2023-12-01 12:38:54
Named for its concentration of English settlers during the 1770s, this region is rich in colonial history with centuries-old cemeteries, battlefields and important historic sites. Uncover stories of the past at old plantations and family farms. Then, make your own stories with outdoor adventures at state parks, botanical gardens, golf courses and biking trails, plus thrilling sports destinations. REGIONAL MUST-SEES Chester Historic District, Chester | Cheraw State Park Golf Course, Cheraw | Camden Archives & Museum, Camden East Main Street Historic District, Chesterfield | Fort Mill History Museum, Fort Mill | Carolina Motorsports Park, Kershaw | Andrew Jackson State Park, Lancaster | Glencairn Garden, Rock Hill American History This district received its name due to its early settlement by the English in the mid 1770s, and numerous notable events have happened since then. Explore this rich history and visit these sites to learn about the movers and shakers who were involved. Andrew Jackson State Park, Lancaster Living history programs, a museum and interactive exhibits focused on the boyhood of the seventh U.S. President, Andrew Jackson, keep the past present at this state park. Historic Brattonsville, McConnells With 30-plus structures dating from the 1760s to late 1800s (plus the battlefield of Huck’s Defeat), this site preserves the history and architecture of the area. Visit the oldest structure, the 1766 home of Colonel William Bratton, a Revolutionary War leader who led the defeat of Captain Christian Huck. Jail, No Bail! Exhibit, Rock Hill At this exhibit, get to know the “Friendship Nine,” a group of nine African American activists who went to jail after bravely staging a sit-in at the McCrory’s Five & Dime lunch counter in Rock Hill to protest segregation. Rose Hill Plantation State Historic Site, Union This former cotton plantation was once home of South Carolina Governor William Henry Gist. Take a guided tour of the historic site to learn about him, as well as the area’s cotton industry, secession, Civil War, emancipation and the Reconstruction era. Kershaw-Cornwallis House, Camden Explore the 107-acre Historic Camden Revolutionary War site, where you’ll find this mansion that was once commandeered as headquarters by Lord Charles Cornwallis when the British forces occupied Camden during the Revolutionary War. SERVING UP A SIDE OF HISTORY When South Carolina Chef Ambassador Rob Masone set out to open his new eatery in the location of a former five-and-dime, he learned it was the site of a notable protest during the Civil Rights Movement, when several Black students from Friendship Junior College were denied service but refused to leave. Masone insisted on honoring the significance of the sit-in by incorporating it into his Rock Hill restaurant he fittingly named “Kounter.” Today, patrons can opt to dine while sitting at the well-preserved, original counter in seats that bear the names of those nine activists who courageously stood their ground.
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