Good morning, Charleston. Did you know that today is South Carolina Day? What an exciting way to kick off the week + end the month of August. Side note: We seriously cannot believe that September starts tomorrow. 🤯
If you haven’t heard of South Carolina Day, don’t worry, it’s a fairly new holiday. In 2017, the folks over at National Calendar Day decided to celebrate all 50 states with their own state day.
These state holidays are meant to celebrate + recognize the best that each state has to offer, from important cultural and historical facts to recognizing our state’s beauty + sharing quirky facts.
Here are some fast facts about our amazing state:
⛪️ | St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in downtown Charleston is the tallest structure in our city - standing 297 feet tall.
🌉 | When it opened in 2005, The Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge was the longest cable-stayed bridge in all of North America.
🐒 | There is a Monkey Colony in South Carolina. Off the coast of Beaufort, there is a small barrier island that 3,000+ Rhesus monkeys call home. While the island isn’t accessible to humans, it is possible to spot the furry creatures by taking a boat out near the colony. This island is the only place in the United States where the Rhesus monkey can roam freely.
✏️ | Edgar Allen Poe used to live in South Carolina. After enlisting in the military, the horror fiction writer was stationed at Fort Moultrie for almost a year. He even went on to write The Gold Bug, inspired by his time in Charleston. Today Poe’s Tavern on Sullivan’s Island is a huge tourist attraction.
🍖 | Barbecue was born right here in South Carolina. Many believe barbecue comes from a marriage of Native American cooking techniques + Spaniards in the Saint Elena region (now Parris Island) introducing the pig. But one fact that isn’t up for debate: SC does barbecue right.
Here are a few ways to celebrate South Carolina Day:
Middleton Place | Home to the oldest landscaped gardens in the country, this 18th century rice plantation is a National Historical Landmark + has been a 501(c)(3) educational trust since 1974.
Charles Towne Landing | This site contains 80 acres of park gardens, more than 650 acres of Lowcountry scenery, and a replica 17th-century trading vessel visitors can board + explore.
Fort Sumter | Known for two of the Civil Wars battles, this SC destination holds so much state history.
The Charleston Tea Garden | Located on Wadmalaw Island, South Carolina is the only working tea plantation in the United States.
Southern Food | BBQ + Southern foods are an SC staple + we’ve got some of the best options in the South. Grab a meal from Rodney Scott’s BBQ, Swig & Swine, Home Team BBQ, Magnolia’s, or any number of local gems.
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