including buses and RVs. Be sure to use the facilities here, because the refuge is a short drive away, and has no restroom facilities.

After a trip to the Visitor Center turn left on Hwy 17, then left again onto SC 170 to head to the refuge for a driving, hiking or cycling tour.

Savannah National Wildlife Refuge wood stork
Wood Stork image by Julie Strickland.

Wildlife viewing is excellent for photography, especially during fall, winter, and spring, along the 4-mile Laurel Hill Wildlife Drive and adjacent hiking/bicycling trails.

The American alligator is king here, with upwards of 25 individuals having been reported seen during one visit. Many species of wading and marsh birds can also be spotted here throughout the year.

The trails adjacent to the Kingfisher Pond Recreation Area are great for watching woodland songbirds such as prothonotary warblers and American redstarts during spring and fall migrations. Summertime brings in purple gallinules in the managed impoundments and swallow-tailed kites soaring in the sky; both species nest on the Refuge.

Savannah National Wildlife Refuge blue heron
Blue Heron image by Pamela Clisbee.

The Laurel Hill Wildlife Drive affords photographers of all skill levels excellent opportunities to photograph wildlife, especially American alligators and a variety of different wading birds. Visitors may also utilize the photo blind located along the Cistern Trail.

Savannah National Wildlife Refuge drive
The drive into Savannah NWR.

The Savannah National Wildlife Refuge is a part of the Savannah Coastal Refuges GeoTrail! There is a special geocache for each refuge in our complex to help you learn more about the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Wildlife Refuge System, and the Savannah Coastal Refuges Complex!

Savannah National Wildlife Refuge blue heron
Blue Heron photo by Eduardo Burgos.

For more information on other attractions in the area visit the South Carolina Lowcountry Tourism Website.

Savannah National Wildlife Refuge trail map
Savannah National Wildlife Refuge trail map. Note: this map also shows the location of the Visitor Center.
Carmen Pinckney
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Sergeant Jasper Park

Sgt Jasper lake view

Sgt. Jasper Park is conveniently located off I-95, at Exit 8. After exiting the interstate, point toward Hilton Head and turn left at the first traffic light. Follow the road around until you bump into the park entrance. Trails are located on both sides of the road. Some trails are wheelchair accessible. This is a great place to get off the interstate and stretch your legs. Dogs are welcome here, on a leash. A trail map is available in the park office.

Sgt Jasper boardwalkThe trails alternate between gravel, boardwalk and natural footing. The views around the lake are pretty, and the trails are relaxing. 

There are other opportunities at the part as well. There are canoes, kayaks and a disk golf course. Information can be found in the park office. There’s a playground for the kids and plenty of picnic spots. There is also a covered picnic shelter. Grills can be found at the park as well. The disk golf course is located on the left side of the road. The park also has fishing opportunities.

 

1458 Red Dam Rd.
Hardeeville, SC 29927
Call 843-784-5130
PARKMAP
PARKBROCHURE

More Day Trips in the South Carolina Lowcountry
More Hardeeville Attractions

 

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SOUTH CAROLINA LOWCOUNTRY

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The Lowcountry & Resort Islands Region of South Carolina includes the four, southern-most counties in the state, Beaufort, Jasper, Hampton, and Colleton, which are bordered on the east by the Atlantic Ocean and on the west by the Savannah River and the state of Georgia.

The South Carolina Lowcountry Guidebook is filled with many things to see and do in the beautiful Lowcountry of South Carolina. Please fill out the information and we will send you a FREE GUIDE BOOK.

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