Georgia Trails To Expand Into South Carolina
October 2004

AUGUSTA, Ga. - The non-profit Georgia Civil War Heritage Trails Inc. has begun plans to create three new historic driving routes in South Carolina. It is partnering with scores of South Carolina communities and working in liaison with the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism.

At least two of the new trails will connect with existing routes in Georgia. They will cross the Savannah River to create a multi-state "heritage tourism" effort to interpret and market the history of the Civil War era in both South Carolina and Georgia, according to Steve Longcrier, Executive Director of Georgia Civil War Heritage Trails.

The new South Carolina Civil War Heritage Trails will begin by marking the route traveled by Confederate President Jefferson Davis in late April and early May 1865, from the Charlotte metro area through the Piedmont of South Carolina.

The "Jefferson Davis Heritage Trail" will travel through portions of York, Chester, Union, Spartanburg, Laurens, Greenwood, Abbeville and McCormick Counties. At the Savannah River it will connect with the Georgia portion of the same trail, continuing south to Irwinville, where Davis and his party were captured by Union cavalry on May 10, 1865. In addition to its title theme, this route will interpret, by means of a series of National Park Service-styled markers, a comprehensive history of numerous other military, cultural and civilian aspects of South Carolina's history during the Civil War era, says Longcrier. Subsequent trails will interpret Sherman's March through South Carolina and the war along South Carolina's coast ("The Coastal War").

"This expansion of the heritage trails program into South Carolina will enable us to involve more communities and more historic sites, bringing more tourism dollars to both," said Longcrier. The trails "will allow for a more comprehensive telling of this important period in both South Carolina's and Georgia's history, which tourists will flock to see."

He cited national studies that show tourists to heritage sites and trails spend more money and stay longer than the average tourist. The new colorful highway directional "trailblazer" signs will feature an outline of South Carolina surrounding a Civil War cannon, similar to Georgia's trailblazer design. Each trail route will stop frequently at a series of historic sites, each with its own new interpretive marker.

As it has in Georgia, Longcrier said his organization plans to work closely with South Carolina's Department of Transportation, even building several roadside parking areas to accommodate at least several cars and one bus. "Visitors along every trail route must have adequate places to park, in order to stop, step out and truly experience South Carolina's heritage," he said.

Thanks to over $1 million in Federal Transportation Enhancement funds, supplemented by nearly 100 local jurisdictions and organizations, Georgia Civil War Heritage Trails is creating and marketing a series of driving trails chronicling many important aspects of Georgia's Civil War era.

Longcrier said the first of more than 130 new interpretive markers have been installed, with many more soon to come. Every interpretive marker location is selected, and its text is written, by local citizens.

With the assistance of numerous historians, the interpretive markers are worked into a cohesive thematic driving route, each telling a comprehensive story about a major segment of the Civil War era. Two colorful travel brochures were recently designed and will be available soon at visitor centers across the state.

A website is also under development, with a temporary address of www.gcwht.org. It will be expanded to include all of the Civil War heritage trails through both states.