Walterboro: Art, History and Nature

Walterboro brings together crafts, historic architecture, and a swamp landscape crisscrossed by streams. It also has ties to the history of Walterboro Army Airfield. This offers different options for planning your trip: you can explore art and architectural history, as well as nature and historic routes.

Crafts and Historic Homes

The South Carolina Artisans Center is housed in a restored eight-room Victorian cottage. It showcases work by more than 300 South Carolina artists. The collection spans traditional and Indigenous folk art as well as contemporary crafts, offering different perspectives on art and craftwork. Admission is free; the Center is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Check the opening hours before your visit, as operating information may change.

In the Walterboro Historic District, you can stroll along oak-lined streets and view historic homes. Most of the buildings there were constructed between 1800 and 1945 and represent a range of architectural styles. The broad time span and variety of forms make the district a different way to explore architectural history than focusing on a single house.

One example is the Bedon-Lucas House: built in 1820 for Richard Bedon, it is one of the few surviving High Houses in Colleton County. Unlike the broader view of the Historic District, this example highlights a specific construction date, along with the rarity of this building type at the county level.

Swamp Landscape and Historic Routes

The Walterboro Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area of more than 600 acres in the ACE Basin. It includes a swamp area open to the public, with streams that may be uniquely intertwined. The description thus combines a landscape shaped by waterways with the character of a protected area.

A historically significant route is also part of this nature theme. It follows the colonial-era Charleston-to-Savannah Stagecoach Road and features cypress remnants of long-collapsed bridges. Nature and history intersect here: the route follows a former transportation link, while the bridge remnants recall its past use.

Memories of the Army Airfield

During World War II, Walterboro Army Airfield served as a training site for Army pilots, including Tuskegee Airmen. A monument honoring them was erected there in May 1997. The historic airfield site also included a prisoner-of-war camp and a base hospital. In addition to art, architecture, and landscape, these facts give the place a military history dimension.

Planning Your Trip Around Your Interests

If you are traveling with children, choosing among art, a walk, architecture, and the swamp landscape can help keep your plans manageable. These themes cater to different interests rather than prescribing a single vacation itinerary. When searching for a vacation rental in Walterboro, you can first decide which of these interests matters most for your stay.

For the broader travel overview: Colleton County.