Some 12 miles west of Charleston on Johns Island stands the magnificent Angel Oak, in the three-acre park of the same name. Thought to be one of the oldest living things east of the Mississippi River, at around 500 years old, this natural wonder, standing some 65 feet tall with limbs creating a 17,000-square-foot canopy, is an absolute must-see.
Appearing in many a wedding and group shot, the tree dramatically symbolizes the age and antiquity of South Carolina, a state alive with Old South history and in many parts seemingly locked in the past.
During the Revolutionary War, Colonial troops planted palmettos, or miniature palms, to fortify Sullivan Island at the mouth of Charleston Harbor. Symbolizing strength and courage, the tree became the symbol of South Carolina. For deep-rooted group experiences, there’s no place like the Palmetto State.
Memorable Metros
To borrow from the tagline of centrally located Columbia, the state capital, South Carolina’s main cities and towns are “famously hot” with heritage.
“Columbia is a hip, urban city center that has taken great strides to preserve its historical charm, with a number of venues providing meeting planners and attendees with a unique glimpse into the city’s past,” said Jason Outman, executive director of the Columbia Metropolitan CVB.
Nonprofit preservation group Historic Columbia oversees a portfolio of leading treasures. Event-capable venues include Columbia’s oldest property, downtown’s circa-1796 Seibels House and Garden, with inside space for 150 guests and up to 400 outside, and the circa-1871 Italian villa-style Woodrow Wilson Family Home, South Carolina’s only presidential site, hosting outdoor events for 250 attendees. One of Columbia’s five National Historic Landmarks, The Robert Mills House seats 50 guests in the Carriage House and up to 400 on the grounds. Across the street, the Hampton-Preston Mansion and Gardens welcomes outdoor events for up to 400 attendees.
Historic Columbia also organizes special group-accessible programming throughout the year, such as Moonlight Cemetery & Secrets from the Grave Tours.
Housed inside the nation’s first electric cotton mill, the South Carolina State Museum offers versatile space for 20 to 600 attendees. Originally a community center for mill workers, 701 Whaley, in the national landmark Granby Mill Village Historic District, features four distinct event venues accommodating up to 1,000 attendees.
Tour options include The South Carolina State House, marked with six copper stars where General Sherman’s cannons struck during his infamous march through the South.
Around 100 miles northwest of Columbia in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Greenville, once the mighty “Textile Capital of the World,” is a flourishing group destination with tales to tell. For expert insider tours, Greenville History Tours is a prime group resource. The rich history of Upstate South Carolina, or the Upcountry, comes alive at the Upcountry History Museum on downtown’s scenic Heritage Green, hosting up to 500 for events. Other heritage venues include the Old Cigar Warehouse, a circa-1882 cigar and cotton storage facility also accommodating up to 500 guests, and national landmark Woodside Cotton Mill Village Historic District.
Roughly 30 miles east of Greenville along I-85, Spartanburg, named after the Spartan Regiment of the South Carolina Militia and home to nearly 50 National Register-listed sites and districts, is a hotbed of Revolutionary War, railroad and other heritage.
“Spartanburg’s history is a great asset for groups who love to know more about the places they convene,” said Spartanburg CVB Executive Vice President Chris Jennings. “Our museums, self-guided tours and first-hand experiences showcase everything from Spartanburg’s role in winning the American Revolution to its rich textile and agricultural past.”
For tours and events, the Spartanburg County Historical Association offers guided walking tours and three historic sites, the circa-1767 Walnut Grove Plantation, Historic Price House, and Seay House, plus the Spartanburg Regional History Museum. Self-guided experiences include the Music, Textile Town and Revolutionary War trails.
January 2017 sees the 236th reenactment of the pivotal Battle of Cowpens at its namesake national battlefield site in nearby Gaffney, preceded by October’s Revolutionary War weekend here and at other sites, including Walnut Grove.
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Further east, York County, just across from Charlotte, N.C., is home to Revolutionary War-era Brattonsville, a 778-acre living-history museum that includes a trail dedicated to another pivotal battle, Huck’s Defeat.
