On the time of the American Revolution, this space of South Carolina was a sparsely populated area known as the Backcountry. The 2 largest cities – Kingstree on the Black River and Cheraw on the Nice Pee Dee River – shipped their items to the port of Georgetown. But it surely was a area longing for independence.
When Charleston was captured in Could 1780, the results had been virtually instantly felt all through the area. British regiments marched into cities, burned church buildings, and confronted native militias. Basic Lord Cornwallis was keen to comb into North Carolina and safe a quick southern victory.
However Francis Marion prevented it. Working within the swamps alongside the varied rivers, Marion earned a popularity as “The Swamp Fox” for his potential to seem out of nowhere to assault the British and disappear simply as shortly with out a hint.
This 157-mile highway journey traverses the Pee Dee Nation, following Marion’s footsteps. Study in regards to the Township Plan, go to one of many burned church buildings, and find out about one of many first cities within the nation to publicly denounce King George III.
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Kingstree, SC
Forty years after Charleston’s founding in 1670, almost 90% of the colony’s residents lived inside 5 miles of the capital. In 1731, Governor Robert Johnson devised a plan to construct new townships sixty miles from Charleston on key South Carolina waterways.
In 1732, Scotch-Irish immigrant Roger Gordon led 40 others to ascertain the Williamsburg Township on the Black River. Every household was given 50 acres and a city lot. Further tons had been put aside for a commons floor, church buildings, and colleges. In 1738, the Williamsburg Presbyterian Assembly Home was accomplished.
Williamsburg was later renamed King’s Tree due to an fascinating legislation – considered one of many who led to the Revolutionary Warfare. The Japanese White Pine was ample when the colonies developed within the late 1600s. The towering, thick timber had been good for naval ships. However when provides started to skinny, King George III handed a legislation completely reserving any Japanese White Pine with a 24-inch diameter trunk for England’s use.
After the Fall of Charleston in 1780, Main John James shaped a big militia on the muster floor in Kingstree. He turned command of the unit over to Basic Francis Marion. Whereas scouting for Marion on August 27, 1780, James found a British pressure despatched from Georgetown to assault Kingstree.
Earlier than leaving Kingstree, you’ll want to go to Artsy Truffles. Proprietor Darlene Roman has all the time thought of cooking to be a household affair. She runs the enterprise together with her brother, youngsters, and grandchildren. Get their selfmade pancakes for breakfast, sandwiches for lunch, or pizza on Fridays.
Williamsburg Historic Museum
The Williamsburg Historic Museum is in a former Carnegie Library in-built 1917. The one-room museum has reveals and artifacts like an enormous dugout canoe and vintage glassware. Discover the compendium of native historical past relationship from Williamsburg Township’s founding to at present.
The Revolutionary Warfare reveals are few as a result of little occurred within the space, however they’ve quite a lot of details about the few occasions. It’s an incredible place to be taught extra about space battles alongside the Black River main into Georgetown and Francis Marion’s exploits within the area.
Thorntree
In 1748, James Witherspoon constructed a big household house known as Thorntree after immigrating to Williamsburg Township. The Plantation Fashion home, later known as an I-house due to its reputation in Indiana, Illinois, and Iowa, is a two-story home with a lined entrance porch and a central passageway separating rooms with chimneys on both finish.
His son, Gavin, inherited the house after his dying. After the Fall of Charleston in 1780, a big pressure of British dragoons underneath the commander of Colonel Banastre Tarleton camped on the Witherspoon property.
Within the Seventies, the Williamsburg Historic Society bought the house and transported it from the unique web site six miles outdoors of city to a small lot on the town. The house was restored and opened as a home museum. Guided excursions are provided often, and the grounds are open throughout daylight.
Williamsburg Cemetery
In 1738, the Williamsburg Presbyterian Assembly Home was accomplished. Though the unique constructing now not exists, you possibly can stroll by the graveyard – now known as the Williamsburg Cemetery.
One of many notable gravesites is Roger Gordon’s, the city’s founder.
However essentially the most notable is the gravesite of Reverend John Witherspoon. In 1695, he fled to Eire due to spiritual persecution in England. In 1734, he immigrated to South Carolina, arriving in Charleston, and touring to Williamsburg Township. He helped construct the Presbyterian church for the city and died a yr later. He was the primary particular person buried on this cemetery.
Indiantown Presbyterian Church
In 1757, Irish immigrants John James and Robert Wilson organized the Indiantown Presbyterian Church and constructed the primary church on this web site. James was a militia captain underneath King George III till the beginning of the Revolutionary Warfare. He resigned his fee and used his place as an elder of the church to recruit Patriots for a militia. James spent the remainder of the warfare serving underneath Basic Francis Marion.
