Bachelor Hill Antiques - Walterboro, South Carolina

I have come to terms with the fact that I have, one, been born into the wrong era and, two, need a bank account with more money to buy all of the cool antiques that I come across!

Walterboro is the place to go if you are in need of finding that odd present that you would never find at any retail or wholesale place! (Along with some great restaurants!)

My curiosity spiked when I laid eyes upon it... Was it something to do with the American Navy, or did it have another role in history?  I hope to find out someday! 

Numerous vintage advertisements for local shopping of the quaint little Low Country town of Walterboro.  I do appreciate this small town's devotion to their downtown and keeping business local - The American Way.

Anything and Everything under one roof, to the point where it is almost to the roof!  Before leaving the shop, we had a great conversation with the store owner and as I keep discovering, this big world that we all live in is quite small in the end...

Yemassee Junction - Yemassee, South Carolina

Wall painting

Yemassee, taken from the native peoples to the area prior to settlers moving inland from the Atlantic coast, lies in the heart of the South Carolina Lowcountry.

Nestled in the Heart of the Low Country, numerous paths cross at Yemassee.  The area once was a crossroad for semi-nomadic Native Americans, also numerous battles of the Revolutionary and the Civil War took place at it's limits.  Today, major railways and interstate highways cross here heading in every direction in America.

A public park dedicated to those of Yemassee that have served and made the ultimate sacrifice to their Country.

The Hampton Restaurant - Hampton, South Carolina

As the county seat of Hampton County, Hampton is a hot spot for watermelon in the summertime and great Southern food anytime!  I am coming up on a year of living in the South and I will even say that my own mother's secret candied yams can not compare to what I ate here!  If you are ever in Hampton, I recommend hand over fist to eat here.

It's Local. Great Service. Great Food!

Barnwell County Courthouse - Barnwell, South Carolina

Barnwell County Courthouse

The former District of Barnwell was named after a prominent family from Colonial America and specifically after John Barnwell.  Standing as a Major in the South Carolina Militia in the Revolution, serving as a Senator and Congressman to his State, and also a signer of the Constitution of the United States, I think that a few things should be named after him!

The square in the heart of the downtown area is laden with memorials to notable citizens of the Barnwell area and historic events that happened in her bounds.








Staircase to the Courthouse

I am becoming a bigger fan than ever before of taking the back roads of America!  Sure, the interstate can get you from point A to point B in the shortest amount of time, but what did you miss?  Small things.  They are what make a trip so memorable,  for me it is odd architecture, cemeteries (older the better!), and locally owned anything!  My recommendation to you is to take your state map, randomly pick a small town and just take two lane highways or dirt roads to get there and make memories along the way!



Eucalyptus leaves 

Warning:  Anywhere you go within the South Carolina borders, be prepared for every object you see to have a relation to the Palmetto Tree!  The Palmetto tree has played a vital role in the Carolinian history and they are proud of it!




Barnwell Baptist Church Cemetery - Barnwell, South Carolina

Old Field Cemetery - Barnwell, South Carolina

Subtle sign to a Silent Place

Just east of Barnwell along the 278 tucked away in the trees lies the Old Field Cemetery. 

Faded, but still true, is Old Glory, standing her watch over a protector of her Nation.


"I stand for peace - honor - truth and justice. 
I stand for freedom 
I am confident - I am arrogant 
I am proud."

A Dedication to one of the men whom was a passionate woodman which even to this day in the Lowcountry area is a common trade.  Along Route 78 and 17 there are log mills nearly every 20 miles!  

Of the headstones of the Old Field Cemetery, I would have to say a good half of them bear the name Hair.  I am hoping to find out more about the family name and what all they contributed to the Barnwell area.

Old Field Cemetery

Savannah River Rapids - Augusta, Georgia

Fall Line area

Part of the river lock on the Savannah river was built for three reasons: To establish a standard water level for the Augusta Canal, used for river navigation and to control flooding in the spring months.

