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SC Picture Project

The purpose of the South Carolina Picture Project is to celebrate the beauty of the Palmetto State while preserving some of its vanishing landscapes.

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Dewees Island

SC PICTURE PROJECT Leave a Comment

SC Picture Project / Charleston County / Dewees Island

This beautiful barrier island off the coast of Mount Pleasant has seen modest development in recent years, but a covenant among homeowners maintains that the number of homes will never exceed 150.

Dewees

Claudia de Mayo of Atlanta, 2014 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Dewees Island, first called Timicau by local Native Americans, was granted to Colonel Thomas Carey in 1697 and used for hunting. By 1761 the land had been acquired by the Dewees family from Germantown, Pennsylvania, and Cornelius Dewees founded a shipyard here.

Dewees Island Dock

Cindy Branscome of Isle of Palms, 2019 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

William Dewees died on the island in 1786, and the 1,200 acres of pristine land was put up for sale a few years later.

Dewees Island Alligator

Claudia de Mayo of Atlanta, 2018 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

In 1804 new owners divided the 1,200-acre island into North and South regions, and people began to reside on either end – mostly family members of those who had purchased the land following Dewees’ death.

Dewees Island

Lisa A. DuBois of New York, NY, 2018 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

In 1925 it was bought by Coulter D. Huyer, who built a road in the 1930s connecting the north and south ends. He sold the island in 1952, and it once again became a private hunting retreat.

Dewees Island

Lisa A. DuBois of New York, NY, 2017 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

It was not until the 1970s when investors would buy and divide the island into modern residential lots, and in 1992 homeowners and developers came together to keep development to a minimum under the formation of the Island Preservation Partnership.

Dewees Island

Lisa A. DuBois of New York, NY, 2017 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Dewees Island, which can be accessed only by ferry, is restricted to anyone who is not a homeowner, guest, or prospective buyer. The limitation of human activity on the island allows its maritime strand and native wildlife species to continue to thrive.

Dewees Island

Lisa A. DuBois of New York, NY, 2017 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Reflections on Dewees Island


Contributor Claudia de Mayo says of her photo below, “Boardwalk tree at sunrise – I walk the beach in the morning with my dog and this is the tree at the end.”

Dewees Island

Claudia de Mayo of Atlanta, 2014 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Jo Marie Brown says of her photo below, “This image is a typical morning sunrise on the beautiful beach near Ancient Dunes Walk.”

Dewees Sunrise

Jo Marie Brown of Lexington, 2014 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Add your own reflections here.

Plan Your Trip: Dewees Island

Where is Dewees Island located?
Address: 273 Old House Lane, Dewees Island, SC 29456
GPS Coordinates: 32.841180,-79.718491
Website: http://www.deweesislandsc.com/
What else should I see?
Capers Island 4.7 miles
Winnowing Hands 6.7 miles
Isle of Palms 8.8 miles
Isle of Palms Pier 8.9 miles
Show me more like this!
  • See other South Carolina Beaches
  • Charleston Historic Sites
    Dewees Island Map

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    ABOUT US

    We are a federally-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to preserve the history of South Carolina’s historic, natural, and cultural landmarks before they are lost to time. This website serves as a permanent digital archive of over 2,300 South Carolina landmarks – and counting. Learn more about our work.

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    ABOUT US

    We are a federally-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to preserve the history of South Carolina’s historic, natural, and cultural landmarks before they are lost to time. This website serves as a permanent digital archive of over 2,300 South Carolina landmarks – and counting. Learn more about our work.

    CONTACT US

    We’d love to hear from you! Send us a quick email at share@scpictureproject.org.

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