Columbia, South Carolina

Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the capital of South Carolina. In keeping with Sue’s theme visiting state capitals so that some day she can quiz the grandkids, we started our visit with South Carolina’s State Museum. The museum gives a good overview of the state from the colonial period to the present. Pre-Civil War, the state had the cotton and rice crops which required large amounts of field labor. At that time, 53 per cent of the population of South Carolina were slaves. A visit to the State House gave the history of the capital moving from Charleston, SC to Columbia, SC in 1786 so that the capital would be closer to the center of the state and would be more accessible to its people. They began the present State House in 1850 and construction stopped during the Civil War. General Sherman, in his march through Columbia, in 1865 burned down the wooden state house and damaged the present state house which was currently under construction. Half of Columbia was burned during Sherman’s march through the city. At the State House there is a beautiful outside monument dedicated the people of South Carolina in order to recognize the many accomplishments and the contribution of the Afro-Americans to this state. It took the period from the slave auction block to the present illustrating Afro-Americans triumph over adversity in South Carolina.
The Governor’s Mansion is located on Governor’s Green. It is a beautiful setting and we enjoyed walking through the many gardens located on the grounds. The mansion tours were not available and I’m certain we will come back sometime to Columbia to take one.
The Riverfront area was established as a network of canals in order to supply water to the city and to produce electric power. Columbia had the first textile mill which was run completely on electrical power. GE built thirteen 65 h.p. motors in order to run the mill. The mill was in operation until the 1970’s when textile manufacturing went overseas. The mill building is the State Museum.

Congaree National Park South Carolina

Congaree National Park South Carolina
The park sits along the Congaree River. This 22,200 acre park protects the largest contiguous area of old growth, bottomland, and hardwood forests in the U.S. It is a world of primeval landscapes, champion trees, diverse plants and animal life along with tranquility. The park experiences wet and dry periods as the river floods and recedes with seasonal rains. The trees escaped large scale cuttings due to the difficulty of logging in this wetland area. Congaree National Park ranks as one of the most diverse forest community in North America. There are 22 different plant communities in the park. Preliminary surveys have found more than 80 species of trees, more 170 bird species, 60 reptile and amphibian species and 49 different species of fish. It was amazing to take a 2.5 mile walk on an elevated boardwalk and see the different plant communities and variations of trees. The park is an excellent place to kayak. It can be dangerous since approximately 10 times each year, flood waters from the Congaree River cover the park with a sheet of fast moving water. Bob looked at a 7 mile trip with the kayak but decided he should not do it alone and will return here when the park offers guided kayak trips. Over time, I am certain that we will spend some more at this National Park because of the various eco systems. Bald Cypress and Tupelo trees both grow wide at the base anchoring each tree in the mud. The Bald Cypress produce knees that rise up from the forest floor. Are they snorkels or anchors?

Cowpens National Battlefield

Cowpens National Battlefield
When us Yankees think of the Revolutionary War we think of Paul Revere’s ride and the Boston Tea Party. In South Carolina, they think of the Southern Campaign from 1778-1781. When the British realized that they had lost the North, they headed to the Southern States to try to keep control for the rice and spices produced there. The British sailed into Charleston taking control and then began their march towards Yorktown, VA. Tarleton was a ruthless British officer. Morgan was a frontiersman who was a volunteer. The Battle at Cowpens was a decisive defeat for the British. The battle was over in less than an hour. British losses were staggering, 110 killed, 229 wounded and 600 captured or missing. Morgan’s losses were: 24 killed and 104 wounded. This battle on January 17, 1781 was a decisive victory for the Continentals. What amazed us about the battlefield itself is the close proximity of the actual firing lines. They would fire within 40 yards of one another. The total battlefield was less than a .5 mile and Morgan’s victory was quick and precise.