Tourist Attractions Close to Orangeburg, South Carolina

Orangeburg, a city in central South Carolina near the Edisto River, was first settled by a small group of Swiss, German and Dutch immigrants in 1735. Today, the county seat of Orangeburg County is home to two universities, South Carolina State and Claflin, and plays host to the Festival of Roses each May. The area's primary tourist attraction, Edisto Memorial Gardens, lies within the city limits, and several other attractions are within a short drive. If you'd like to stay overnight, the town has a number of lodging options.

Edisto Memorial Gardens

• Orangeburg's Edisto Memorial Gardens, founded in the 1920s, lies along the banks of the Edisto River near the heart of downtown. Free and open to the public, the gardens typically have more than 600,000 visitors each year, and include walking paths, fountains, numerous flower beds, river views and memorials to soldiers who fought in World War I, World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Among the attractions are butterfly, serenity and sensory gardens, along with more than 80 rose beds that include more than 75 varieties and 4,800 plants. A 2,600-foot boardwalk leads to the river, a gazebo and boat dock through tupelo and cypress wetlands. Each holiday season, the park's 60 cherry trees are lit, and dozens of animated and still displays ranging from 6 to 20 feet tall line the garden's pathways.

Orangeburg National FIsh Hatchery

• The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Orangeburg National Fish Hatchery, one of only about 60 federal fish hatcheries nationwide, is just outside Orangeburg's city limits and has been open for more than a century. Open Monday to Friday for free public tours, the hatchery raises freshwater fish. The Orangeburg hatchery raises striped bass, sunfish and shortnose sturgeon in earthen ponds and tanks, including three to four million striped bass annually. The fish are released into lakes, reservoirs and streams across the southeastern U.S. The hatchery also includes a nature trail and bird-watching area.
• Orangeburg Drag Strip

• The Orangeburg Drag Strip, set in the small community of Neeses, about 8.5 miles northwest of downtown Orangeburg, is a 1/8-mile concrete track where weekend races have been going on for more than 50 years. The drag strip received an overhaul in 2006 that included construction of a new racing surface, scoreboards, restroom facilities and a cafe. A variety of drag-racing events are held on weekends from May to October, ranging from pro modified to junior dragsters and motorcycle races.

Other Nearby Attractions

• The Branchville Railroad Shrine and Museum, 17 miles south of Orangeburg, marks the site of the world's first railroad junction, a spot visited by U.S. presidents William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft and Franklin D. Roosevelt. The restored depot and museum includes a miniature replica of a steam engine that made its inaugural trip in 1830, as well as other railroad memorabilia. Tours should be scheduled in advance by calling the Branchville town hall. Santee State Park, about 28.5 miles east of Orangeburg, provides swimming, boating and fishing access to South Carolina's largest lake: 110,600-acre Lake Marion. The park also has hiking and biking trails, picnic areas and overnight options that include camping and cabins.