his tenth anniversary edition of AfricanT American Historic Places in South Carolina is dedicated to Dr. Barbara Williams Jenkins. A long-time member of the South Carolina African American Heritage Commission, she has worked tirelessly to encourage more sites and buildings associated with African American history to be recognized with historical markers and the National Register of Historic Places. She has assisted numerous individuals and organizations as they seek this recognition, and her efforts can be seen throughout this book. We salute her dedication and thank her for all that she has done. The staff of the State Historic Preservation Office, SC Department of Archives & History The members of the South Carolina African American Heritage Commission i his publication provides information on properties in and districts significant in American history, architecture, South Carolina that are listed in the National Register of archaeology, engineering, and culture can be listed in the Historic Places or have been recognized with South National Register. It helps federal, state, and local governments Carolina Historical Markers as of June 30, 2009 and identify those places that should be considered in planning and Thave important associations with African American history. those whose preservation should be encouraged. More information on these and other properties is available at The National Register program in South Carolina is the South Carolina Archives and History Center. Many other administered by the State Historic Preservation Office at the places in South Carolina are important to our African American South Carolina Department of Archives and History. More history and heritage and are eligible for listing in the National information about the National Register is available at Register or recognition with the South Carolina Historical Marker http://shpo.sc.gov/properties/register/, or you can call program. The State Historic Preservation Office at the South 803-896-6178. Carolina Department of Archives and History welcomes questions This publication includes summary information about regarding the listing or marking of other eligible sites. National Register properties in South Carolina that are significantly associated with African American history. More frican Americans have made a vast contribution to extensive information about many of these properties is the history of South Carolina throughout its available in the National Register files at the South Carolina over-300-year-history. The African American Archives and History Center. Many of the National Register story lies at the very heart of our heritage. nominations are now available online. To view a nomination, From the first English settlements African slaves provided click on this link: www.nationalregister.sc.gov/nrlinks.htm. A At the end of each summary for a National Register listed the primary workforce, and by 1708 they formed a majority of the non-native population in the colony. By 1720 the property, there will be a link to its nomination if the record has black population of South Carolina was twice that of the been digitized. white population. Except for a period between 1790 and the South Carolina Historical Marker Program (HM) 1820s, African Americans made up the largest segment of the South Carolina Historical Markers recognize and interpret population in South Carolina until 1922. It is believed that half places important to an understanding of South Carolina’s past. of today’s African American population in the United States has The cast-aluminum markers can tell the stories of buildings ties to South Carolina. and structures that are still standing, or they can commemorate A wealth of historic buildings, structures, and sites the sites of important historic events or buildings or structures document the state’s African American heritage from slavery that have been lost. Places of local, state, or national historical to freedom and from segregation and political and economic importance are eligible for markers. The markers are erected as disenfranchisement to the struggle for equal rights. Slave close to the historic places as possible, either on state highways houses, archaeological sites, and rice fields remind us of or on other public streets or roads. the legacy of slavery. Buildings in Charleston, Camden, The South Carolina Department of Archives and History and Columbia attest to the contributions of free African must approve the text for all South Carolina Historical Americans during the antebellum period. The years of Civil Markers. Because no state funding is available for the erection War and Reconstruction are remembered in places as diverse of markers, they must be sponsored and paid for by historical, as campgrounds associated with African American soldiers patriotic, civic, or other organizations such as church fighting for the Union, the site where the Emancipation congregations or schools and colleges. More information about Proclamation was first celebrated, and the homes of African historical markers is available at http://shpo.sc.gov/properties/ American legislators. Buildings that housed African American markers/ or call 803-896-6182. schools, businesses, professional offices, and social and One-hundred-fifty-five of South Carolina’s Historical fraternal organizations are reminders of the years of Jim Crow Markers are associated with African American history, and the segregation. The struggle for equal rights is commemorated in complete text of these markers is printed in this booklet as it places such as the homes of Civil Rights leaders, meeting places, appears on the markers themselves. and the sites of protests. As a group these historic places remind us of the courage, National Historical Landmark Program (NHL) endurance, and achievements of black South Carolinians. National Historic Landmarks are buildings, structures, sites, Through their documentation and preservation all South objects, and districts that have been determined by the National Carolinians can begin to more fully understand and appreciate Park Service to be nationally significant in American history the contributions of African Americans to the rich history of and culture. National Historic Landmarks (NHLs) must possess our state. exceptional value in representing or illustrating an important theme in the history of the United States. Many of the most The National Register of Historic Places (NR) renowned historic properties in the nation are National The National Register of Historic Places is the nation’s honor Historic Landmarks. roll of historic properties, which is maintained by the National Park Service. The National Register recognizes places that are On the Cover: Church of the Atonement is a Gothic Revival church built in 1896 and features a steep gable roof and a tower decorated important to our local, state, and national heritage and are with fish-scale shingles and topped with an open belfry. The church is worthy of preservation. Buildings, structures, sites, objects, included in the Walterboro Historic District. ii The National Historic Landmark program is administered Rogers, George C. Jr. The History of Georgetown County, South by the National Park Service. Most Landmarks are identified Carolina. University of South Carolina Press, 1970. through theme studies undertaken by the Park Service, which Seventh Episcopal District of the African Methodist examine related places linked by a theme such as women’s Episcopal Church. African Methodism in South Carolina: A history or World War II. To find out more about the National Bicentennial Focus. Tappan, N.Y.: Custombook, Inc., c. 1987. Historic Landmark program visit the National Park Service’s Wells, John E., and Dalton, Robert E. The South Carolina website at www.cr.nps.gov/nhl/designations/listsofNHLs.htm. Architects, 1885-1935: A Biographical Directory. Richmond, A number of South Carolina’s National Historic Landmarks Va.: New South Architectural Press, 1992. highlight the state’s African American heritage. In this Special thanks also to the following for images used in this booklet, the designation NHL has been added to the summary publication: descriptions for these properties. ◆ Chicora Foundation for the Mitchelville photograph; Important note ◆ Constance Schulz, History of South Carolina Slide Collection, Most of these historic places are PRIVATE PROPERTY and for photographs of Dr. York Bailey, flooding of a rice field are not open to the public. Please respect the property rights of at high tide, Avery Institute, Jenkins Orphanage Band, Dizzy their owners. Gillespie, workers at Hobcaw Barony pounding rice, Claflin University, Modjeska Simkins, and Mary M. Bethune; Places to Visit ◆ The South Carolina State Museum for the photograph of At the end of this publication is a list of places to visit that are Liberty Hill A.M.E. Church; open to the public and offer interpretation. ◆ The Original Sweetgrass Marketplace Coalition for the photograph of basket making; and Acknowledgements ◆ Cecil Williams, Freedom and Justice, for the photograph of The listing of African American sites in the National Register the student protester at the Kress Building. was originally compiled by students from South Carolina State All other photographs are from the State Historic University who interned with the Department of Archives Preservation Office files at the South Carolina Department of and History and with cooperation and assistance from the Archives and History Center. South Carolina African