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Explore South Carolina

Learn about South Carolina. You may be surprised at what you'll find!  

In addition to the topics below, you can also delve into South Carolina's history by visiting the Social Studies section.

Public schools observe John C. Calhoun's birthday, March 18, as South Carolina Day. 

 

Within this Collection

Content Type
 Old Santee Canal Park (S.C.) Stop 4 5

Video

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Old Santee Canal Park (S.C.) Stop 4
Episode 5
Here at a higher elevation above the limestone, and where the soil is more loamy, we see more diverse plant life: White Oak trees, American Beech, Witch Hazel, Sparkleberry, and Switch Cane.
Old Santee Canal Park (S.C.) Stop 6 - The Canal
   - Episode 7 Old Santee Canal Park (S.C.) Stop 8 9

Video

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Old Santee Canal Park (S.C.) Stop 8
Episode 9
The Visitor Center – The park and visitor center is a great place to learn about both natural and man-made history. The entrance to the park features a replica of what a lock in the canal looked like...
Old Santee Canal Park (S.C.) Stop 8 - Visitors Center And Butterfly Garden
   - Episode 9 Old Santee Canal Park (S.C.) Stop 7 8

Video

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Old Santee Canal Park (S.C.) Stop 7
Episode 8
Here, outside Old Santee Canal Park’s visitor center, we see a Green Jacket dragonfly, live oaks, Poison Ivy, Trumpet Creeper, Southern Sugar Maple, and a Yellow Bellied Sap-Sucker in a nearby...
Old Santee Canal Park (S.C.) Stop 8 - Visitors Center And Butterfly Garden
   - Episode 9 Old Santee Canal Park (S.C.) Stop 1 1

Video

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Old Santee Canal Park (S.C.) Stop 1
Episode 1
Rudy and Jim visit Old Santee Canal Park, a historic lowcountry area near Monck’s Corner, South Carolina. The area features a wide array of habitats, containing both native and non-native plants. Some...
 Old Santee Canal Park (S.C.) Stop 2 3

Video

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Old Santee Canal Park (S.C.) Stop 2
Episode 3
Limestone Trail – Along the trail, Rudy and Jim find an old kiln, left behind by inhabitants from around the 1860’s and 1880’s. Some of the plants that have come to dominate the old quarry area, are...
 Old Santee Canal Park (S.C.) Stop 6 7

Video

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Old Santee Canal Park (S.C.) Stop 6
Episode 7
The Santee Canal – This canal took seven years to build, from 1793-1800, and is around 22 miles long. Duckweed and Pennywort are seen growing along the sides of the canal. Rudy and Jim find a Chain...
 Jocassee Gorges (S.C.) Stop 8 12

Video

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Jocassee Gorges (S.C.) Stop 8
Episode 12
Rudy and Jim analyze the geographic features of the creek, around with some of the plant life growing in the area: White Pines, Wild Geranium flowers, Mountain Laurel, Liverwort, Maidenhair Fern,...
 Jocassee Gorges (S.C.) Stop 6 10

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Jocassee Gorges (S.C.) Stop 6
Episode 10
Lake Jocassee – Here, standing on a rock outcropping, Rudy and Jim analyze Lake Jocassee’s geographic features, along with the variety of trees found around the lake: White Pine, Virginia Pine, and...
 Jocassee Gorges (S.C.) Stop 5 9

Video

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Jocassee Gorges (S.C.) Stop 5
Episode 9
Old Farm Road – While walking down this old farm road, Rudy and Jim come across a Sweetgum tree which has been chewed by a beaver. The beavers in the area have built a dam, thus creating a new habitat...
 Jocassee Gorges (S.C.) Stop 2 5

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Jocassee Gorges (S.C.) Stop 2
Episode 5
Poor Robin’s Plantain is another common flower found in the area. A Silver Spotted Skipper butterfly is seen gathering nectar from one of these flowers, and Rudy and Jim revisit the Black Rat Snake...
 Jocassee Gorges (S.C.) Stop 4 8

