Located an hour south of Charleston is a sleepy little beach town on one of South Carolina’s sea islands called Edisto Beach.
If you’re not new here, you are well accustomed to the fact that I love a good day trip destination and this town did not disappoint.
Edisto Island is a barrier island that has history impacted by Colonialism, slavery and the Civil War. However, this island also has some very interesting history regarding slavery. Following the Civil War, the newly freed slaves that had been working at plantations on this island were able to use this freedom and establish their own communities and businesses.
Thus the nickname “The Black Kings of Edisto” was earned for those men that were able to rise out of slavery and become successful farmers, land owners and businessmen. A name used to express the post-war black prosperity.
Much like the history within Charleston and the surrounding areas, this area was distributed to English settlers who built plantations and used slavery to grow and harvest crops such as indigo, rice and later on cotton.
As the Civil War began, the Union soldiers forced the plantation owners to evacuate the island, leaving those enslaved on the island to remain as free people.
Following the Civil War, in what was referred to as the Reconstruction Era, formerly enslaved people were able to acquire land. For the first time, these people were able to gain independence and economic freedom.
Henry Hutchinson was born enslaved in 1860 and by the time he was five years old, he was truly free. Little is known about his early years, but when his father passed away he inherited land and decided to build a home that still stands today, called the Hutchinson House. The home was built strategically and had easy access to Point of Pines road and use of the well, stables, barn and Edisto’s first black owned cotton gin.
He truly capitalized on his freedom by using land that was once a working plantation, not that many years prior, and turned it into a business for himself. Thus he was able to become one of the most wealthy men on the island.
Quite the contrast from just a few decades before.
Fast forward to today, if you are visiting Edisto Island, you will have the opportunity of visiting an island that is largely underdeveloped in comparison to other barrier islands in the area. The south end of the island offers over 4.5 miles of pristine beaches that are great for shelling, fossil hunting and sun bathing.
Edisto Beach State Park is one of four oceanfront state parks in South Carolina. It covers 1255 acres, has 1.5 miles of beach that are known for their shelling and shark tooth hunting along with 4 miles of ADA accessible trails within the park.
Another not to miss site on the Island is Botany Bay and Driftwood Beach. A 4,000 acre preserve that has almost 3 miles of undeveloped beachfront. Located just off of SC Hwy. 174, this property can be toured in a half of a day or less. Be sure to pick up a free-self guided driving tour guide at the information station on your way into the preserve. From the entrance station, you will start a 6.5 mile drive down a beautiful tunnel of live oaks - that seriously looks like it is out of a Nicholas Sparks novel. When you encounter your first four way stop, turn right into the beach access lot.
From here you will find the trailhead to the half mile Pockoy Island Trail where you will take a causeway built by slaves, to cross over marshlands and another small barrier island before arriving at the seashore.
Erosion on Botany Bay Beach has left many dead trees along the shoreline, creating a very unique driftwood beach. It is important to note that shell collection is prohibited along this stretch of shoreline and the collection of shells can result in fines up to $500. Because of this protection, the shells that you can find on this beach are incredible. The beach is full of whelks, scallops, clams, sea stars and sand dollars. While you can’t take any of these items home with you, it is still fun walking along the shore hunting for them and placing them on the fallen trees for decoration as visitors before you have as well.
The best time to visit this beach is at low tide so be sure to check the local tide chart before heading to the area! I think that it is incredible that this area was free and open to the public for their use and enjoyment. Be sure to be respectful of the land and history within it.
Next time you find yourself in South Carolina and are looking to get away to a beach town rich in history with unbeatable shorelines, I highly suggest making the trip to Edisto Island.
1 comment
Great information, Abby!
Beautiful area!