Located some forty miles southwest of Charleston, Edisto Island is actually a composite of several islands that dot the southwestern coast of the country from North Carolina to Jacksonville. Its name is adopted from the Native American tribe that inhabited the area in the 1500s, the Edistow, a subtribe of the Cusabo Indians.
Edisto Island is deeply connected to its past. A Spanish missionary, Juan Rogel, in 1569, was the first European to arrive on Edisto Island. English explorers—Capt. William Hilton in 1663 and Robert Sandford in 1666—followed next. During this time, the English and Spanish were contending for the area with the English winning out in the end.
It was around 1790 that the island’s “golden age” began, and this lasted until 1861. This was primarily due to the exceptional success of Edisto’s cotton production. Edisto’s cotton, called sea-island cotton, had a silky quality and was much sought. The success produced great wealth for the island’s planters, who used their money to buy more land and, thus, increasing their wealth.
In November of 1861, an evacuation order was imposed by the Confederate States’ administration as the arrival of the Union army was expected. The residents abandoned the fields and homes, which inevitably deteriorated and ruined. Edisto Island’s “golden age” had come to an end and would never again return the level of prosperity and wealth it had once known
Today, Edisto’s wealth is embodied in its natural beauty, historical charm, and ecological diversity. According to Lydia Mansel of Travel + Leisure, here are best things to do on Edisto Island.
- Spend a day at Edisto Beach. Found on the southern end of the island, Edisto Beach is 4.5 miles of peaceful coastline where you get to experience excellent shelling, fossil hunting, and incredible sunrises.
- Dive into the island’s history at the Edisto Island Museum and the Hutchinson House. The Edisto Island Museum is a small museum that has interesting exhibits and a good overview of the island’s history. The Hutchinson House, on the other hand, is the oldest home of a former slave on the island.”
- Head to Botany Bay. Botany Bay is the island’s nature reserve that boasts historical buildings, maritime forest, beach and fresh water ponds.
- Bring the whole family to the Edisto Island Serpentarium, where you can combine education and adventure. It houses more than twenty adult American alligators, many different types of turtles, venomous and nonvenomous snakes, and three different lizard species.
Apart from its natural beauty and charm, Edisto is also full of history, with its island and its inhabitants playing a significant role in American history for centuries. Native Americans, Spanish pirates, English settlers, wealthy cotton planters, and enslaved African Americans have left a lasting legacy that is unique to Edisto Island.
Sources:
Flourishing Mama. “14 Fun Things to Do in Edisto Beach with Your Kids. Last modified April 11, 2024. https://flourishingmama.com/things-to-do-in-edisto-beach/.
Mansel, Lydia. “How to Plan the Perfect Trip to Edisto Island, South Carolina.” Last modified August 5, 2023. https://www.travelandleisure.com/guide-to-visiting-edisto-island-south-carolina-7569119.
Tavernier, David. “Edisto Island: An Island with Charm and an Ambience of Yesteryear.” Last modified October 6, 2018. https://www.gainesville.com/story/lifestyle/magazine/2018/10/06/edisto-island-with-charm-and-ambiance-of-yesteryear/9638484007/.