Upcountry South Carolina
"Any time you visit is the right time."
by Lisa Halvorsen
A 3.8–mile, one–way auto loop around the battlefield's perimeter has interpretive signage and exhibits. It provides access to the historic Green River Road (the centerline of the battle) and the Robert Scruggs Log House. You can watch volunteers demonstrate 19th–century skills such as cooking and soap–making at the log house, built around 1830.
You can visit another important Revolutionary War battlefield at Kings Mountain National Military Park, where the first major patriot victory occurred after the British invasion of Charleston, in May 1780. British commander Patrick Ferguson, better known for his weapon (a breech–loading rifle) than for his military campaign strategies, died here. In the museum, you will see an original Ferguson rifle along with other artifacts. A 1.5–mile self–guided walking trail of the battlefield takes you past military monuments and Ferguson's grave. Be sure to include the early 19th–century living–history farm at the adjoining Kings Mountain State Park in your visit.
You can view Civil War artifacts, including firearms, flags, uniforms, photographs and letters at the 16th SC Volunteers Museum of Confederate History in Greenville. The museum also provides a look at daily life on the home front and how women contributed to the war effort.
Mansions and Museums
Several sites are managed by the Spartanburg County Historical Association, including the Price House, near Woodruff, which was built for businessman Thomas Price in 1795 as part of a 2,000–acre plantation; and the Walnut Grove Plantation, in Roebuck. This 1760s manor house belonged to the Moore family, whose daughter Kate warned the American troops of the British advance in the Battle of Cowpens.
The historical association also maintains Seay House, a small farmhouse built around 1900 and reputedly the oldest home in Spartanburg, and the Spartanburg County Regional Museum of History. The museum displays a number of permanent exhibits about Piedmont–area artisans, children's toys, period clothing and quilts. Also represented are the city's history, including its textile mills, role in the American Revolution and Civil War, and Camps Croft and Wadsworth – both World War II army training camps.
While in Spartanburg, hop aboard the Main Street Trolley to learn more about the city's heritage. Or stop by the Hub City Farmer's Market, held each Saturday morning in summer and fall at the historic Magnolia Street Train Station.
One of the area's newest museums is the Upcountry History Museum in Greenville, where you can learn about the region's history, culture and industry. Visit the Roper Mountain Science Center for the Friday "Starry Nights" programs or to tour the arboretum, butterfly garden or nature trail.
Pendleton is an interesting place to visit, as the entire town is on the National Register of Historic Places. Take a self–guided tour of more than 50 buildings pre–dating 1850. Maps are available at Hunter's Store. Located on the Historic Town Square are an 1850 mercantile building housing the Pendleton District Historical, Recreational, and Tourism Commission, a research library, and exhibits.
Pendleton Farmers' Society Hall, the oldest farmers' hall in continuous use in the country, was built in 1826 as a courthouse. The Pendleton District Agricultural Museum contains pre–1925 farm equipment and tools plus Cherokee artifacts.
In Pendleton, you can visit two antebellum mansions, Woodburn and Ashtabula, both summer homes of prominent Low Country farmers. Woodburn, built circa 1830, belonged to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, a statesman and one of the original signers of the U.S. Constitution. Ashtabula, constructed in 1825, was owned by Lewis Ladson Gibbes, a descendant of Henry Woodward, the first English settler in South Carolina.
A 19th–century mansion on the Clemson University campus, Fort Hill, is also open for public tours. This was the home of U.S. Vice President John Calhoun and, later, his son–in–law, Thomas Green Clemson, who deeded the home and land to the state for a university.
Art and Gardens
The Greenville County Museum of Art's holdings focus on American art, including several Andrew Wyeth paintings and an impressive collection of Southern art from the 1700s through present day. The Carolina Foothills Artisan Center in Chesnee displays the works of more than 100 North and South Carolina artists, as well as offers educational seminars, art classes and workshops.
If you're interested in gardens, visit the Hatcher Garden and Woodland Preserve in Spartanburg or the South Carolina Botanical Garden in Clemson. The 295–acre botanical garden on the Clemson University campus has a 70–acre arboretum and several themed gardens – among them, a woodland wildflower garden and a wildflower meadow and camellia garden. Here you will find walking trails and two historic homes, the Hunt Log Cabin (1825) and Hanover House (circa 1716), the last remaining replica of French Huguenot design in the country.
The Fran Hanson Discovery Center, the garden's visitor center, displays rotating exhibits by regional artists. It's located adjacent to the Bob Campbell Geology Museum, which displays fossils, gems and minerals from the region.
One–of–a–Kind Attractions
For something different to do consider visiting a unique site such as Zentrum, the only BMW museum in North America. Situated in Spartanburg, it is also home to the country's only BMW manufacturing plant. You can view rare and vintage BMW vehicles including the 1955 Isetta "Bubblecar," art cars featuring designs by Andy Warhol and other notable artists, a hydrogen–powered automobile, classic motorcycles, and renowned racing cars. Ask about free factory tours, which may be available depending on production schedules.
Duke Energy's World of Energy introduces visitors to the various ways that energy is created through water, coal and uranium, and offers tips to conserve energy at home. This education center also includes an aquarium and nature trail.
Hollywild Animal Park near Inman, in Spartanburg County, offers a chance to get up close to the hundreds of exotic species on its 100 acres. Admission includes an "outback safari" ride to observe the animals. What sets this apart from other safari parks and zoos is that many of its animals have starred in television commercials, advertising campaigns and Hollywood movies, such as Prancer, The Big Chill and Last of the Mohicans.
In Liberty, you can visit Antiquers Heaven Museum, the largest privately owned antique collection in the Southeast, or stroll across Liberty Bridge, a one–of–a–kind cantilevered pedestrian walkway overlooking Reedy River Falls in downtown Greenville.
Baseball buffs can visit Shoeless Joe Jackson Memorial Park, a monument to native son and famed baseball player, Joseph Jefferson Jackson. In addition, the public is invited to catch the action at the NFL Carolina Panthers Training Camp, held at Spartanburg's Wofford College, in July and August.
This sampling will whet your appetite for the variety of attractions found in this region. Come and discover all that Upcountry South Carolina has to offer.
Article courtesy of Southern RV Traveler
For More Information
Discover Upcountry Carolina Association
P.O. Box 3116,
Greenville, SC 29602
(800) 849–4766
(864) 233–2690
Crooked Creek RV Park
777 Arvee Lane
West Union, SC 29696
(888) 777–0226
Cunningham RV Park
600 Campground Road
Spartanburg, SC 29303
(864) 576–1973
Lake Hartwell Camping and Cabins
400 Ponderosa Point
Townville, SC 29689
(888) 427–8935
(864) 287-3223
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Consult your 2007 Woodall's North American Campground Directory for a complete list of area campgrounds.
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