Ninety Six, South Carolina
We could’ve been camping in Hatfield (WI) …. this place very much reminded us of the summer camping grounds that Tom’s family has been going to for 50+ years. Big lake (Lake Greenwood State Park campground), similar terrain - lots of great trails to hike through. We were able to get the kayaks out again at this stop, and spent some time on the water. If we were home, Owen would be starting 7th grade at All Saints, so we took the official “first day of school” picture on the steps of the RV.
Owen and I had an interesting “art class” while Tom was working one day. We discovered an outdoor art installation in our park, which consisted of 25 different canvases displayed on the large trees in an area of the state park. South Carolina’s parks overall are very impressive and have a lot to offer not only in terms of camping and outdoor activities but history as well. There’s a great exhibit at the visitor center that outlines the history and purposes of the CCC - Civilian Conservation Corp, that was created by FDR in the early 30s to help young men between the ages of 18 and 25 find work. A good majority of our parks, forests and public lands were developed. At the park we are staying at, there is an unfinished stone wall that remains because the CCC at that time was pulled away for WW2 and it was never finished.
During our time here, we also visited the town of Ninety-six (and never did find out why it was named this), but there is another fort in this area, that was crucial during the Revolutionary War. The British ultimately conquered it and burned it to the ground but the patriots salvaged what was left and reestablished Ninety-six a few miles down the road.
Owen and I also visited the Rose Hill Plantation (State Historic site), about an hour from where we’re staying. This is an extremely well preserved home from the late 1700s. It was the home of the South Carolina Governor, William Henry Gist. He was the first governor in south to secede from the Union prior to the Civil War. His plantation was one of cotton - and he had up to 187 individuals enslaved while he lived there. While the original mansion was saved, none of the other buildings including the slave quarters, kitchen, etc remains. This was a cotton plantation for 128 years! While the landscape is now filled with magnolia trees and live oaks, it is a beautiful spot with a dark history.
We enjoyed this spot, but looking forward to getting to Charleston. Oh, this is also the spot where the squirrels were absolute terrors! They would climb on, and in and around the awnings on the RV and ultimately made their way to my Chinese money tree - which they absolutely destroyed! Will try to nurse it back to health.