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Jocassee Gorges (S.C.) Stop 4
Episode 8
Close to the waterfall, Bluet flowers, Saxifrage, Butterweed, Spicebush, Mountain Buckeye trees, Dutchman’s Pipe vines, Wild Yam, Partridgeberry, and Long Spurred violets dominate cool, moist...
 Jocassee Gorges (S.C.) Stop 2 3

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Jocassee Gorges (S.C.) Stop 2
Episode 3
Foothills Trail – In one of the oak trees in a drop off area, Rudy and Jim spot a coiled up Black Rat Snake.
 Jocassee Gorges (S.C.) Stop 7 11

Video

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Jocassee Gorges (S.C.) Stop 7
Episode 11
At this next stop, close to the water, we see an abundant variety of flowering plants: Mayapples, Foamflowers, Showy Orchis, Little Sweet Betsy, Jack-in-the-Pulpit, and Allegheny Spurge.
 Jocassee Gorges (S.C.) Stop 3 6

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Jocassee Gorges (S.C.) Stop 3
Episode 6
At this next stop, we see Shortia plants, Rhododendron, Eastern Hemlock, Fraser Magnolia, and Maroon Sweetshrub.
 Jocassee Gorges (S.C.) Stop 1 1

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Jocassee Gorges (S.C.) Stop 1
Episode 1
Today, Rudy and Jim visit Jocassee Gorges, known all over the world for its mix of hardwood and conifer trees, along with its variety of wild flowers. At this first stop, Rudy and Jim come across...
 Jocassee Gorges (S.C.) Stop 2 4

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Jocassee Gorges (S.C.) Stop 2
Episode 4
Right beside Rudy and Jim, we see several vines: Virginia Creeper, Poison Ivy, and Blackberry. Some of the trees in the area are Black Birch and Tuliptree. Some Wild Strawberry can be seen as well...
 Jocassee Gorges (S.C.) Stop 3 7

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Jocassee Gorges (S.C.) Stop 3
Episode 7
Here, Rudy and Jim find several of nature’s recyclers: a Morel mushroom, and a millipede. In a nearby tree, we find an Eastern Phoebe bird, which is an insect eater.
 Congaree Swamp (S.C.) Stop 3 4

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Congaree Swamp (S.C.) Stop 3
Episode 4
Before making their way to the next stop, Rudy and Jim come across an Eastern Mud turtle resting under a bush.
Congaree Swamp (S.C.) Stop 4 - Bald Cypress And Papaw
   - Episode 6 Congaree Swamp (S.C.) Stop 4 5

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Congaree Swamp (S.C.) Stop 4
Episode 5
At the next stop, Rudy and Jim analyze more of the plants found in the area: Hackberry trees, and Switch Cane dominate the area. A healthy Poison Ivy can be seen completely encasing a dead oak tree.
Congaree Swamp (S.C.) Stop 6 - Cypress Tupelo Swamp And Mating Clubtail Dragonflies
   - Episode 10 Congaree Swamp (S.C.) Stop 4 6

Video

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Congaree Swamp (S.C.) Stop 4
Episode 6
Rudy and Jim find a young Bald Cypress tree, and a Papaw tree, which flowers in the early springtime.
Congaree Swamp (S.C.) Stop 4 - Bald Cypress And Papaw
   - Episode 6 Congaree Swamp (S.C.) Stop 2 2

Video

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Congaree Swamp (S.C.) Stop 2
Episode 2
The Edge - Here, where the high ground meets the flood plain, we see more plant diversity. Large Cinnamon Ferns, Dog Hobble, Loblolly Pine trees, and American Beech trees frequent the area. With a...
Congaree Swamp (S.C.) Stop 4 - Bald Cypress And Papaw
   - Episode 6 Congaree Swamp (S.C.) Stop 3 3

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Congaree Swamp (S.C.) Stop 3
Episode 3
As Rudy and Jim make their way closer to the Flood Plain, we see more tall canopy trees: Red Maple trees, and Sweet Gum trees. Several flowering plants grow in the area as well: Elderberry, Winged...