Links to Our Past

South Carolina's history has helped shape the nation. From the Colonial village of Old Dorchester to the majesty of the State House, South Carolina's history comes alive at some of her most historic sites. Students can see and experience the sites where history was made. These sites cover important time periods in the nation's history, from Pre-European to the present. The Discover History tract's primary objectives are to:

• Enlighten school students on the significance and importance of South Carolina's history.
• Promote an understanding of the state's past.
• Make the connection between the past and present.
• Encourage stewardship of South Carolina's cultural resources.
• Directly relate to Social Studies and Reading/English Language Arts curriculum.

Andrew Jackson State Park - As students visit the boyhood home of Andrew Jackson they discover the nature of life in South Carolina's colonial backcountry and its influence on a president's development. Basically students learn what life was like when Andrew Jackson was a youth, his experiences and how their own lives compare with those of the early frontier settlers.
3^rd Grade
(Lancaster County - 803.285.3344)

Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site - Through tours, living history demonstrations, hands-on activities and audiovisual programs, students visiting Charles Towne Landing investigate the experience of settlers and Native Americans at the first English settlement in South Carolina. In the process, they gain an understanding of early settlers' lifestyles and the natural history of the region circa 1670.

Program is offered on Wednesday and Thursday during Fall 2009.
3^rd Grade
(Charleston County - 843.852.4200 after 3 p.m.)

Colonial Dorchester State Historic Site - Colonial Dorchester preserves and interprets the archaeological site of a village founded in 1697. For nearly one hundred years Dorchester prospered as an inland trade center. Several generations of South Carolinians, free and slave, lived and worked in the homes and shops that lined Dorchester’s streets. Evidence of the affluence of the village can still be seen today. A fort built during the French and Indian War stands guard over the Ashley River and is the best-preserved example of Tabby fort construction in the nation. The brick bell tower of St. George’s Anglican Church looms over the graveyard in what was once the center of the village. Beneath the surface lie remains of the village in an archaeological record that spans much of South Carolina’s early history. Today archaeologists are examining that rich record and historians are delving into documents that put color into the picture of life in colonial South Carolina. Colonial Dorchester is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Grades 3, 7-8 and 9-11
(Dorchester County - 843.873.7475)

Hampton Plantation State Historic Site - Hampton Plantation was once a prosperous rice plantation, bustling with life and activity. The plantation was inhabited over the years by some of South Carolina's most prominent families as well as an extensive labor force of enslaved Africans. Discover Carolina at Hampton will allow students to explore such topics as slavery, the complex web of plantation relationships, architecture and rice culture.
Grades 3, 5 and 8
(Charleston County - 843.546.9361)

Huntington Beach State Park - Through observation and hands-on activities, students gain an understanding of the importance of the historic resources found on this park and enhance their appreciation of South Carolina history.
5^th Grade
(Georgetown County - 843.235.8755)

Kings Mountain State Park - Kings Mountain interprets the family farm and homestead in the mid-19th century South Carolina upcountry. Here students learn about the specific skills, technology and values that families used to survive.
3^rd Grade
(York and Cherokee counties - 803.222.3209)

Musgrove Mill State Historic Site - Musgrove Mill preserves and interprets the site of the American Revolutionary War battle of Musgrove’s Mill. The battle took place on August 19, 1780 between Patriot militia and a joint force of Loyalist militia and Tory Regulars. The site includes the ruins of the colonial home and mill of Edward Musgrove, an influential settler of the South Carolina Backcountry whose home was used by the British as a camp in the late summer of 1780. Historians on site interpret not only the Battle of Musgrove’s Mill, but the brutal frontier warfare that took place throughout upstate South Carolina during the American Revolution. Musgrove Mill is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Grades 3 and 4
(Laurens, Spartanburg, and Union counties - 864.938.0100)

Oconee Station State Historic Site - Educational programs at Oconee Station focus on the history of South Carolina's western frontier during the years immediately following the American Revolution. Students explore the historical interactions between European settlers and Native Americans and learn how human occupation of the frontier changed the land. Programs involve examination of the site's natural and cultural resources, which include scenic landscapes, an 18th century frontier outpost and an early 19th century trading post.
3^rd Grade
(Oconee County - 864.638.0079)

Redcliffe Plantation State Historic Site - By exploring the architecture, furnishings and grounds of Redcliffe, students gain an understanding of the contributions and changing lifestyles of James Henry Hammond, the Hammond Family, slaves and other residents of Redcliffe and the importance of their contributions to the history of South Carolina.
Grades 3 and 8
(Aiken County - 803.827.1473)