The River Walk

For almost a hundred years after the canal was built, the Central Savannah River area still experienced flooding of the river.  It was not until the mid 1930's that  the Federal Works Progress funded and rebuilt the canal system, giving it higher banks, new spillways and straightening most of the canal before arriving to the mill area.

Gate House

The head gates of the canal are still original and functioning to this day from the  ideas of the canal founder and mastermind, Augusta-native Henry Cumming.  The "house" contains the sluice gates, which control the amount of water that enters the canal, and the river lock which allows river navigation from the canal upstream past the rapids.

~Man's Best Friend Leaves lasting Impression~

As the dividing border between Georgia and South Carolina, the river gave a life source to not only the Colonial Americans, but also to the Native Americans which called the Fall Line and the estuary to the Atlantic Ocean.

Augusta Canal

The calm of the canal along with the breeze swinging the spanish moss in trees makes for a great evening walk at the canal's edge.

One of the smaller, but yet many tributaries to the Savannah River.

Hollywood Cemetery - Richmond, Virginia

In memoriam to more than 18,000 enlisted Confederate soldiers that died in the James River area that  now rest here in this cemetery at the banks of the river itself.  This 90 foot rough-cut limestone pyramid is dedicated by the Women of the Confederacy of Virginia in 1869 as a remembrance to their sacrifice. The cemetery acquired it's name from the numerous Holly trees that grow on the rolling hills of the resting place to some of Virginia's and America's notable citizens.

Part from it's rich history since it was established in 1849, the cemetery is a paramount destination of Richmond for the tombs of American Presidents, to also include the only Confederate President.

There are fables and legends within the cemetery walls from that of the little girl at the black iron statue of a dog watching over the graves and the legend of the Richmond Vampire, an unusual tale about the Church Hill Tunnel. 

As the tombstones spatter the rolling hills, it gives the perception of a marble city.

Virginia Historical Society - Richmond, Virginia

Holding Virginia's natural, regional, and historical story all under one roof makes this one of the largest historical societies of the United States!

As one enters the largest exhibit of the Museum, The Story of Virginia, you see the artifacts of the early peoples of the River City.

With collections that have been added to the Society for the past century or so, pieces such as this old print document about Algonquin Indians in German makes for an intriguing dynamic to the Virginia's past.  Numerous letters, pamphlets, and books that changed the face of our Nation can be traced back to Virginia, further more to Richmond!

The Federalist

Another must see exhibit is the American Civil War section.  I was amazed by the display's ability to take the span of that historic mark and tell the story from the major events down to the daily life during the War.

The River City - Richmond, Virginia

Richmond is most definitely a city that you can walk around for three days and still not see most of the city! Voice of experience speaking!  I must recommend the Capital area for it holds alluring architecture of the old city life mixed in with quaint cafes and energizing night clubs.

George Washington Memorial

Richmond - The Monumental City

Throughout the hills and along the boulevards stand memorials to the forefathers of the United States of America.

Contradicting edifices such as the Old City Hall (left) with it's Gothic Revival spires and tri-set windows next to the lily white walls of the State Capitol and it's Italian Renaissance columns and simple Palladian adornments.

Virginia State Capitol

Designed by the third President, Thomas Jefferson along with Charles Louis Clerisseau in 1785 and now is the second oldest state capitol in the United States!

The Richmond Skyline seen through the Memorial to the Fallen Soldiers at the Virginia War Memorial.  I wish I could have gone in and toured the visitor center and further explored Virginia's history, but maybe next time!

The Landmark Theater, often called The Mosque by locals for it's Moorish Revival.  The Landmark was originally the Shriners Temple until the 1940's and now serves as a local venue of arts and theater to Richmond.

Jefferson Davis Memorial Circle

Monument Avenue

If anyone needs a lesson on the American Civil War, just walk down Monument Avenue.  I joked around after about the fifth massive statue we came to with the comment




       "You think that the Confederates had won the War with these statues...