Edisto Island

Edisto Island is named after the Edisto Indian tribe who originally inhabited the island. Today, Edisto is a quiet, family island, with very little commercialization. English settlers arrived at the island in the 1600s and cultivated rice, indigo, and Sea Island cotton – known as one of the best cottons ever made. The farmers prospered greatly, and built elegant houses and plantations, some which remain today. These historic sites, such as Brookland Plantation, are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

John Frick of Columbia, 2019 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Edisto Island is a fabulous place to escape the stress and demands of everyday life. One can spend an entire day exploring the marshes and creeks by boat, or viewing elegant plantation homes and visiting historic churches, such as the Presbyterian Church of Edisto Island, seen below. The beaches here are secluded and are the perfect place to collect shells and soak up the sun.

John Diskes of Summerville, 2012 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Botany Bay (pictured below), a 3,363-acre wildlife preserve on two former plantations, offers pristine beaches, salt marshes, and maritime forests. Visitors can also view remnants of the former Sea Cloud and Bleak Hall plantations while at Botany Bay.

Charles Hardin of Taylors © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

There are also unique local landmarks around the island which are definitely worth a visit. There is an island swing which has a colorful story behind it, as well as a mystery tree, seen below, that changes with the seasons.

Marty Peterson of Green Mountain, NC, 2014 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Edisto Island is full of a quirky and undeniable charm. Hand-painted signs, like this one below, showcase the copious amounts of outdoor activities that are prevalent here.

James Scott of Columbia, 2017 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Learn more about preservation efforts for Edisto Island.

Reflections on Edisto Island

Contributor Marty Peterson shares why Edisto Island is special to him: “or almost 20 year I’ve taken my family to Edisto Island for vacation. When we first visited Edisto, my sons were very young. This year was very special. My grandson Dalton got to see the ocean for his very first time. He had just turned 1-year-old May 17th, and we really enjoyed have him and his Mom and Dad spend the weekend with us. Taking photos is my hobby. We had just come back from taking photos of the sunset. This photo was taken from the balcony of where we were staying for the weekend.”