Coker Farms National Historic Landmark
1257 S. 4th St., Hartsville
Phone: 843-383-3005
Website: https://hartsvillesc.gov/coker-farms-national-historic-landmark

Housed in a replica of the original dairy barn, this center depicts Coker Pedigreed Seed
Company’s impact on southern agriculture. The company was an experimental farm
founded by David R. Coker in 1914 and had the first cotton breeding program in the US.
It is open daily 9am-6pm for self-guided tours. Group tours are available by appointment.

Darlington County Historical Commission Museum
204 Hewitt St., Darlington
Phone: 843-398-4710
Website: https://dchcblog.net

The Darlington County Historical Commission holds records from the late 1700s in the building that originally served as the county jail when it was built in 1937. Currently, the Historical Commission is expanding to include a nearly 9,000 sq. ft. interactive history museum. It is scheduled to open in 2023.

John Lide Hart Cottage
106 E. Home Ave., Hartsville
Phone: 843-332-8017

The town was named after John Hart’s father, Thomas Edwards Hart. John Hart started the first church, a carriage factory, a grist mill, and other businesses. The cottage is restored with period furnishings.

Welsh Neck-Long Bluff-Society Hill Historic District
US Hwy. 15/US Hwy. 52/US Hwy. 401, Society Hill
Phone: 843-378-4681
Website: https://schistorytrail.com

This charming village features antebellum buildings of the Welsh Baptists who settled the town, and grew indigo as the earliest cash crop. Notable structures include the Old Society Hill Library, Trinity Church, the Coker Rogers Store, and the c. 1869 railroad depot. Self-guided tour maps are available at Society Hill Town Hall at 280 S. Main Street

Dillon County Courthouse
301 W. Main St., Dillon
Phone: 843-774-1425
Website: https://dilloncounty.sc.gov/points-interest/courthouse

Completed in 1911, the building is one of the few remaining examples of Beaux-Arts style in SC and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The top floor hallway has an interesting display of more than 40 pictures depicting the county’s history. Open Monday – Friday, 8:30am-5:00pm, except holidays.

The Columns
5001 Rankin Plantation Rd., Mars Bluff
Phone: 843-662-6350
Website: https://south-carolina-plantations.com

The Columns was built in 1857 and is an outstanding example of the Greek Revival style. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The property is the last working plantation in the area and is the site of the annual “Skirmish at Gamble’s Hotel,” a Civil War battle reenactment held in March. The Columns is a private residence. Tours of the home are scheduled two weeks in advance for groups of 10 or more people.

Drs. Bruce and Lee Foundation Library
509 S. Dargan St., Florence
Phone: 843-662-8424
Website: https://florencelibrary.org

The South Carolina History Room in the main library holds rare maps of the Pee Dee such as Herman Moll’s 1715 Map. The room houses a large genealogical collection and cemetery surveys for most of the state. Open Monday – Thursday 9:00am–7:00pm, Friday 9:00am–5:30pm and Saturday 9:00am–1:00pm.

Florence National Cemetery & Florence Stockade
803 E. National Cemetery Rd., Florence
Phone: 843-669-8783
Website: https://cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/florence.asp

This cemetery was established in 1865 as a burial place for Unionsoldiers who died while being held at the Florence Stockade. The first woman to be buried in a National Cemetery, Florena Budwin, is interred at the Florence National Cemetery, which contains the remains of veterans from all major US conflicts. Just south of the cemetery is the site of the stockade. Interpretive panels and self-guided tour brochures may be found at the stockade gazebo. The cemetery and stockade are open daily during daylight hours.

Florence Veterans Park
842 Woody Jones Blvd., Florence
Phone: 843-665-3253
Website: https://cityofflorence.com
Facebook: https://fb.com/Florence-veterans-park

The Florence Veterans Park pays homage to those serving or who have served
in our Armed Services, with a “Wall of Honor” and several monuments for the
wars of the 20th century. The park’s memorial, a 30-ft. tall three-pillar center
obelisk featuring an American Bald Eagle, incorporates a meditation chamber,
evident when a person stands in the center. New monuments are frequently unveiled on Veterans Day. Many are featured on the Alex Palkovich Sculpture Trail.

Henry Timrod Schoolhouse
400 Timrod Park Dr., Florence
Phone: 843-676-1200

Visit Timrod Park and you will imagine yourself attending class in the one-room schoolhouse which was built for Henry Timrod, a teacher at a plantation and the Poet Laureate of the Confederacy. He also wrote the State Song.

Mars Bluff African American Sites
Francis Marion University
Wallace Woods Rd., Florence
Phone: 843-661-1300
Website: https://visitflo.com/african-american-sites-at-mars-bluff

East of Florence is Mars Bluff, an area that provides a unique perspective of African American Heritage in the Pee Dee. At FMU, you can visit the hewn-timber cabins and the cemetery marker. Tours of the cabins are available by appointment. A map and brochure of the area can be found at the website listed above.

The Opera House
109 N. Main St., Bishopville
803-484-5030

The restored (c. 1890) Opera House is a center for the arts, theater, and concerts, and it contains a gallery of changing exhibits. The Opera House is open Monday – Friday, 9:00am-1:00pm. Call ahead for tours.

The Swamp Log Artisans Gallery
229 N. Main St., Bishopville
803-483-2424
Website: https://www.swamplogartisans.com
Facebook: https://fb.com/swamplogartisansgallery

The Swamp Log Artisans Gallery features handcrafted products made from lumber sawn from old logs recovered from the dark and muddy bottoms of South Carolina rivers and swamps. Shop hours are Tuesday – Saturday 10:00am-5:00pm. Call ahead for large group visits.

Marion Opera House
100 W. Court St., Marion
843-423-3561

This Historic building was constructed in 1892. The Opera House is home to several theatrical productions each year. Call for tours. 1-3 people: $10 per person, 4 or more: $7 per person.

Marlboro Civic Center
106 Clyde St., Bennettsville
843-454-9496
Website: https://www.marlborociviccenter.com

One of the oldest theaters in the state, the Marlboro Civic Center (c. 1917), is the stunning architectural restoration of the historic Opera House-once a major stop for vaudeville and musical shows on the New York to Miami circuit. Please call ahead for tours.

C. Williams Rush Museum of African American Arts & Culture
200 Hampton Ave., Kingstree
803-397-1859
Website: https://www.cwrushafricanamericanmuseum.org

The C. Williams Rush Museum of African American Arts & Culture features rotating exhibitions that emphasize the history and contributions of African Americans. Call ahead for entry. Admission is by donation to the museum.