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Poinsett Bridge

SC PICTURE PROJECT 20 Comments

SC Picture Project / Greenville County / Poinsett Bridge

Located just north of Greenville, the Poinsett Bridge was built in 1820 and is believed to be the oldest surviving bridge in South Carolina. It was named for Charleston native and U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Joel R. Poinsett. Poinsett is also credited with bringing the poinsettia flower, which now bears his name, to the United States.

Poinsett Bridge Heritage Preserve

Ralph Mayer of Lexington, 2013 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

The bridge was part of the original State Road, a toll road that ran from Charleston through Columbia to North Carolina. Constructed from locally quarried stone, the Poinsett Bridge was one of three stone bridges along the stretch of State Road referred to as the Saluda Mountain Road.

Poinsett Bridge Top

James Salters of Graniteville, 2016 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

The bridge features stepped parapet sidewalls and is marked by a 15-foot Gothic arch which forms the passage for Little Gap Creek, a small tributary of the North Saluda River.

Poinsett Arch

Angie Pack of Greenville, 2008 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

At the time of the bridge’s design, Poinsett was the director of the South Carolina Board of Public Works. It is speculated that Robert Mills, architect of many South Carolina buildings as well as the Washington Monument, may have designed the bridge.

Poinsett Bridge Archway

Caleb Evans of Lexington, 2018 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

While the Poinsett Bridge is the most famous attraction at this location, there is quite a bit more to see. The bridge is located within a Heritage Trust Preserve which is a natural nature preserve, managed by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Heritage Preserves are noted to be a place where history, ecosystems and archaeological areas will be preserved in their entirety.

Poinsett Bridge Heritage Preserve

Charles Payne of Rock Hill, 2017 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

The 120-acre preserve is home to many plants indigenous to South Carolina. By having the land they grow on in a protected preserve, we can ensure natural areas remain for these plants to flourish.

Poinsett Bridge Heritage Preserve

Charles Payne of Rock Hill, 2017 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Trails meander through the acreage and planned picnic spots and interpretive areas along the trail are currently planned by the Department of Natural Resources.

Poinsett Bridge Heritage Preserve

Charles Payne of Rock Hill, 2017 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

The Poinsett Bridge is listed in the National Register:

Constructed in 1820, the Poinsett Bridge is one of the oldest spans extant in South Carolina. Its impressive construction of wedge shaped rocks, erected without concrete, has pointed Gothic arches that are rare in the state today. The bridge was part of the State Road from Charleston through Columbia to North Carolina that was designed in 1817-1819 by Joel Poinsett, director of the South Carolina Board of Public Works. The bridge was named in his honor.

Poinsett also served as Secretary of War, Minister to Mexico, and first president of the National Institute for the Promotion of Science, forerunner of the Smithsonian. It is believed that Robert Mills designed the bridge. Mills became State Architect and Engineer for the South Carolina Board of Public Works in 1820. A brush drawing by Mills of a bridge with Gothic arches and keystone identical to those of Poinsett Bridge lends credence to the belief that Mills designed the bridge.

More Pictures of the Poinsett Bridge


Poinsett Bridge Detail

Juan Torres of Columbia, 2019 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Frozen Waterway, Poinsett Bridge

Jo Anne Keasler of Greenville, 2018 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Poinsett Bridge Winter in Snow

Jo Anne Keasler of Greenville, 2018 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Poinsett Bridge SC

Walter Arnold of Hendersonville, NC, 2008 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Poinsett Bridge

Steve Rich of Aiken, 2014 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Poinsett Bridge Under the Arch

J.K. York of Asheville, NC, 2018 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Poinsett Bridge

Vicky Stroupe of Murrells Inlet, 2018 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Poinsett Bridge in Greenville

Blake Lewis of Greenwood, 2011 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Poinsett Bridge Greenville County

Charles Pittman of Duncan, 2018 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Poinsett Bridge

David Vanover of Boiling Springs © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Poinsett Bridge Traveler's Rest

Peter Krenn of Rock Hill, 2014 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Poinsett Bridge Marker

Peter Krenn of Rock Hill, 2014 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Reflections on the Poinsett Bridge


Contributor Ralph Mayer shares this about Poinsett Bridge: “This place means a lot to me as I was on the Aquatics staff and later the Aquatics and High Adventure Director of Camp Old Indian – about 300 yards up the road from Poinsett Bridge – for seven summers in the late 1960s through mid 70s. This bridge was almost like a part of camp for us. I spent quiet time reading on or by the bridge, jogged over it many days – all the while remembering that it was at one time THE road between Greenville, SC and Asheville, NC. I was jogging where horse and buggy used to travel. We’ve been known to wear out the bottoms of cut-off jeans sliding on the rocks below the bridge.”

