March 11, 2022 marked 64 years since nine-year-old Frances and six-year-old Helen Gregg of Florence, South Carolina, and their nine-year-old cousin Ellen Davies were playing approximately 60 yards from the special playhouse that had been built for them near the woods behind their house. This may seem like an innocuous historical event, but it became one of the most startling moments of the Gregg family’s life. Out of nowhere, an atomic bomb dropped on that playhouse. That’s right, an atomic bomb. While most of the state has pushed the memory of this nuclear bomb in South Carolina out of mind, the Mars Bluff bomb crater where it happened remains a bizarre roadside attraction that’s a sobering reminder or the near loss of many lives from that day. It’s chilling to think of what could happen now, in an even more technologically advanced moment.
This terrible occurrence, a nuclear bomb dropped in SC, happened in Mars Bluff (a suburb of Florence) on what is now Crater Road. But the renaming of the road was the smallest result of this earth shattering accident.
When the bomb made impact, its conventional highly explosive materials exploded. The only thing that prevented even more damage and loss of lives is that the bomb's fissile nuclear core was stored elsewhere on the plane. As a result, it was not engaged when the bomb was accidentally discharged from its carrying fixture aboard a U.S. Air Force B-47 bomber bound for Europe. Still, it's alarming to think that the bomb is equipped to explode even without all of its parts in place.
The bomb, similar to the one seen here, had sent a fault warning light to the cockpit as the plane navigated over South Carolina en route to Europe.
As one of the crew members went to check on the bomb's harnessing lock pin, he accidentally grabbed the emergency release pin. This set the bomb free and its 7,600 pounds slammed into the bottom of the inside of the plane, forcing the bay doors open and releasing the bomb as the plane flew over the state. It dropped 15,000 feet into South Carolina. Of course the crew member can't be blamed, it was an accident. But the technology was not equipped to avert this human error.
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The atomic bomb fell on the Gregg's property and destroyed the playhouse.
The residence was owned by the Greggs and a total of seven buildings were damaged. Bomb fragments flew all over the place and some of them can still be seen at a museum in nearby Florence, South Carolina.
The three young girls playing in the yard all received injuries. So did the parents of the two girls as well as their brother. Fortunately, there were no casualties from this accident, but it's absolutely burned into the minds of the Gregg family forever.
The unfortunate accident made headlines around the world and put South Carolina on the map and in the news headlines for quite some time. It's not the best thing to be known for, but they say all press is good press.
The site of the crater, which was 70 feet wide and 35 feet deep, now has a kiosk with many news clippings from the time of the event. It's become a fascinating roadside attraction for those traveling through South Carolina, which is really the best possible outcome of the situation.
Visitors can check out the kiosk to learn more about the (nuclear) atomic bomb that dropped right here in the Palmetto State. Because the core of the bomb was still on the jet there was no radiation, so the physical injuries and damage and the unfortunate demise of a few chickens were the only results of the impact.
The Florence County Museum in Florence has a display about the bomb that dropped here, including actual fragments of the bomb that are held in an airtight display behind secure glass.
It's alarming but also interesting to see what the bomb was like that shook this South Carolina county to its core so many years ago. Now Mars Bluff, South Carolina is a regular piece of South Carolina trivia.
When you visit the site, you'll find a display cut to the actual size of the bomb that dropped from the sky. You'll also see the crater, now filled in from its original depth of 35 feet, but still clearly visible.
The land is no longer owned by the Gregg family, they've moved on both physically and mentally from the troubling ordeal.
Do you recall this nuclear bomb in South Carolina or any of the media surrounding this oddball unfortunate event in our history? Have you ever visited the Mars Bluff Atomic Bomb Impact Crater? Fire up some feedback and let us know.
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Attractions In Florence, South Carolina
CC|January 11, 2023
What else is in Florence, South Carolina?
Check out these additional attractions while making your way through Florence, South Carolina to visit the Mars Bluff bomb crater.
