Skip to main content

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
The West Point Rice Mills | History Of SC Slide Collection

Photo

Grades

  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
The West Point Rice Mills | History Of SC Slide Collection
Episode 5
The West Point Rice Mills at Charleston's harbor boasted docks large enough to load and unload large vessels such as this three-masted schooner, "Warren Moore," pictured in 1907. The last rice cargo...
 Wood Frog | The Cove Forest

Video

Grades

  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
Wood Frog | The Cove Forest
(Rana sylvatica) This medium sized frog is primarily a northern species with its most southerly distribution associated with the cove forests of the mountain of SC. It is ieasily identifiied by its...
 Spotted Salamander | The Cove Forest

Video

Grades

  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
Spotted Salamander | The Cove Forest
(Ambystoma maculatum) The spotted salamander is one of the most colorful of the ambystomid salamanders. The shiny black back of the animal has a series of large yellow/yellow orange spots. These...
Two-Lined Salamander | The Cove Forest Black-Bellied Salamander | The Cove Forest

Video

Grades

  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
Black-Bellied Salamander | The Cove Forest
(Desmognathus quadramaculatus) This is the largest of the lungless salamanders in the cove forests. They are usually found in streams that have a rocky bottom and usually rest on wet rocks near these...
 Ocoee Salamander  | The Cove Forest

Video

Grades

  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
Ocoee Salamander | The Cove Forest
(Desmognathus ocoee) The ocoee salamander is lungless and lives in streams in wet areas adjacent to streams. It has a highly variable dorsal color patterning; usually a series of connected paired...
 Red Salamader | The Cove Forest

Video

Grades

  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
Red Salamader | The Cove Forest
(Pseudotrition ruber) The red is one of the most beautiful salamanders in the cove forest. Colors range from purplish brown to deep orange-red. It is lungless and terrestrial. Eggs are laid in water...
 Jordan's Salamander | The Cove Forest

Video

Grades

  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
Jordan's Salamander | The Cove Forest
(Plenthodon jordani) This lungless salamander is extremely abundant in cove forests at higher altitudes. Large quantities of sticky mucus are secreted by the tail for protection against avian...
 Two-Lined Salamander | The Cove Forest

Video

Grades

  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
Two-Lined Salamander | The Cove Forest
(Eurycea bislineata) The two-lined is one of the smallest salamanders in the cove forest. This species is found under logs and rocks in the moist soil conditions, usually near water. Breeding occurs...
Garden City Beach, 1986 | History Of SC Slide Collection

Photo

Grades

  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
Garden City Beach, 1986 | History Of SC Slide Collection
Episode 6
Development has drawn increasing numbers of people to the coastal regions of the state since the Second World War. This photo by Bill Scroggins of Garden City Beach in 1986 shows the high tide lapping...
The Isle Of Palms | History Of SC Slide Collection

Photo

Grades

  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
The Isle Of Palms | History Of SC Slide Collection
Episode 4
The development of the Isle of Palms was a cherished dream of Charleston Mayor John P. Grace. Almost single-handedly in the late 1920s, he persuaded Chicago investors that South Carolina could compete...
Folly Beach | History Of SC Slide Collection

Photo

Grades

  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
Folly Beach | History Of SC Slide Collection
Episode 3
Folly Beach, close to Charleston, has always attracted large numbers of bathers, vacationers, and sun-seekers. The pier at Folly Beach is seen here in 1955. Courtesy of the South Caroliniana Library.
Golden Mouse | The Cove Forest Short-Tailed Shrew | The Cove Forest

Video

Grades

  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
Short-Tailed Shrew | The Cove Forest
This shrew is very common and is one of the largest of the various shrew species weighing 11- 30 g. Food consists mainly of invertebrates such as earthworms, snails, and insects. However, these shrews...
 Eastern Pipistrelle Bat | The Cove Forest

Video

Grades

  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
Eastern Pipistrelle Bat | The Cove Forest
The pipistrelle is the smallest bat in the southern US. This is one of the most common bats in the cove forest. This bat is a very early evening feeder and tends to feed at treetop levels.
 Red-Backed Vole | The Cove Forest

Video

Grades

  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
Red-Backed Vole | The Cove Forest
(clethrionomys gapper) This rodent is a relative of the muskrat and lemming. This vole is found only in cove forests at higher altitudes in the mountains of South Carolina. It is semifossorial using...
Golden Mouse | The Cove Forest Masked Shrew | The Cove Forest

Video

Grades

  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
Masked Shrew | The Cove Forest
(sorex cinereus) This insectivore is related to the common moles. It is one of the smallest mammals found in the United States weighing between 2-5 g. It is constantly active with a very high...
 Deer Mouse | The Cove Forest

Video

Grades

  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
Deer Mouse | The Cove Forest
(peromyscus maniculatus) This rodent is the most important prey item for the avian and mammalian predators that frequent the cove forest. This specis is the most widespread of North American rodents...
 Eastern Box Turtle | The Cove Forest

Video

Grades

  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
Eastern Box Turtle | The Cove Forest
(Terrapene carolina) This turtle is very common and is highly terrestrial. The males have red eyes and the bottom of the shell (plastron) is scoped out; while the females have brown/yellow eyes and a...
 Rat Snake | The Cove Forest

Video

Grades

  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
Rat Snake | The Cove Forest
(Elaphe obsoleta) The rat snake is one of the most diurnal of snakes found in the cove forest. This snake is a very adept climber and is frequently found climbing trees and nesting in tree cavities...
Harvesting Of Marine Life | History of SC Slide Collection

Photo

Grades

  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
Harvesting Of Marine Life | History of SC Slide Collection
Episode 2
An important part of South Carolina's economy has been the harvesting of marine life. These shrimp boats belong to an African-American owned cooperative on Hilton Head in the 1970s. Courtesy of the...