Historic Sites
History lives and breathes in Lake Hartwell Country. Come explore some incredible and significant pieces of history that have shaped our region and our nation. Discover antebellum homes, historic churches, and even a working grist mill.
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To learn more about Lake Hartwell Country's role in the Revolutionary War, click here.
Historic Homes
Ashtabula Plantation
2725 Old Greenville Hwy
Central, SC 29630
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Ashtabula was built in the late 1820's and was home to the Gibbes family. It traded hands many times before it was acquired by the Pendleton Historic Foundation in the 1960's. It is open for public tours on Saturdays. Photo courtesy of the Pendleton Historic Foundation
Woodburn Plantation
130 History Ln​
Pendleton, SC 29670
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Woodburn was build in 1830 and was originally the home of Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, a former Lt. Governor of South Carolina.​ Photo courtesy of the Pendleton Historic Foundation
Hagood-Mauldin House
104 N Lewis St
Pickens, SC 29671
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Before being rebuilt in its current location, the Hagood-Mauldin House was first constructed in 1856 in the town of Pickens Courthouse, before Pickens and Oconee split into two separate counties. Photo courtesy of the Pickens County Historical Society​
Fort Hill Plantation
102 Fort Hill St
Clemson, SC 29634
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Fort Hill Plantation was the home of John C. Calhoun and is located in the heart of Clemson University's campus. Photo courtesy of Clemson University
Historic Ballenger House
212 E South 3rd St
Seneca, SC 29678
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The Ballenger Family was prominent in the town of Seneca and gifted the home to the Seneca Women's Club for use of all citizens.​ Photo courtesy of the Seneca Women's Club​
Boxwood Manor
1790 Boxwood Manor
Pendleton, SC 29670
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This 1790 Colonial farmhouse has been a residence for six generations. The hand-made bricks in the chimneys and English boxwood gardens are truly unique.​ Photo courtesy of the Boxwood Manor Facebook​
Historic Sites
Hagood Mill
138 Hagood Mill Rd
Pickens, SC 29671
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Hagood Mill is a working grist mill that was built in 1845 by James Hagood and remained in the family until 1966. Every third Saturday of the month, there is a festival held on the mill grounds with traditional Appalachian folk arts, demonstrations, and you can see the mill in action!
Keese Barn
123 W. Queen St
Pendleton, SC 29670
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Built by Pendleton native Benjamin Keese in the early 1900s, this barn was the site of "The Hundreds," the first public gathering place for Pendleton's African American residents. Now the site of a memorial built by Clemson University students, the Pendleton Foundation for Black History & Culture is fundraising to restore a facade of the Old Keese Barn on the site.
Rosewood Center
Rosewood St
Liberty, SC 29657
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The Rosewood Center, formerly Liberty Colored High School, was built in 1937​ and served African American students in Liberty, Central, Clemson, and Norris. The school was consolidated in1955 with another African American school to create Clearview Colored High School in Easley. The schools were desegregated in 1970. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
Historic Churches
Old Pickens Presbyterian Church
149 SC-183
Seneca, SC 29672
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This old church stands on the site of the old town Pickens Court House, which was established in 1828. The church and its cemetery are the only original structures still standing from the old town.
St.Paul's Episcopal Church
328 E Queen St
Pendleton, SC 29670
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Saint Paul's was completed in 1822 after many Charleston residents began building plantation homes in the Pendleton area. Many of these residents were Episcopalians. Photo courtesy of St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Soapstone Church
296 Liberia Road
Pickens, SC 29671
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Although the building itself is not very old, the community that Soapstone Baptist Church represents has been around since the 1800's. This is the site of a colony of freed slaves. The church also has a fish fry on the third Saturday of each month.