Georgetown, one of the oldest cities in the eastern United States
If, by chance, one is near Georgetown, a small town in South Carolina, around mid-October, it is highly recommended to stop there for a few days, especially if one is fond of pretty wooden boats and "beautiful work "âeuros¦
Founded around 1929, it shares with Charleston and Beaufort the privilege of being among the three oldest cities in South Carolina. However, some historians report that its true birth is much earlier. It dates back to 1526, with the arrival of a Spanish settler who established a community on the nearby Waccamaw River,
Rice was first produced thereâ?¦ The topography of the place was well suited to this type of cultivation which was however soon replaced by indigo. The exciting Rice Museum relates all this with brilliance. Then, the abolition of slavery put an end to this period. The work of the land was replaced by industrial activities related to the manufacture of paper.
Fishing and aquaculture also added to the range of opportunities offered to local workers. Finally, the development of the waterfront initiated an embryonic tourist activity that is still developing today.
Georgetown is not a particularly popular place. Its nine thousand or so inhabitants have shown tenacity in overcoming the vicissitudes of a town that has sometimes been severely tested. Between devastating hurricanes and the vagaries of local industry, the life of the locals has not always been perfectly peaceful.
A historical heritage to immerse yourself in the history of the South
A stop at the Country visitors center allows you to quickly get an idea of the proposed and available places of interest. There are maps of the city with information about the most important places. Many of these are located in the historic district, near the waterfront . This wooden path, perched on its stilts, gives the walk a deliciously retro poetry.
The rice museum, quite fascinating is unmissable, because housed in the adorable and authentic Townclock . Then Harbour walk guides the visit to Kaminsky house. This imposing property dating from the 18th century offers a beautiful collection of furniture and other objects from the daily life of the time.
Wooden boat show, a major attraction
A true festival of beautiful wooden boats, the Wooden Boat Show attracts every year, in early autumn, a cosmopolitan population of enthusiasts, amateurs or professionals. Some come by land vehicles. Others take the intracoastal waterway. A rather quiet navigation provides pleasant moments of rural contemplation. You will also find several marinas and a few moorings, although these are more rare.
This very appreciated event gathers, in two days, all that exists of more significant in the small world of the nautical world in woodâeuros¦ A domain where the United States excel.
You will be delighted to see authentic wonders of the past, magnificently restored or simply maintained. Without forgetting the work, often staggering, of some contemporary craftsmen whose talent honors their elders.
Lots of tips and know-how
In addition to the aesthetic qualities of most of the boats on display, many of them contain clever design and fittings that delight the eye and the mind. Thus, this small city with a tumultuous past becomes, for a few hours, a perfectly exquisite place of communion for lovers of beautiful wooden boats.
