Abbeville County: History, Architecture and Lake Russell

Abbeville County offers a variety of reasons to visit: a museum in a former jail, 19th-century architecture and a state park with access to Lake Russell. Other attractions include railroad history, historic cemeteries and a campus tour. This gives you the flexibility to tailor your trip to your interests—perhaps architectural history, a guided tour or time outdoors.

History in Buildings and Places

The Abbeville County Museum is located in an 1854 building that originally served as the Abbeville jail. The building thus combines its current role as a museum with its former use. Abbeville’s Historic District contains dozens of 19th-century homes and also features architecture dating from around the turn of the century. The number of historic homes and the district’s architectural character are two distinct aspects of the area.

The grounds of Trinity Episcopal Church include a cemetery where soldiers from both the Confederate and Union armies are buried. The Burt-Stark Mansion was the site of the last meeting of the Confederate Council of War. The Abbeville Opera House is designated South Carolina’s official rural theater for drama. The cemetery, historic event and state designation each offer a distinct perspective on history.

Architecture, Railroads and Cemeteries

The McGowan-Barksdale-Bundy House is an outstanding example of the Queen Anne style; construction of the existing house was completed in 1888. A tour on the McGowan Trails includes an in-depth historical tour of the house. Check the availability of this tour before your trip.

Abbeville also has a direct connection to railroad history: train engineers and conductors from Abbeville used Caboose No. 5759 on the route between Atlanta and Hamlet from 1963 to 1967. The caboose is permanently on display at the McGowan-Barksdale-Bundy House. At the same house, you can encounter both the architecture of a Queen Anne-style example and an object with its own local railroad history.

Upper Long Cane Cemetery contains more than 50 grave markers, either signed with the names of stone carvers or attributed to specific stone-carving firms based on their style. The focus at Patrick Calhoun Family Cemetery is on family history: the graves of Patrick Calhoun and family members who settled in the Long Canes area of Abbeville County in the 1750s are located there. The cemetery has approximately 30 graves, including some that are unmarked.

Cedar Springs Historic District includes three surviving buildings from the once-prosperous agricultural community of Cedar Springs. Here, the historic settlement context can be distinguished from the three buildings that have survived.

Lake Russell and Campus Visit

At Calhoun Falls State Park, a boat ramp provides private access to Lake Russell; three campgrounds are located on the lake’s shore. The park also offers the Cedar Bluff Nature Trail, a moderate 1.75-mile loop. Lake access and the trail offer different starting points for planning: the trail’s length and difficulty rating help you choose a route, while the boat ramp provides access to the lake.

The campus tour at Erskine College lasts about 45 to 60 minutes and includes a conversation with a member of the admissions team. The tour is offered daily. A parking space is reserved for tour visitors across from Belk Hall. Check the campus tour schedule before you travel.

Discover more destinations: Abbeville, York, Dillon County, Beaufort County, Laurens, Georgetown, Darlington, Beaufort

For the main travel overview: South Carolina.