As one of the first English settlements in the New World and the site of the first shot fired in the Civil War, South Carolina claims a significant place in American history.

The state’s history dates back centuries. Prior to the English, many attempts were made by explorers to colonize South Carolina. In 1526, the Spanish tried to establish a settlement in South Carolina at Winyah Bay near the city of Georgetown. A group of French Huguenots made an attempt at settlement on a site near Beaufort in 1526. But it wasn't until 1670, when the English arrived at Albemarle Point near Charleston, that the first permanent settlement took root in South Carolina.

An estimated 1,225 sites in South Carolina are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, showcasing the important people and events that have shaped America. The distinctive architecture reflects the pride and history of European influence on this southern coastal state. The food, culture and music represent the blending of many heritages to tell the social story of South Carolina.

History and culture play an important part in appreciating and understanding a destination. At Charles Towne Landing, visitors can trace the steps of early ancestors who arrived from England to settle the new world. Located on the site of the first permanent English settlement in South Carolina, the popular state park features a tram ride tour of the 1670 site and seven miles of pathways meandering through tranquil English gardens. The settlers’ life area includes costumed interpreters, 17th century herbs and plants, and demonstrations of candle-making and other trades.

Today, Charleston thrives as a contemporary city with old-world charm. From carriage rides to cobblestone streets, touring around Charleston is like stepping back in time. This genteel port city still shows its charm in its pastel-colored houses shaded by moss-covered live oak trees. Many of these ante-bellum structures, along with a number of plantation homes, are now open to visitors either to tour or for overnight stays.

The wealth of early rice and cotton barons is still seen in the magnificent homes and mansions of "The Battery" along the Charleston Harbor or in the many plantation gardens along Ashley River Road, a scenic highway about 15 miles from downtown Charleston. Here, you can walk the grounds and enjoy the sculptured gardens to experience the contrast of plantation and city life.

A dramatic history

Yet, the state has had a turbulent past. From the War of Independence to the War Between the States, to the Civil Rights movement, this state has been at the center of many conflicts throughout history. The ravages of war can be felt at Cowpens National Battlefield in the northern part of the state. Here, in 1781, the colonials won one of their most significant battles against an elite British Army. Closer to the capital of Columbia, 14 War of Independence battles were fought around the town of Camden, South Carolina's first inland city, originally established as a trading post in the 1730s.

Historic Camden Revolutionary War Site, a 90-acre site, has been transformed for guided and self-guided tours of British General Cornwallis' reconstructed military headquarters and other historic buildings. Special re-enactments are frequently held to bring the military history to life for visitors to the area.

Fort Sumter, in Charleston Harbor, is the site where the first shots were fired between the North and South to launch the American Civil War. The Civil War was immortalized in movies like Gone With The Wind and Glory. Yet, this struggle between brothers divided the nation and crippled the economic growth of the South for more than 100 years.

Through Reconstruction and into the 20th century, South Carolinians experienced dynamic change. The invention of the cotton gin and the Industrial Revolution led the state into the 19th century, and in the 20^th South Carolina experienced a dramatic change as manual labor was rapidly replaced by machines and computers. The state experienced new prosperity and economic investments after World War II, and especially during the past 30 years. Major international and domestic companies have moved to South Carolina for some of the same reasons the state originally prospered as a colony: good climate, rich resources and hard-working people.

The numerous museums throughout the state detail many of South Carolina's historic moments. At the Charleston Museum, you can find a replica of the Confederate Ship Hunley, the first submarine to sink a warship. The Hunley was used by Confederate soldiers in 1864 to sink the Union warship Housatanic that was blockading Charleston Harbor.

America's first steam locomotive used for passenger service, The Best Friend of Charleston, made its premiere run for six miles on Christmas Day in 1830. The train's regular service went from Charleston, South Carolina, to the Savannah River. A replica is on display adjacent to the Charleston Visitor's Center.

An armada of great ships

In nearby Mount Pleasant, Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum, allows visitors to climb aboard the second U.S. aircraft carrier, Yorktown. The Yorktown fought many historic battles during World War II, patrolled the western Pacific Ocean during the Cold War years and recovered the crew of Apollo 8, the first manned spacecraft to circle the moon. On tour of this massive ship – whose length is equal to three football fields – visitors see exhibits of bomber and fighter planes on the hangar bay, plus letters and other mementoes from the crew. The museum also includes tours of the submarine Clamagore, the Coast Guard cutter Ingham, the destroyer Laffey, a re-creation of a Viet Nam naval support base, and the Medal of Honor Museum.

The South Carolina State Museum in Columbia is located in the historic Columbia Mill building, originally the world's first totally electric textile mill when it opened in 1894. With a visit to the museum, anyone can experience the state's unique history, art, science and technology, and natural history, all under one roof. Also located in Columbia, the South Carolina Confederate Relic Room and Museum displays collections of South Carolina military uniforms, flags, artifacts and weapons dating back to the 18th century.

Today, South Carolina embraces its heritage by retaining the positive elements of the past and remembering its history as a way to move to the future. Experiencing South Carolina's past – troublesome and triumphant – is a way of appreciating the present and understanding its future.

Reprinted with permission of the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism, Copyright © 2004