P. O. BOX 174, EDGEFIELD
SOUTH CAROLINA 29824
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Edgefield County Historical Society, 1785, photo graphic
Edgefield County Historical Society logo
803-637-2233
info@historicedgefield.com 
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WELCOME!

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Founded in 1939, the Edgefield County Historical Society is one of the oldest county historical societies in South Carolina. Over its more than eight decades of existence, the Society has done much to promote to promote Edgefield County’s rich history and make the county a more interesting and inviting place in which to visit or live.

The Society has published many scholarly pamphlets, booklets and books on a vast variety of subjects related to the history of Edgefield County. It has sponsored many major events, including tours of historical homes and history conferences. It has promoted the preservation and restoration of historic structures and sites.
Edgefield County
“I usually take the position that any place that has been occupied by human beings is intrinsically as historical as any other place; but I don’t think there can be any doubt that Edgefield, SC is one of the most intrinsically interesting historical places anywhere around.”
– Charles Joyner, PhD
Burroughs Distinguished Professor of Southern History and Culture
Coastal Carolina University
March 2005
It has welcomed all those who are interested in Edgefield history and provided information and guidance to authors, scholars and countless others about the county and its people.

Currently it owns and operates three museums: the Joanne T. Rainsford Discovery Center, Magnolia Dale House Museum and Horn’s Creek Church Museum. The Discovery Center also houses the William Miller Bouknight Theatre where the Society sponsors theatrical and musical performances and lectures throughout the year.
UPCOMING EVENTS COMING TO TERMS WITH OUR HISTORY
“I usually take the position that any place that has been occupied by human beings is intrinsically as historical as any other place; but I don’t think there can be any doubt that Edgefield is one of the most intrinsically interesting historical places anywhere around.”
–Charles Joyner, PhD
Burroughs Distinguished Professor of Southern History and Culture Coastal Carolina University
March, 2005
It has welcomed all those who are interested in Edgefield history and provided information and guidance to authors, scholars and countless others about the county and its people.

Currently it owns and operates three museums: the Joanne T. Rainsford Discovery Center, Magnolia Dale House Museum and Horn’s Creek Church Museum. The Discovery Center also houses the William Miller Bouknight Theatre where the Society sponsors theatrical and musical performances and lectures throughout the year.
UPCOMING EVENTS
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HISTORICAL SOCIETY INFORMATION

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History
Mission & History
Museums
Publications
Membership
Beautiful large old yellow house
Edgefield County Historical Society exterior
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HISTORICAL HOMES & SITES
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Experience Historic Edgefield, SC with our Walking and Driving Tours

Walking
Driving
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Upcoming Event at the theatre!


Four Old Broads On The High Seas

April 30 - May 3, May 3 - 10, 2026



TICKETS

 April 12, 2026 - Guest Speaker!


On Sunday, April 12th , 2026 the Edgefield History Class is going to have a presentation by Ms. Carolyn Hooker, author of Leaving Edgefield, a novel based upon the life of Edgefield’s Carrie Butler, the mother of Essie Mae Washington Williams, Strom Thurmond’s eldest daughter. Having read this novel which, of course, necessarily consists of many scenes imagined by the author but not corroborated by any documentation, we have found it nevertheless a believable and a fair treatment of most of the historical characters. It is also a tender and moving story. We hope that all interested will come and enjoy Ms. Hooker’s presentation. This will be at 3:00 pm this coming Sunday, April 12th, in the William Miller Bouknight Theatre in the Joanne T. Rainsford Discovery Center at 405 Main Street, Edgefield.



SAVE THE DATE

The Spring Membership Meeting is planned for April 19 at 3:00 pm at the cemetery located at the Butler Methodist Church, Saluda, SC. The program will honor the Revolutionary Patriots buried there. 

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SEE MORE EVENTS

Weddings

For her wedding, Summer Robinson wanted someplace “quaint and quiet, with a backyard feel.”Her mother, Jenny Robinson, wanted it to be beautiful and classy as well. They found and fell in love with the idyllic setting of Horn’s Creek Church Museum.


For more information, please contact Beth Francis at (706) 951-1914 or the Edgefield County Historical Society’s office at (803) 637-2233.

Horn's Creek interior.