Walterboro embraces history with numerous small-scale historic museums that respect its past while being rooted in the present.
A key historic property is the Bedon-Lucas House Museum. A New York architect sketched the plans for the 1820s property and the owner, Richard Bedon, resided in the home for 20 years. This residence is one of the five last high-houses in Colleton County and features the original heart of pine floors and antique furnishings. The front porch is well known for its six large, tapered columns that were added to the home at a later date. The headquarters for the Colleton County Historical & Preservation Society is located inside with tours offered regularly.
Located in front of the Bedon-Lucas House is the land that Richard Bedon graciously provided to create a park. In due time, the Walterboro Library Society building, known as the Little Library, was moved to the park space. The Little Library stood as a marker for Walterboro’s town boundaries and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
A physical piece of Colleton County’s history is the Colleton Museum & Farmers Market. The museum includes permanent exhibits that tell Walterboro’s history from prehistoric times to the early 1900s. For nature lovers, the “Animals of the ACE” collection features native animals of the South Carolina Lowcountry. Unique art collections, showcasing the work of indigenous artists, are exhibited monthly.
If you’ve worked up an appetite after exploring the museum, pop over to the Colleton Farmers Market, which offers fresh vegetables and fruits, local honey, crafts, plants, sweet treats, music and much more. The newest addition to the building is the Colleton Commercial Kitchen, used by aspiring cooks.