Poinsett Bridge Top

Ralph Mayer of Lexington, 2013 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Plan Your Trip: Poinsett Bridge

Where is Poinsett Bridge located?
Address: 580 Callahan Mountain Road, Travelers Rest, SC 29690
GPS Coordinates: 35.129250,-82.384375
Website: https://www.dnr.sc.gov/mlands/managedland?p_id=39
What else should I see?
Ballenger Mill 6.2 miles
Tigerville General Store 6.5 miles
North Greenville University 6.8 miles
Cool Springs Primitive Baptist Church 8.4 miles
Show me more like this!
  • See other South Carolina Bridges
  • Greenville Historic Sites
  • See other South Carolina National Register
  • See other South Carolina Robert Mills
    Poinsett Bridge Map

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sparrow says

      September 17, 2019 at 10:18 AM

      Lovely photos of a lovely place!

      Reply
    2. Marianne Garnmeister says

      June 8, 2016 at 7:38 PM

      What a beautiful and serene spot. I plan to visit here again very soon.

      Reply
    3. Howard Levy says

      June 6, 2016 at 8:15 PM

      I believe this bridge is very near to Camp old Indian but not sure. I remember seeing such a structure when my son attended the camp in the late eighties

      Reply
    4. Jane Rogers Brown says

      December 26, 2015 at 11:31 AM

      How much of a walk is it to the bridge, or can you see it from the car/parking area. One in my party is mobility impaired and cannot walk long distances.

      Reply
      • SCIWAY says

        December 28, 2015 at 8:45 AM

        You can see it from your car! In fact, a road runs alongside the bridge, so you don’t even have to get out. However, the parking area is across the street from the bridge, and while it is not a long walk, I suppose it depends on where you are able to find a spot. It is worth viewing, however – just beautiful!

        Reply
    5. M Wood says

      November 2, 2015 at 11:18 AM

      Anyone know the last time that the bridge and road beyond was open to automobiles?

      Reply
      • SCIWAY says

        November 2, 2015 at 12:44 PM

        According to this survey, the bridge was in use until the mid-1950s: http://nationalregister.sc.gov/SurveyReports/PoinsettBridgeSM.pdf

        Reply
    6. Ed says

      October 13, 2015 at 7:06 PM

      What is the elevation at the Bridge?

      Reply
      • SCIWAY says

        October 14, 2015 at 8:55 AM

        According to this survey report by the National Register, the bridge is 24 feet in height “from the water to the top of the parapets.” http://nationalregister.sc.gov/SurveyReports/PoinsettBridgeSM.pdf

        Reply
    7. Don says

      June 16, 2015 at 7:42 AM

      Coming from TN, we visited this bridge over the weekend on a trip to the Greenville area. The beautiful stonework and the engineering involved was a sight to see. It is tough to imagine the hard work involved to build something like this at that time in history. Definitely worth a stop if traveling on nearby Hwy 25.

      Reply
    8. Shelley Green Robinson says

      April 2, 2015 at 6:04 AM

      Yes, there is a small unpaved parking area across the road now. They made improvements to the access to the bridge a couple of years ago.

      Reply
    9. Bradley Davis says

      February 4, 2015 at 2:08 PM

      One of my more poignant and serene memories I have from my youth….made many visits to the old Poinsett Bridge in my Boy Scout days when I was a camper at Camp Old Indian circa 1965 – 72. Beautiful spot.

      Reply
    10. Martha Tarwater says

      January 21, 2015 at 11:50 PM

      Would like to visit again. Was here 15 years ago, but had to park in the road. Is there a parking place now?

      Reply
      • SCIWAY says

        January 22, 2015 at 7:31 AM

        Yes, Martha, there is a parking area across the street from the bridge. Enjoy!

        Reply
    11. Kathy says

      May 27, 2013 at 8:12 PM

      What a wonderful surprise; we totally enjoyed this beautiful, old piece of architecture. Amazing! They don’t build bridges like they used to!

      Reply
    12. Susan Brewer says

      August 13, 2012 at 9:52 PM

      My 2x-great grandparents, Pinkney and Martha Jane (Wilson) Burrell were from this area. His parents were laid to rest at Mt Pleasant Baptist Ch cemetery in Travelers Rest. They had a son named Poinsett (aka Piney), so I wonder if there is some significance in that. Is there a list somewhere that names those who built the bridge?

      Reply
    13. Ralph Mayer says

      March 27, 2012 at 12:52 PM

      This bridge is just down the road about 1/3 of a mile from Camp Old Indian, a Boy Scout camp where I was the Aquatics and High-Adventure director back in the 1970s. I have a few pictures where I was teaching a class on the bridge. You can see them at: http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=rhm+poinsett&z=m

      Reply
    14. Jenny Gordon Ruff says

      September 16, 2011 at 10:01 AM

      My great-great-great-great grandfather Samuel L. Gordon helped build this bridge — so awesome!

      Reply
    15. Ray says

      September 15, 2011 at 3:21 PM

      I remember riding a school bus across the Poinsett Bridge in the early to mid 50s to attend Tigerville Elementary. It was one lane and someone had to wait to cross if another vehicle was approaching.

      Reply

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