The Palmetto State - Myrtle Beach

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 

(Sightseeing)

April 17, 2018 - April 21, 2018

It seems to us that once an area gets popular it starts the process toward being (in our opinion) "too touristy" and Myrtle Beach has that feeling. It's weather, beach, ocean activities and golf courses are a huge draw.  All the surrounding towns are along a highway paralleling the beach and that concentrates all the businesses along one long strip. It all gets gaudy pretty fast.  This is not to say we didn't enjoy the area but it's sad to see it loose it's charm.

Fabulous beach at our campground in Myrtle Beach.
The Apache pier is billed as the longest of the 9 piers in the area.

The beach as the sun goes down.

One of the places AAA recommends seeing is Brookgreen Gardens in Murrells Inlet, SC.  It is comprised of four former rice plantations and displays not only beautiful gardens but over 1200 sculptures by contemporary as well 19th century artists.  Most sculptures are shown in the gardens themselves but they also have several buildings where smaller works are shown. 

Magnificent old live oak trees create a wonderful setting for this sculpture of Diana!

Close up view of Diana

Above and below: some of the smaller sculptures are displayed in the Brown Sculpture Court.

We were some of the last people to leave that day, having really enjoyed the experience.  Bronze sculptures in particular have intrigued us ever since we toured a large foundry in Joseph, Oregon where numerous sculptures were being cast.  In addition, we have a wonderful bronze sculptor on Whidbey Island (Georgia Gerber), whose work we absolutely love. Once you see what it takes to create a bronze sculpture you understand why they are so expensive.

The gardens also have a small area where you can see native animals such as otters, alligators, wild turkeys, deer, fox, birds of prey and waterfowl.  Since the gardens were once part of four rice plantations, they also have a "lowcountry trail" which provides numerous listening stations where you learn about rice culture in South Carolina's lowcountry.  We found it to be very informative.  It features some sculptures specific to the topic.

Overview of the old rice fields.

Sculpture of the plantation "overseer"

Sculpture of a female slave.

Sculpture of a male slave.

Our second tour in the area was to the L.W. Paul Living History Farm.  From what we read we thought we were going to see costumed interpreters demonstrating life on a one horse family farm but they only do that kind of thing on special days throughout the year.

This man had plowed a field with this mule before we got there. 
He told us a lot about the farm and the kinds of activities they demonstrate. 

Inside of the cane mill and syrup shed.
They demonstrate making syrup in the fall when the sugar cane grown on the farm is ready.

Mill house where corn and other grains are ground into meal, grits, flour, etc.

This is a relatively new mill but the process is still the same.  Corn, wheat, rye, etc. is ground using this machine which is run by belts attached to an engine outside the cabin.  The engine is kept outside the building because of the explosive property of the dust created in the milling process.

The engine which powers the grinding machine inside.

Carpenters shop.  Living out in rural areas requires that you be able to build it/fix it locally.
Furniture, boats, tools, wagons, wheels, coffins, etc. where commonly made by the local carpenter.

Blacksmith's shop. 
Again, rural living required that things be made locally and the blacksmith with an integral part of the community.
Anything metal, including nails was made by hand.

Sawmill.  It takes a group of people to demonstrate this equipment.  

No safely guards on this massive saw.  Extreme care is required.
The structure behind the saw is used to firmly hold the log in place as it passes through the blade.

Board thickness is determined by this guage.

End product!

Tobacco barn

Tobacco is picked from the bottom leaves to the top leaves as the plant matures.
The leaves are brought to the tobacco barn where they are strung on sticks, then hung in the barn on poles.
Once the barn is full a fire is built in the wood furnace.  The temperature in the barn is carefully controlled in order to first "set the color of the leaf." The temperature is then increased in order to completely dry out (cure) the leaf. This typically takes about 7 days.  Once complete the barn is opened up to allow moisture back into the leaves until they are flexible enough to be moved to the packing house.

The pack house was used to store, grade and tie tobacco. 
It was also used to store cotton, corn or hay and as a place to work on farm tools.

Smoke house.
Used to cure and preserve meat (typically pork).
The meat was first packed in salt prior to smoking in order to prevent it from spoiling.

 

The farm has a few animals.  A cow, some chickens and turkeys, two pigs and two mules.