Some People Don't Know That South Carolina Was The First To Do These 16 Things
Gwen Tennille
Author
As one of the oldest states in the United States, South Carolina has racked up a lot of firsts in the nation. Sure, some of them you know about and could write complete essays on, but we’re sure that there are one or two of these South Carolina firsts that will surprise you. Here are some things SC did first:
1. First European settlement in 1526
2. We made the first ship to cross the Atlantic Ocean.
3. We had the first library in America
4. The first professional female artist
5. First opera performance in America
6. First fire insurance company
7. First scientific weather recordings
8. First musical society
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9. We had the first museum
10. First Black Baptist church
11. We produced the first eminent architect
12. We had the first golf club
13. The first fireproof building
14. First regular train service
15. The very first municipal college
16. The first patent for the refrigerator
Okay, so maybe South Carolina had a head start and another state might have claimed these firsts if we hadn’t had the good fortune of being one of the earliest settled colonies, but that’s the luck of the draw. Did you know about these South Carolina firsts?
Here are some more fun facts about South Carolina that you might not know.
Another fun fact about South Carolina is that it is home to one of the largest birds on the East Coast – the Eastern brown pelican. This is the only pelican that is not white. Check out a quick look at these iconic birds as seen at the Bird Key Stono Heritage Preserve in SC:
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South Carolina Was The First To Do These Things
What is South Carolina known for?
With so many interesting facts about the Palmetto state to learn, you might wonder "What is South Carolina known for?" This state is known for many things, like:
- Charleston and Myrtle Beach are some of the top tourist destinations in the country.
- The state's seafood is popular among locals and visitors alike, especially in the low country with things like Frogmore Stew, also known as a Lowcountry Boil.
- Of course, there is more to the state than just the coast. Beautiful forests, mountains, and more fill the landscape.
- Cuisine goes far beyond seafood, too, with BBQ being another popular choice of classic SC eats.
What stereotypes about South Carolina are there?
If you plan on living in South Carolina, you'll want to get your facts straight about the state's stereotypes. Some of the stereotypes about South Carolina are true, but many are way off base and some are simply laughable:
- Not everyone in this state lives on the coast, for example.
- There are many other places in the state besides its beaches, beautiful as they are.
- Many people don't think South Carolina has all four seasons when in fact, it does. The summer may be long and sweltering at times, but spring, fall, and winter happen every year.
What are the best things about living in South Carolina?
With this fun South Carolina trivia, you might be tempted to move there. Good news for you, living in the Palmetto State comes with many perks: Both the beach and the mountains are just a South Carolina day trip away. You can enjoy a hike up Table Rock or a visit to Edisto Beach without having to leave the state to do so. There are some truly gorgeous places to visit, both natural and human-made. The history of the state runs deep, and you can see it with your own eyes in stunning and fascinating places like Charleston (it's especially nice when you experience Charleston on this horse-drawn carriage ride) but also just around every other corner, small towns and big cities alike.