In July 1780, the British captured Georgetown shortly after the Fall of Charleston. When Main James Wemyss, the city’s commander, realized of Patriot militias forming as Presbyterian church buildings, he labeled them as “sedition outlets” and ordered them burned whenever.
A month later, a British unit burned Indiantown Presbyterian Church. The present church, the third constructing on the location, was accomplished in 1830.
Main John James is buried within the graveyard beside the church he helped set up. His son, Captain John James, fought with him in the course of the Revolutionary Warfare and is buried within the graveyard.
Kenny’s BBQ
You could possibly observe your nostril to Kenny’s BBQ whereas driving by Hemingway. Opened in 1990, the native restaurant is understood all through the area for its savory barbecue. Meats are smoked every day, and all the pieces is selfmade, together with their vinegar-based sauces and banana pudding.
Cease for lunch on the native restaurant. Order considered one of their platters with two sides to style their unbelievable house cooking. Get the banana pudding to go.
Statue of Basic Francis Marion
After the disastrous Battle of Camden, when British Basic Lord Cornwallis crushed Basic Horatio Gates, no Continental troopers remained within the South. The duty of combating for independence fell to a rag-tag band of militiamen commanded by Basic Francis Marion.
On August 17, 1780, Marion took command of the Williamsburg Militia from Main John James at Witherspoon’s Ferry, a crossing over the Lynches River.
In 2013, Johnsonville devoted a 20-foot-tall monument to Francis Marion at a small public park on the historic web site of Witherspoon’s Ferry. Designed by Alex Palkovich, the monument contains a bronze statue of Marion on horseback, 3 times bigger than life, melded on the waist right into a concrete base.
Marion, SC
Gilesboro was based shortly after the Revolutionary Warfare, and it was named after Colonel Hugh Giles, an area Patriot who fought underneath Basic Francis Marion. In 1847, the South Carolina legislature formally chartered the city, altering the title to Marion in honor of the militia chief.
Go searching for antiques and collectibles on the Marion Emporium. The clear and arranged retailer has a second-story gallery overlooking the primary ground. It takes about an hour to browse the spectacular assortment correctly.
The Fudge Shoppe of Marion opened in 2020. Wayne and Barbara Mathews make small batches of recent fudge, good for a highway journey. You must also strive their hand-dipped ice cream, root beer floats, or old school milkshakes within the small dessert café.
Brittany Taylor took a lifelong love of candle making and opened Woodhaven Candle Co. in 2021. All of the candles are handcrafted and have distinctive scents lasting for hours.
Marion County Museum
Do you know that Francis Marion was a commissioned British soldier lengthy earlier than the Revolutionary Warfare? Or that in the beginning of the American Revolution, he was a captain accountable for the 2nd South Carolina Regiment on the Battle of Sullivan’s Island? You’ll be taught some fascinating issues in regards to the native Revolutionary Warfare hero on the Marion County Museum.
The beautiful constructing was accomplished in 1886 for the Marion Academy Society. The constructing itself is an exhibit with beautiful structure inside and outside.
A room on the primary ground is devoted to Marion’s life. You’ll discover a full historical past of his Revolutionary Warfare exploits and dozens of fascinating trivia about him, together with the story behind his nickname “The Swamp Fox.”
Francis Marion Statue
In April 1976, the city devoted the Francis Marion Statue on the 2 hundredth anniversary of the Revolutionary Warfare. The statue was designed and constructed by Ramojus Mozoliauskas, a sculptor who immigrated from Lithuania in 1950.
You’ll be able to go to the marginally larger-than-life statue within the inexperienced throughout from the Marion County courthouse. Pay specific consideration to the bottom, the place you’ll discover a recreation of Marion’s signature etched into the concrete.
Francis Marion College
In 1970, a decade of lobbying resulted within the creation of Francis Marion School, considered one of South Carolina’s 13 public universities. The faculty – college after 1992 – was named after Francis Marion, the Revolutionary Warfare hero who gained fame over the past half of 1780 for his guerrilla warfare towards the British.
Whereas nonetheless celebrating the college’s fortieth anniversary, a life-size bronze statue of Francis Marion was erected in a visitors circle alongside Heyward Drive. The statue stands simply 5 ft, 3 inches tall – the precise top of the Revolutionary Warfare normal. The statue was sculpted by nationally acclaimed sculptor Garland Weeks and solid by Home Bronze Inc. in Lubbock, Texas.
Florence, SC
A city started on this space when a courthouse was constructed at Lengthy Bluff in 1770. In 1774, the townspeople made a presentation on the courthouse stating they might by no means help the burdensome taxes imposed by the British Parliament. It was one of many earliest examples of public insurrection towards the king’s rule.
