Historical Sites
Churches
· General
· Landmarks
· Museums ·
Plantations
In
the late 1600s, English and French Huguenot planters settled our
area. Their fierce independence and self-sufficiency, and strong,
agrarian work ethic have defined our regional mentality. Many families
here proudly trace their roots to these settlers. Gratefully, society
has made many advances since those centuries. However, we are linked by
common experiences, a shared past and, above all, a love of the land.
We're proud of our communities and are working together and are excited
about the future.
The Lords Proprietors early referred to the
area around Charles
Towne as Berkeley County, with the name Berkeley coming from John, Lord
Berkeley and Sir William Berkeley.
Several national figures, including
Revolutionary War General
William Moultrie, called this home. The elusive Swamp Fox, General
Francis Marion, tormented British legions occupying much of South
Carolina. He emerged from our swamps, attacking with his small band of
marauders, then retreating like a ghost into the misty backwaters of
his homeland where the Redcoats could never find him.
Henry Laurens, president of the Continental
Congress, resided at
Mepkin Plantation. Centuries later, publisher Henry Luce and Clare
Boothe Luce, a writer and a diplomat, bought Mepkin. They loved it so
much they were buried there.
Churches
Biggin Church Ruins
Brick ruins of former church dating back to
American Revolution; was
razed by British to thwart holding supplies. Old cemetery is lovely
with interesting tombstones.
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St. James Church
St. James Episcopal Church, built in 1714,
bears the Royal Arms of
Great Britain over the chancel. For this reason, British soldiers
spared the church during the American Revolution. Located in the pine
woods off Old State Road (off Hwy. 52) in Goose Creek. (Not Open To The
Public)
St. Thomas - St. Denis Church
Circa mid-1700s, church represents combined
parishes and was site of
buried church silver to hide it from federal troops. Church overseer
was hung three times in attempt to extract whereabouts of buried
silver, but he never revealed the site. (Not Open To The Public)
Taveau Church
Old wooden church was built for worship by a
Presbyterian lady from
Edisto Island; later given back to a black congregation. Well
preserved. (Not Open To The Public)
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General
Little David Torpedo Boat
Located at the Berkeley Museum, the first
semi-submersible torpedo
boat used in October 1863 Civil War harbor attack. Original sub was
built on site at Stony Landing Plantation.
Nesbitt House
This eighteenth century dwelling was the
home of the plantation
overseer and his family on Dean Hall Plantation on the west branch of
the Cooper River. Moved to Moncks Corner and restored in 1968, the
building now houses the Berkeley Chamber of Commerce.
Otranto Indigo Vats
Located on the grounds of Bayer, Inc., these
vats were used in the
manufacture of the blue dye derived from the cultivated indigo plant.
(Not Open To The Public)
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Landmarks
Grave of General Francis Marion
Burial place of lowcountry's famous "Swamp
Fox" general who
outwitted the British in the American Revolution. Peacefull resting
place in a forested area.
Mexico Cemetery / Peru Cemetery /
Porcher Cemetery
Cemeteries of the plantations by whose same
names located in the Pineville area. Old tombstones. (Not Open To The
Public)
Site of Battle of Quenby Creek
American and British armies, both equal in
manpower, met in an
encounter here in July, 1781, resulting in a loss of sixty Americans
and one hundred forty five British soldiers. (Not Open To The Public)
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Museums
Berkeley
Museum
Located on the grounds of Stony Landing
Plantation, the Berkeley
Museum preserves and presents centuries of fascinating Berkeley County
History. A visit here takes you on a journey through 13,000 years of
history. Exhibits and artifacts focus on General Francis Marion (the
Swamp Fox), the first Americans (the Archaic Indians), colonial life,
the Civil War, early medicine, rural electrification, early education,
and Francis Marion National Forest.
803-899-5101
950 Stony Landing Road, Moncks Corner, SC 29461
Contact: Debbie Reynolds
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Plantations
Baldam Plantation
Family farm home of former South Carolina
governor Robert McNair
located near Jamestown and Hell Hole Swamp. Former site of lancing
tournaments on property. (Not Open To The Public)
Bluff Plantation Nature Preserve,
Pamlico
Originally the home to Maj. Isaac Harleston
who served with General
Francis "Swamp Fox" Marion, property today is wildlife preserve. Open
to the public, but visitors are asked to stop at caretaker's house.
(Not Open To The Public)
Lewisfield Plantation
Circa 1774, lovely plantation home on scenic
Cooper River was site
of river battle in which Col. Wade Hampton surprised British and
destroyed several boatloads of supplies, taking seventy-eight
prisoners. Home to former U.S. Senator Rembert C. Dennis, whose family
still lives there. (Not Open To The Public)
Middleburg Plantation
Circa 1699, oldest wooden building in South
Carolina's lowcountry
located on rice fields on Cooper River. Porch on main house bears sword
slashes from Civil War. (Not Open To The Public)
Otranto Plantation House
Now located in affluent Otranto subdivision,
this was the manor
house for the extensive plantation and home to Alexander Garden, a
local botanist, for whom the gardenia flower is named. (Not Open To The
Public)
Rice
Hope Plantation
Lovely B&B on broad expanse of old
rice fields was once
plantation home and later a boy's home. Antiques in every room.
Exceptional dining experience.
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