Orangeburg, South Carolina, dates back to the early 1700s. While many Orangeburg locals have heard stories of the founding history of the city, you can always learn a new thing or two by exploring one of these top historical locations in the city.
H. W. Briggman House
The city of Orangeburg is filled with houses from many different decades. The F. H. W. Briggman House is from the 1800s, when it was the primary residence of F. H. W. Briggman, a native German merchant. Today, the house reminds locals of the important history of German immigration to the area during this time. This house is at 156 Amelia St and is one of the last of the antebellum buildings. You can still view the original, stuccoed brick chimneys and two-tiered porch. While you cannot enter the property, it is worth walking by and checking it out.
Cope Depot
The Cope Depot marks the center of the city of Cope for many. Originally built in 1893, the Cope Depot was an important railway station of the Manchester and Augusta Railroad. This depot was crucial to the continued development of the city of Orangeburg. After the completion of its build, the city was able to also add two churches, a drugstore, numerous mills, and a cotton gin mill.
In addition to the introduction of the railway system, the Cope Depot also acted as a communication center, allowing Orangeburg locals to communicate with long-distance relatives by mail and telegraph services. The depot is no longer in operation but was recently added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Great Branch Teacherage
The Rosenwald Fund was important to the development of the educational system in Orangeburg, especially for the education of black children in the South. The Great Branch Teacherage served as teacher’s housing from 1917-1932 while the project attempted to bring education to the area’s black children. This site was also once home to the Great Branch School, one of the area’s first schools.
Unfortunately, the site was burned down in the early 1960s during the Civil War. The Great Branch Teacherage is the last teachers’ home of the area left today and one of two left from the entire Rosenwald project. While the home is in need of a renovation, visitors can still view the original exterior architecture of the building or view images of the untouched interior online.
South Carolina State College Historic District Orangeburg
South Carolina State College was important to the civil rights movement. The students at this all-black college fought for equal rights with sit-ins and protests throughout the 1960s, following the Orangeburg Massacre. It is also home to the Orangeburg Movement, which was organized in 1963 to desegregate public buildings. Today, visitors can explore the historic district which includes 10 revived academic buildings that were built between 1917 and 1969, and learn more about these important historical events.
Get to know the city you live in this spring by visiting one of the many historical attractions. Orangeburg has numerous sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places, many of which offer you interesting insight into the important development of the city.
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