West of Greenville, Clemson features event- and tour-capable historic homes such as the circa-1825 Ashtabula and circa-1830 Woodburn.
Coastal Character
Centered on the Lowcountry coast, peninsular Charleston, named after King Charles II of England, is among the world’s heritage champions.
“Wearing the polish of more than 330 years of history, Charleston’s cobblestone streets present an enchanting chronology that is evident at every turn,” said Dan Blumenstock, director of hotel operations at Charleston-area diversified investment holding company Fennell Holdings, and chairman of the Charleston Area CVB Board of Governors.
Earthquake bolts and ornate ironwork festoon handsome antebellum dwellings, while copper lanterns and hitching posts hint at a bygone era. History remains among the top reasons the destination welcomes more than 5 million visitors annually.”
With attractions like the Old City Market (1804), East Bay Street’s “Rainbow Row” of colorful 18th century Georgian townhouses, and the fully restored 1930s Art Deco Riviera Theatre at Belmond Charleston Place, the “Holy City” is heavenly to behold.
Built in 1861, the national landmark Historic Rice Mill is a popular waterfront venue featuring versatile indoor and outdoor space. Historic homes include Georgian Palladian gem Drayton Hall and the 1825 Edmondston-Alston House. Overlooking Charleston’s historic harbor, this is where Gen. P. G. T. Beauregard watched the bombardment of Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861, the opening salvos of the Civil War. Tours of the Fort are a must, along with Charleston Strolls’ exceptional Walk with History.
Event-capable plantations include the McLeod Plantation (1851) on James Island across the Ashley River from downtown Charleston. Frequently used as a filming location, Boone Hall Plantation features the spectacular Avenue of Oaks, a nearly mile-long stretch of ancient giant live oaks draped with Spanish moss.
Founded in 1676, Magnolia Plantation features America’s oldest public gardens, with national landmark Middleton Place home to the nation’s oldest landscaped gardens. On Wadmalaw Island, Charleston Tea Plantation, America’s only tea garden and commercial tea farm, attracts thousands of visitors to the First Flush festival in May, celebrating the first harvest of the year. Trolley rides and factory tours are also available.
As the primary destination along the 60-mile stretch of coastline coined the “Grand Strand” back in 1949, Myrtle Beach, near North Carolina, is steeped in heritage.
“From antebellum plantations to historic gardens, history and culture are evident at every turn in our area,” said Scott Schult, executive vice president of marketing for the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce. “These experiences enhance the trip for meeting attendees and groups, adding dimension to the serene beach vacation that Myrtle Beach is known for.”
With cultural landmarks that include the South Carolina Civil War Museum and Rice Museum, groups can also experience “natural” history at retreats like Brookgreen Gardens, founded in 1931. Located in the renovated national landmark 1905 Burroughs School in historic Conway, west of the city, the Horry County Museum features the L.W. Paul Living History Farm, the re-creation of life on a one-horse family farm from 1900 to 1955.
South of the city in Georgetown, the National Historic Landmark Hopsewee Plantation predates the Revolutionary War by four decades. Group options include guided house tours, private events in the River Oak Cottage Tea Room, and outdoor riverside gatherings.
To the south, near the Georgia border, upscale Hilton Head Island is another historic coastal escape.
“This year, readers of Travel + Leisure named Hilton Head Island the No. 1 island in the continental U.S. and No. 8 in the world,” said Charlie Clark, vice president of communications for the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce. “The island has undergone a renaissance of redevelopment and continues to invest millions in hotel renovations, new venues, shopping areas and activities, while staying true to the island’s reputation as a premiere resort destination.”
Heralded by Travel + Leisure as an “outpost of Southern hospitality and traditional American recreation,” Hilton Head’s heritage draws include the Smithsonian-affiliated Coastal Discovery Museum and Mitchelville, the first self-governed town of freed slaves. Groups can experience the island’s West African Gullah culture through tours and the annual Gullah celebration in February.
In the heart of nationally registered Old Town Bluffton, the 1841 Heyward House Historic Center offers programs including tours of the antebellum main house and outdoor events.
