A 75-mile stretch of the Black River runs through Williamsburg County, Clarendon County, and Georgetown County in South Carolina and is designated a State Scenic River under the South Carolina Scenic Rivers Act. The river is a free-flowing blackwater river, lined with dense, undisturbed swamp forest.
Along the Black River and in the landscape
Gilland Memorial Park is located on the Black River and has a single-lane boat ramp. The park is open daily from sunrise to sunset; check the hours before your visit. This makes it possible to include the river in your plans, with a specific facility right on the water.
The Williamsburg County Recreation Complex in Kingstree has a walking path. Wee Tee State Forest encompasses 19,380 acres of lowland hardwood forest and borders the Santee River for approximately 18 miles. The forest’s size and long river boundary set a different scale from the single walking path at the Recreation Complex.
Kingstree and the county’s architectural history
The Kingstree Historic District includes 48 buildings and properties along Main Street, Academy Street, and Hampton Street in downtown Kingstree. The Williamsburg County Courthouse was built around 1823 and designed by Robert Mills in the Roman Neoclassical style. Two scales of architectural history are represented here: a historic district defined by several streets and numerous buildings, and a single courthouse with an approximate construction date and a named designer.
Thorntree House was built in 1749 as a plantation house by James Witherspoon. Visits are by appointment only; arrange an appointment through the Williamsburg Historical Museum at 843-355-3306. The Williamsburgh Historical Museum is located in the former Carnegie Library building in Kingstree; the Carnegie Library was completed in 1917.
New Market Plantation dates to around 1820 and is considered an outstanding example of a vernacular plantation house from the Federal or Early National period. The C. Williams Rush Museum of African-American Arts & Culture is dedicated to the history and contributions of African Americans, particularly in Kingstree and Williamsburg County. Together, these sites offer a cultural perspective that encompasses architecture from different periods as well as the history and contributions of African Americans in the region.
Markets, festival, and local cuisine
Williamsburg County has four local, community-based farmers’ markets. Visitors can find fresh produce and handmade items there and meet farmers. Check the dates of the individual markets before your visit. Williams Vineyard & Farm hosts a Muscadine Festival every year over Labor Day weekend; it is also worth checking the date for the particular year.
In Hemingway, Scott’s Bar-B-Que serves a vinegar-based barbecue sauce with a little heat. Along with the farmers’ markets and the Muscadine Festival, this specific description of the flavor offers another way to experience the local food culture.
Discover more destinations: Anderson, Newberry County, Hampton County, Dillon County, Marlboro County, Chesterfield County, Clay County.
Return to the main travel overview: South Carolina.
