What’s in a Name? Discover the Stories Behind Your State Parks

Have you ever wandered into a park or passed a town sign and thought, “How did this place get its name?” Names are like clues left behind, tiny pieces of history waiting for someone curious enough to follow the trail. Next time you visit a South Carolina state park, try looking beyond the map. What story is hidden in the name?

As a student of history (and a naturally curious explorer), I took a closer look at a few park names and discovered that each one opens a door to the past. Here are a few stories to get your curiosity going:

 

Cheraw State Park

Cheraw State Park shares its name with the nearby town of Cheraw—and both trace back to the Indigenous people of the Cheraw region. They chose this area for a reason: the Great Pee Dee River was their lifeline. It served as a major trade route long before highways and railroads existed.

Imagine canoes gliding across the water, loaded with goods like corn, tobacco, and deer hides. Later, European settlers followed the same path, turning the river into a bustling corridor of commerce.

For today’s visitors, the use may have changed, but the connection to water remains. Visitors can paddle across 360-acre Lake Juniper, cast a fishing line, or simply sit at the edge of the lake and wonder: What would this shoreline have looked like hundreds of years ago, when Juniper Creek flowed undammed through these woods?

Curiosity challenge: As you explore, look for signs of how water shapes the landscape. Why do you think this spot was so important to early inhabitants?

 

Hunting Island State Park

Some names are quite obvious…like Hunting Island, a barrier island used historically by Lowcountry planters and enslaved hunters in search of duck and deer. According to Al Hester, State Park Historian, James Cook’s 1773 map shows all the barrier islands off St. Helena as “The Hunting Islands” and notes that they were “quite barren.” The sea island people have traditionally used the islands and their marshes for subsistence, not just hunting, but oystering and shrimping.

Curiosity challenge: Observe the beach, dunes, and maritime forest. How does this island protect the mainland, and how might that have influenced how people used it?

 

Landsford Canal State Park

Named after an 18th-century ford, or crossing point, Landsford Canal sits along the banks of the rocky and wild Catawba River. The ford made use of the shallow shoals on the Catawba River—these same shoals were also an obstacle to boat navigation, so in the 1820s the state built a canal to go around them, says Hester. Today, you can see the remains of the ford, the canal, and also the beautiful Rocky Shoals Spider Lilies that thrive each May in the shallow river shoals.

Curiosity challenge: Connect history, engineering, and ecology—all central to what makes Landsford Canal so unique by 1) finding one natural crossing spot, 2) spotting two canal features, and 3) identifying three signs of river power (current, rocks, erosion, plants).

 

Jones Gap State Park

At first glance, “Jones Gap” might sound like a simple geographic label, but there’s a person behind the name. The park is named for Solomon Jones, a road engineer who helped shape access through this rugged terrain.

Part of the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area, Jones Gap is now a destination for hikers drawn to steep climbs, cool mountain air, and waterfalls tucked into the forest. Even the “gap” in its name tells a story—a natural passageway through the mountains that once guided travel.

If you haven’t visited since Hurricane Helene in September 2024, you may notice changes. Trails, trees, and streams have shifted, but that’s part of the story, too. Landscapes evolve, just like the people who explore them.

Curiosity challenge: As you hike, ask yourself: Where would I have traveled if there were no marked trails? Look for natural paths—ridges, valleys, and water routes—that early travelers might have followed.

 

Sesquicentennial State Park

Here’s a fun word to impress your friends: sesquicentennial. It means a 150th anniversary—and this park owes both its name and its existence to one.

In 1936, Columbia celebrated its sesquicentennial, and the following year, land was set aside to create what we now know as Sesquicentennial State Park. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)—a New Deal program—built much of the park you see today.

Think about that: trails, shelters, and the beloved pond were crafted by people working during the Great Depression, leaving behind a legacy that still welcomes over a million visitors each year.

Curiosity challenge: Can you spot the craftsmanship of the CCC? Workers used materials that were readily available to them in each geographic region. What stories might those builders tell?

 

Redcliffe Plantation State Historic Site

Names can also reflect the landscape itself. In 1855, Governor James Henry Hammond named his plantation Redcliffe for the striking red clay bluffs overlooking the Savannah River valley.

Although you can’t see the river from the ground, there’s a hidden perspective waiting above. On a behind-the-scenes tour, visitors can climb to the widow’s walk, more than 70 feet high, for a glimpse of the valley beyond.

But Redcliffe’s story goes deeper than scenery. It is also a place to reflect on the generations of enslaved and freed families who lived and labored there—whose lives are an essential part of the site’s history.

Curiosity challenge: When you visit, think about perspective—both physical and historical. Whose stories are easy to see? Which ones require you to look closer?

 

 

Your Turn to Explore

The next time you visit a state park, pause when you see the name on the sign. Ask yourself:

• Who or what is this place named after?
• What natural features might have inspired the name?
• How has this place changed over time?

Every park has a story—and every visitor has the chance to uncover it.

So go ahead: follow the trails, read the signs, and most importantly… stay curious.

 

JER

 

 

May 2026