In 1775, Colonel John Baxter shaped the Pee Dee Regiment. They marched to Charleston to affix different Continental Military items and served in lots of battles early within the Revolutionary Warfare.
However after the Fall of Charleston in 1780, the Loyalists dominated the Pee Dee area. After months of harassment from Basic Francis Marion, they ultimately fell out of favor with the native settlers.
Regardless of the early settlement, Florence was not formally chartered till 1871 as a Reconstruction Metropolis after the Civil Warfare. Since then, town has developed as a hub for commerce and training all through the area.
City Corridor opened in 2016 as a part of the downtown revitalization. Co-owned by Florence native Dale Barth, the informal upscale restaurant contains a seasonal farm-to-table menu. Parts are giant on the southern-style restaurant, with meals cooked in an open kitchen close to the eating space. Placemats, material napkins, and Edison bulbs add a contact of magnificence to the restaurant, however be happy to put on cozy garments for dinner – and perhaps a stretchy belt.
The Dispensary is Florence’s solely rooftop bar. The three,500-square-foot deck is roofed with giant outside furnishings, offering loads of comfy seating. The outside bar is a part of City Corridor, so when dinner is made, you simply have to stroll a flight of stairs to benefit from the night open air with a drink.
In 2014, Kyle Hardee adopted in his grandfather’s footsteps and opened a seafood restaurant. However as a substitute of an oceanside location like Sundown Seashore, Hardee opened Tubb’s Shrimp and Fish Co. in a renovated gasoline station in Florence. “I get all of the seafood from one of the best supply attainable, recent and by no means frozen,” Hardee explains. Order the seafood platter to pattern one of the best from the Japanese United States, however begin your dinner with a bowl of one of the best she-crab soup outdoors of Charleston.
King Jefe options Hardee’s distinctive twist on conventional Mexican dishes. And the downtown location is extra handy for these staying at one of many beneficial resorts. The menu options fascinating taco mixtures. However the profitable menu merchandise is the Breafkast Jefe de Jefes – a burrito stuffed with tater tots, fried eggs, chorizo, bacon, Monterrey jack cheese, and siracha maple syrup.
Barbecue began as a passion for the late Invoice Travis. After impressing his buddies with yard cookouts, he opened Wholly Smokin’ BBQ in 2012. Two years later, he moved the restaurant to its present downtown location and have become a staple for the locals. After his passing in 2017, the household carried on the enterprise. The savory menu gadgets embrace sandwiches, platters, and selfmade sides.
The place to Keep
Hyatt Place is a handy downtown resort inside strolling distance of dinner and drinks. The comfy resort options an out of doors swimming pool and spacious visitor rooms. Parking is inconveniently situated throughout the road, and takes 5-10 minutes to stroll again. Guide with Reserving.com or Expedia.com
Lodge Florence is one other downtown resort inside strolling distance of eating places. The historic constructing options beautiful hardwood flooring, spacious rooms with 12-foot ceilings, and fascinating structure. Guide with Reserving.com or Expedia.com
Florence County Museum
The Florence County Museum is a wonderful place to find out about native historical past – and there’s a lot to be taught. The museum options a powerful assortment of interpretive shows and artifacts. Historical past is split into durations and is straightforward to browse whereas casually exploring the rooms.
Study in regards to the historical past of Francis Marion and see maps of his exploits in the course of the Revolutionary Warfare. Learn the fascinating story of when a nuclear bomb was by chance dropped on a close-by home. And discover the native art work spanning the generations.
Buc-ee’s
Should you’ve by no means been to a Buc-ee’s, be ready to your jaw to drop. what I imply for those who’ve been to a Buc-ee’s. It’s a must-see attraction, present store, and gasoline station virtually required for any highway journey.
Buc-ee’s was based by Arch “Beaver” Aplin III in 1982 in Texas. In 2003, the beloved chain opened its first journey middle in Luling, Texas, starting a brand new period for the corporate. In 2018, they expanded outdoors Texas for the primary time with a location in Robertsdale, Alabama. And in 2022, they opened a location in Florence, South Carolina.
The corporate is understood for its record-breaking gasoline stations with over 100 pumps – and 18-wheelers are prohibited from getting into. The 24/7 comfort facilities are so giant they provide buying carts for all the pieces you’ll wish to purchase. Browse their huge present store for clothes, house décor, cookware, and collectibles.
Recent fudge and barbecue are made in-house every day. The deli counter is staffed 24/7, so that you’ll all the time have recent meals. And simply in case you desire a pack of crackers and a soda, you possibly can store the standard comfort retailer aisles within the nook of the shop.
