South Carolina Favorite Tips by Stephen-KarenConn

South Carolina State Flag

Favorite thing: The South Carolina state flag is a reminder of the part South Carolina played in the American Revolution. In 1775, Col. William Moultrie was asked by the Revolutionary Council of Safety to design a flag for the use of South Carolina troops. He chose a blue which matched the color of their uniforms and a crescent which reproduced the silver emblem worn on the front of their caps.

Almost 100 years later, South Carolina seceded from the Union it had fought to create. A new banner was designed to fly above the newly formed nation. At that time a Palmetto Tree was added and centered on the blue field. The Palmetto, the South Carolina State Tree, had been attributed as instrumental in Colonel Moultrie's defense of Sullivan's Island against an attack by British warships in June, 1776. Cannonballs fired at the fort from the British ships could not destroy the walls of the fort which were built of Palmetto logs. Instead, the cannonballs simply sank into the soft, tough Palmetto wood.

The flag that flies over the state of South Carolina today is of the same design that flew over the independent South Carolina during the Civil War.

Palmetto: South Carolina's State Tree

Favorite thing: The Sable Palmetto, a type of Palm, is South Carolina's official State Tree. Palmettos grow abundantly along South Carolina's coast and have been transplanted into the state's central piedmont. However, it is too cold for them to thrive at the higher elevations of South Carolina's mountains.

The Palmetto also appears on the South Carolina State Seal and in the salute to the flag of South Carolina written in 1950 by Mrs. John Raymond Carson and adopted by the General Assembly in 1966: "I salute the flag of South Carolina and pledge to the Palmetto State love, loyalty and faith."

South Carolina's nickname is "The Palmetto State." The Palmetto is rooted in historical significance dating back to the Revolutionary War. On June 28, 1776, the British fleet's attack on Sullivan's Island was repulsed. The palmetto-log fort, under Colonel William Moultrie, withstood the barrage of British cannons until the fleet retreated. The Sabal Palmetto (Inodes Palmetto), commonly referred to as the Cabbage Palmetto, was added to the "National" flag of South Carolina, after it seceded from the Union in 1861. After the Civil War, the Palmetto became a part of the South Carolina state flag.

Fondest memory: I have great memories of camping beneath the palmettos at Hunting Island State Park on South Carolina's Atlantic coast. I loved hanging my hammock between two swaying Palmettos, and also arising before sunrise to take photos of the sun coming up over the ocean, framed by Palmetto trees.

South Carolina Welcome Centers

Favorite thing: At each of the 8 interstate highway entrances to South Carolina, coming from either Georgia or North Carolina, you will find a modern South Carolina Welcome Center. There is another one at Santee, in the center of the state near where I-95 and I-24 intersect.

This is the best place to get free maps, brochures and even discount coupons for attractions and lodging. The centers are open daily, there is no charge, and the staff of "certified travel counselors" are friendly and helpful. You will also find restrooms, telephones, a mail drop and perhaps a spot for a picnic lunch.

A list of all 9 Welcome Centers and other helpful South Carolina travel information can be found by clicking the link below.

South Carolina Welcome Centers