Living History
Historic Brattonsville
Experience living history, including the African American story, at this 775-acre Revolutionary War site. Explore the Bratton Plantation, owned and lived on by three generations of the Bratton family. 1444 Brattonsville Road, McConnells, SC. For information, call 803.684.2327 or visit chmuseums.org.
Botanical Quilts: Chintz Appliqué in the 19th Century
November 5, 2011 – April 22, 2012: Botanically-inspired quilts that graced the beds of Lowcountry residents throughout the 19th century are the focus of Charleston Museums’ Botanical Quilts exhibition. Quilts were made by cutting up luxurious textiles imported from India, England and Europe and then reapplying the motifs to a larger fabric, carefully stitching around each element. One of the most stunning pieces in Botanical Quilts is an elaborate Tree of Life quilt, probably made by Margaret Eliza Seyle Burges 1833. The tree abounds with flowers, leaves as well as birds and butterflies, each individually hand-appliquéd to the backing. For hours and admission details, visit charlestonmuseum.org
The Battle of Aiken
February 24–26, 2012: On February 11 and 12, 1865 the Battle of Aiken was fought between the forces of General Hugh Kilpatrick (USA) and General Joe Wheeler (CSA). Confederate troops fought to defend the City of Aiken and to stop the march of Union soldiers to the Mills in Graniteville and the Confederate Powder Works in the City of Augusta, GA. The battle was the last victory for the Confederacy in the War Between the States. In addition to battle reenactments, the event will include living history presentations, self-guided tours through the living history camps and a period medical unit. Great food and shopping will be available on site all weekend. For a complete schedule and gate prices, visit battleofaiken.org.
Battle for Broxton Bridge Annual Reenactment
March 2–4, 2012: The Battle for Broxton Bridge Annual Reenactment memorializes a battle that transpired on February 1, 1865 when Confederate soldiers encountered the Union soldiers en route from Savannah, Georgia, to Columbia. The battles at Broxton Bridge and Rivers Bridge on the Salkehatchie River were the last big defensive effort for the Confederates before the battle at Columbia. Broxton Bridge Plantation in Bamberg County. broxtonbridge.com/reenactment.htm
Catawba Cultural Center
The Catawba Indian Nation, the only federally-recognized Native American tribe in South Carolina, first settled along the Catawba River at the North Carolina -South Carolina border prior to the influx of English and Scotch-Irish settlers. Today, the Catawba Cultural Preservation Project on the Catawba Indian Reservation strives to preserve, protect, promote, and maintain the rich cultural heritage of the Catawba Indian Nation. Housed in the old Reservation Schoolhouse, the Cultural Center includes a crafts store featuring distinctive Catawba pottery, jewelry, Native American books, literature, and crafts. Changing exhibits give a glimpse into the Catawba past. The Center offers tours and programs including Catawba history and storytelling sessions, language presentations, pottery demonstrations, drumming and dancing performances, and educational, hands-on archaeology programs. Special arrangements can also be made for a traditional Catawba Indian meal. The Catawba Cultural Center, located at 1536 Tom Steven Road in Rock Hill, is open Monday-Saturday, 9am. – 5 pm. For more information, call (803) 328-2427, or click on: visityorkcounty.
Hampton Plantation Mansion Tours
Tour Hampton Plantation in historic McClellanville this summer. The mansion stands as a testament to the wealth and power of several prominent families of Colonial and Antebellum South Carolina. Tours give personal insight into the people who called Hampton home as well as the craftsmanship of its architecture. Visit southcarolinaparks.com for park hours and directions.
Photo courtesy of SCPRT.
From Slavery to Freedom: The Magnolia Cabin Project
For more than 300 years Magnolia Plantation, located on the pastoral banks of the Ashley River, has been home to the celebrated Drayton family. However, they certainly weren't the only residents at Magnolia. Scores of enslaved Africans and their descendants have also lived and labored here for as many years. The Magnolia Cabin Project began March 2009 and presents a genuine, compelling narrative about this overlooked people. This project is a direct attempt at reaching out to those who have never been exposed to this incredible part of the American experience. his unique collection of slave cabins, occupied well into the 20th century, has been carefully preserved and restored to document the full arc of African–American life at Magnolia. Each cabin reflects a different period of the African experience on the plantation; from slavery to Reconstruction, through the 1920's, and on to the civil rights era of the 1960's. This provides an extraordinary historical perspective. After an insightful presentation, visitors enjoy the cabins at their leisure. Interpretive furniture and landscaping, including a period-accurate culinary/medicinal garden, complete this award winning 45 minute program. A nearby African-American cemetery is also accessible with this tour. Admission to Magnolia Plantation is $9.50 for adults and $5 for those under age 19. There is an additional charge of $5 for adults and $4 for those under 19 for the Cabin Project. For more information, visit www.magnoliaplantation.com.