5 Issues to At all times Purchase at Buc-ee’s
- Selection pack of recent fudge
- Brisket
- Beaver Nuggets
- Home made Root Beer
- One thing within the present store
Bennettsville, SC
Bennettsville is a twenty-minute drive from Florence alongside a scenic freeway by the countryside. Based in 1819, the city was a middle of commerce for cotton plantations and tobacco farms. Broad Avenue ends at Predominant Avenue in entrance of the 1884 courthouse, essentially the most spectacular construction on the town.
Step inside Breeden’s High quality Meats for a spectacular expertise. Opened in 1926, Cam and Cindy Stone now personal the native butcher store. Cam started working on the store throughout highschool and acquired it in 1988. Since then, they’ve constructed a popularity for handcrafted sausage hyperlinks from licensed South Carolina pork.
Dairy Dream Drive-In has served generations of locals and vacationers with their well-known foot-long hotdogs, fried rooster, and thick milkshakes. Step contained in the red-shingled, beige-stuccoed construct, and also you’ll discover the menu hanging on the wall above the counter. It’s a kind of locations the place sandwiches, seafood, and barbecue fortunately coexist – and all the pieces is satisfactorily savory.
Marlboro County Historic Museum
Bennettsville didn’t exist in the course of the Revolutionary Warfare – the city was based in 1819. However that doesn’t imply nothing occurred within the space. Skirmishes between native Patriot and Loyalist militias had been widespread.
Study in regards to the historical past of the area on the Marlboro Nation Historic Museum. Whereas visiting, take a guided tour of the Jennings-Brown Home and the fascinating Medical Museum.
Cheraw, SC
European settlers started arriving within the South Carolina backcountry within the 1730s. By the 1750s, a city developed round commerce on the Nice Pee Dee River. Joseph and Eli Kershaw got a land grant to create a city and started laying out tons in 1768. Colonial life was quiet on the frontier – after which the British arrived.
After capturing Charleston in Could 1780, Basic Lord Cornwallis ordered two battalions of the 71st Fraser Highlands to Cheraw. They had been to create a strategic backcountry outpost for supplying Cornwallis when he moved into North Carolina.
Main Archibald MacArthur marched into the small frontier city in July 1780. However shortly after arriving, his unit was tormented by sickness. He used St. David’s Parish Church as a discipline hospital for his ailing males.
River’s Edge was opened in 2010 by Stan and Cindy Koehn. In 2022, Chris Rodgers purchased the native favourite restaurant identified for southern cooking and pleasant service. Everybody must strive their selfmade pimento cheese.
The Caffeinated Cow is an oddity for a small city – a espresso store that’s open late! Cease inside for a espresso to gas the remainder of the highway journey.
The place to Keep in Cheraw
SpringHill Suites by Marriott is the one resort in Cheraw, nevertheless it’s additionally an incredible resort. Benefit from the outside swimming pool, kitchenette in all visitor rooms, and comfy furnishings. Guide with Reserving.com or Expedia.com
Previous Saint David’s Church
In-built 1770, Previous Saint David’s Church was the final Anglican church in-built South Carolina underneath King George III. Through the Revolutionary Warfare, Main Archibald MacArthur used the church as a discipline hospital when the British occupied Cheraw. One of many gravesites is marked with a gravestone that reads, “Right here on this hallowed floor relaxation officers and males of the 71st Fraser Highlanders.”
The church was renovated in 1826 with a brand new steeple and vestibule. Providers continued till 1916, when a more recent church was constructed close by. When the Chesterfield County Historic Preservation Fee, the present house owners of the church, renovated it, they restored it to its 1827 look.
The church’s inside is a rental facility. Public occasions are held sporadically, however seeing inside on a weekend may be attainable. The graveyard is open throughout daylight.
Cheraw State Park
Cheraw State Park is considered one of solely two South Carolina state parks with a golf course. The Par 72 course was designed by Tom Jackson. The park clubhouse contains a small store, altering rooms, and golf cart leases.
READ MORE: Find out how to Have an Thrilling Weekend at Cheraw State Park in Cheraw, SC
However the central function of the secluded park is the 300-acre synthetic Lake Juniper. Constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps within the Nineteen Thirties, the lake is a wonderful place for fishing and kayaking. The 1-mile Lake Juniper Boardwalk (bookmark on AllTrails) is a spectacular place for a stroll between the seaside and the dam.
The park’s cabins are one of the best place to remain within the space. The country cabins function a screened porch, one or two bedrooms, a full kitchen, and a big lounge. It’s good for a soothing weekend on the finish of this highway journey.