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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
Florida Yellow Bladderwort | Expeditions Shorts Northern Pine Snake | Expeditions Shorts

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Northern Pine Snake | Expeditions Shorts
In the Francis Marion National Forest, Patrick McMillan shows a rather uncommon species of snake found in this area: the Northern Pine Snake. The dark patterns found on the top of the snake blend in...
Florida Yellow Bladderwort | Expeditions Shorts Giant Sacaton Grass | Expeditions Shorts

Video

Giant Sacaton Grass | Expeditions Shorts
Here at Appleton-Whittell Research Ranch in Arizona, Patrick McMillan and Linda Kennedy talk about Giant Sacaton Grass, which makes a great habitat for sparrows, and diamond-back rattlesnakes.
Florida Yellow Bladderwort | Expeditions Shorts Oak Toad | Expeditions Shorts

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Oak Toad | Expeditions Shorts
Here in Francis Marion National Forest, in South Carolina, Patrick McMillan shows us the Oak Toad, one of the smallest in the toad species. Its unique skin colorations are perfect for camouflaging...
3D VR - Woodrow Wilson Family Home  | Let's Go!

Interactive

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3D VR - Woodrow Wilson Family Home | Let's Go!
Located on 1705 Hampton Street, in historic downtown Columbia, South Carolina, this is the home where President Woodrow Wilson spent four years of his childhood. The house was built in 1871, during...
Palmetto Bugs | South Carolina Public Radio Pike, John Martin | South Carolina Public Radio

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Pike, John Martin | South Carolina Public Radio
“P” is for Pike, John Martin [1840-1932]. Clergyman, editor, publisher. A Canadian and ordained Methodist clergyman, Pike was invited to preach at Columbia’s Washington Street Methodist Church. He...
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Sumter National Forest (S.C.) Stop 4
Episode 4
Columbo plants can remain in a vegetative state for up to thirty years before it sends up a flower stalk. Morel mushrooms and Devil’s Urn are species of fungi, which help break down dead materials in...
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Sumter National Forest (S.C.) Stop 5
Episode 5
Rudy and Jim see the tell-tale signs of a beaver, coming in the form of chew marks on the base of a large tree. A skeleton of a gray fox is found nearby. A gray fox has ridges on the skull, whereas a...
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Sumter National Forest (S.C.) Stop 7
Episode 7
Rudy and Jim find an unusually large Devil’s Walking Stick, which is usually around one third the size of the one shown here! Horse Sugar, Yellow Bellwort, and Birdsfoot violets are more species of...
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Sumter National Forest (S.C.) Stop 3
Episode 3
Rudy and Jim move to the Long Cane Division of Sumter National Forest. Here, Umbrella magnolia is starting to bloom. Christmas fern and Jack-In-The-Pulpit, Faded trillium, Wild germanium, Baneberry...
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Sumter National Forest (S.C.) Stop 6
Episode 6
Here close to a stream, there is a high population of Mountain laurel trees, rhododendrons, Tuliptrees, Fraser magnolias, Halberdleaf violets, Rattlesnake plantains, Heartleaf, Poor Robin’s plantain...
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Sumter National Forest (S.C.) Stop 1
Episode 1
On this episode of NatureScene, Rudy and Jim visit Sumter National Forest. This area offers a wide variety of habitats, and springtime is the best time to visit these rolling hills. Here at the flood...
Sumter National Forest (S.C.) Stop 1 - Enoree District | NatureScene
   - Episode 1 Sumter National Forest (S.C.) Stop 2 2

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Sumter National Forest (S.C.) Stop 2
Episode 2
This area features a wide variety of trees, such as beeches and maples. Lots of wild flowers popping up in this area as well, like Dwarf iris, and Rue anemone. Buckeye shrubs and Sweet shrubs can also...
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Savannah River Site (S.C.) Stop 5
Episode 7
This area is known as a “dry wetland” Here, Button bush, and Red maple trees thrive here. Under a nearby wooden board, Rudy and Jim find a Mole salamander, and a Ring-Neck snake. And in a nearby tree...
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Savannah River Site (S.C.) Stop 6
Episode 8
Rudy and Jim stop by another wetland, filled with Sphagnum moss, Swamp Tupelo trees, Sweet Bay trees, and Virginia Chain fern. All these plants thrive in areas such as this one, with increased...
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Savannah River Site (S.C.) Stop 4
Episode 6
A boardwalk takes Rudy and Jim from the hardwood area of the previous stop into a swamp forest. Here, Bald Cypress trees and Tupelo trees dominate. Lizard Tail, commonly found in this area, gets its...
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Savannah River Site (S.C.) Stop 1
Episode 3
Underneath the pine trees, another community of plants resides in the area: Yellow-ray flowers, Purple Vein milkweed, and Catbells.
Savannah River Site (S.C.) Stop 6 - Sphagnum Moss, Swamp Tupelo, Sweet Bay, And Virginia Chain Fern
   - Episode 8 Savannah River Site (S.C.) Stop 1 2

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Savannah River Site (S.C.) Stop 1
Episode 2
The pine forest is home to two species of woodpecker birds: the Red Cockaded woodpecker, and the Ladder-Backed woodpecker.
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Savannah River Site (S.C.) Stop 3
Episode 5
Ecology Laboratory Research Site: This area is a mixed hardwood forest, with Spanish moss dangling from the branches. Water oaks are the most prominent trees here. Other common plants in the area are...
Savannah River Site (S.C.) Stop 6 - Sphagnum Moss, Swamp Tupelo, Sweet Bay, And Virginia Chain Fern
   - Episode 8 Savannah River Site (S.C.) Stop 1 1

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Savannah River Site (S.C.) Stop 1
Episode 1
In this episode of NatureScene, Rudy and Jim visit the Savannah River Site, located along the southwestern border of South Carolina. The area is 200,000 acres of protected land. When one thinks of the...
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Savannah River Site (S.C.) Stop 2
Episode 4
This bluff is one of 30 areas set aside from the University of Georgia’s Savannah River Ecology laboratory. This area is vastly different from the tall pine community Rudy and Jim visited previously...
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Santee National Wildlife Refuge (S.C.) Stop 2
Episode 3
While walking along the road, Rudy and Jim see some of the damage left behind by Hurricane Hugo, and come across an Eastern Mud Turtle. Red Maple trees and Sweetgum trees, and Hawthorns have started...
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Santee National Wildlife Refuge (S.C.) Stop 3
Episode 4
The Marsh – Here, Rudy and Jim come across a marsh area, and discuss some of the plant and animal life which live in this habitat: Cattail plants, a Great Egret bird, Lily pads, Coot, Northern...
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Santee National Wildlife Refuge (S.C.) Stop 1
Episode 2
Still at Lake Marion, Rudy and Jim observe the diverse species of birds in the area: Yellow Thwarted Warbler, Northern Parula, Eastern Bluebird, Yellow Rumped Warbler, American Robins, and an Osprey...