Olar South CarolinaATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Olar, South Carolina.
1. Mizpah Methodist Church
HISTORIC RELIGIOUS LANDMARK
Mizpah Methodist Church is a historic church built in 1856 when the town was still known as Buford's Bridge. The church stands as one of the oldest buildings in Olar and represents an important piece of the town's heritage. Visitors can admire the traditional architectural style and learn about the religious history of the area.
2. Olar Antique Police Car Display
VINTAGE AUTOMOBILE EXHIBIT
The Olar Antique Police Car Display features a Model T that stands on display in town, honoring the area's automotive history. Though not an original Olar police car, it represents the town's significant connection to Ford Motor Company through local businessman C.F. Rizer. The display offers visitors a glimpse into the early days of automobile production and Olar's surprising role in automotive history.
3. Historic Creech Variety Store
NOSTALGIC GENERAL STORE
The Historic Creech Variety Store, established in 1938, is recognizable by its faded name on a rusty hanging Coca-Cola sign. Strategically positioned facing the railroad tracks that once fueled the town's economy, this general store once provided residents with common provisions needed for daily living. Today, the building stands as a reminder of Olar's more prosperous times.
4. Rivers Bridge State Historic Site
CIVIL WAR BATTLEFIELD
Rivers Bridge State Historic Site preserves the site of one of the Confederacy's last stands against General Sherman's sweep across South Carolina. The site features earthworks, interpretive signage, and a museum that helps visitors understand the battle that occurred here in February 1865. The park also includes picnic areas and a trail that leads visitors around the historic battlefield.
5. Barnwell County Museum
LOCAL HISTORY COLLECTION
Barnwell County Museum showcases artifacts and exhibits that tell the story of this rural South Carolina county's development. The museum's collections include agricultural implements, household items, photographs, and documents that span from the county's founding to the present day. Visitors can gain insights into the area's agricultural heritage, Native American history, and the impact of various historical events on local communities.
6. Olar Ford Dealership Historic Site
AUTOMOTIVE HISTORY LANDMARK
The Olar Ford Dealership Historic Site marks the location of what was once the largest Ford dealership in South Carolina, established by C.F. Rizer in 1913. This site commemorates the remarkable story of how Rizer invested $25,000 in Ford Motor Company, contributing to the production of half a million cars by 1914 and receiving a delivery of 256 cars in 64 box cars to his dealership. History enthusiasts can learn about this surprising connection between small-town Olar and the automobile industry's early development.
7. Historic Olar Bank Building
TURN-OF-CENTURY ARCHITECTURE
The Historic Olar Bank Building, built around 1900, was once operated by influential businessman C.F. Rizer. The building showcases turn-of-the-century architectural elements that were typical of small-town financial institutions during that era. Today, the structure stands as a testament to Olar's more prosperous economic period.
8. Denmark-Olar High School
LOCAL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION
Denmark-Olar High School serves as the primary educational institution for students from Olar and surrounding communities. The school offers academic programs and extracurricular activities that aim to prepare students for college and careers. Visitors might have opportunities to attend sporting events, performances, or community gatherings held at the school facilities.
9. Magnolia Plantation & Gardens
HISTORIC GARDENS ESTATE
Magnolia Plantation & Gardens is one of the oldest plantations in the South, founded in 1676 and featuring America's oldest public gardens. Visitors can explore the historic house, tour the expansive romantic-style gardens, and learn about both the plantation's history and the lives of the enslaved people who worked there through the award-winning slavery to freedom tour. The plantation also offers a nature train tour through diverse landscapes and habitats that showcase the natural beauty of the South Carolina Lowcountry.
10. Middleton Place
NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK
Middleton Place features America's oldest landscaped gardens and a house museum that showcases the history of the Middleton family from the Colonial period through the Civil War. The 65-acre property includes meticulously maintained terraced lawns, reflecting pools, and floral allées that demonstrate principles of 18th-century European garden design. Visitors can also explore the stable yards to learn about the skills and crafts practiced by enslaved people who lived and worked on the plantation.
11. Charleston City Market
HISTORIC SHOPPING DESTINATION
The Charleston City Market is one of the nation's oldest public markets, established in 1804 and stretching for four blocks through the historic district. Shoppers can browse more than 300 vendors selling everything from local foods and Lowcountry crafts to the famous sweetgrass baskets handwoven by Gullah artisans using techniques passed down through generations. The market serves as both a shopping destination and a cultural experience, offering visitors a taste of Charleston's unique heritage and craftsmanship.
12. Miller's Bread-Basket
TRADITIONAL MENNONITE CUISINE
Miller's Bread-Basket is a beloved Mennonite restaurant known for its homestyle cooking and traditional Pennsylvania Dutch dishes. Diners can enjoy hearty comfort foods including fried chicken, country ham, homemade breads, and an array of delicious desserts like shoofly pie and apple dumplings. The restaurant's warm, welcoming atmosphere makes it a popular destination for both locals and travelers seeking authentic, homemade cuisine.
13. God's Acre Healing Springs
NATURAL MINERAL SPRING
God's Acre Healing Springs is a natural spring whose waters were believed by Native Americans to have healing properties and later deeded to God by a private owner in the 1940s. Visitors come from near and far to collect water from the freely accessible springs, with many claiming health benefits from drinking or bathing in the mineral-rich water. The site features a small, peaceful wooded area with pipes flowing with spring water and informational signage about the spring's unique history.
14. Edisto Memorial Gardens
ROSES AND RIVERSIDE BEAUTY
Edisto Memorial Gardens combines beautiful formal gardens featuring over 4,000 rose bushes with natural wetlands along the north fork of the Edisto River. The 175-acre public garden includes paved walking paths, a sensory garden, playgrounds, and picnic areas that make it a perfect destination for families and nature lovers. Visitors can enjoy seasonal displays of roses, azaleas, and camellias while also spotting wildlife along the wetland boardwalks that traverse cypress-tupelo swamps.
15. I.P. Stanback Museum & Planetarium
ART AND ASTRONOMY CENTER
The I.P. Stanback Museum & Planetarium at South Carolina State University houses one of the most significant collections of African and African-American art in the Southeast. The museum features rotating exhibitions of contemporary art alongside its permanent collection, which includes works by notable artists and historical artifacts related to the Civil Rights Movement. Its unique combination of art museum and planetarium offers visitors a chance to explore both cultural heritage and astronomical wonders under one roof.