My friend Laura and I met at Caw Caw on Saturday 1/9/2020. Caw Caw used to be part of several rice plantations. African slaves lived on the site and used their agricultural knowledge to cultivate rice after 1820. I read about quarter drains which are channels dug to circulate water through the rice fields. The fields were flooded with water to get the rice seed to germinate. Then at harvest time they let the water drain off and the quarter drains became walkways. You can see rows of tall grass where they used to be.
The Center comprises 6 miles of trails with several markers where one can learn about the site’s history. I enjoyed walking the boardwalk over the swamp and reading the exhibits. I saw egrets, herons and several other birds. A frequent visitor I met there pointed out an eagle’s nest.
The weather was a bit cold but a beautiful blue sky helped us enjoy our time exploring Caw Caw. I’m sure I’ll be back. Hopefully the eagle will make an appearance and perhaps I’d luck out and see some baby eagles as well. Hope you enjoy the photos and add Caw Caw to your list of places to visit when in the lowcountry of South Carolina.
References Caw Caw , Tripadvisor
South Carolina Hiking and Attraction Map
You might enjoy these posts nearby:
- The Gardens of Mepkin Abbey
- Comingtee Plantation
- Shem Creek
- Caw Caw Interpretive Center
- Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge
- The Awendaw Passage of the Palmetto Trail
- Cypress Gardens
- Magnolia Plantation and Gardens
- James Island County Park Festival of Lights
- Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge
This is quite interesting and beautiful photos. Still hard to believe this country once enslaved Africans to do hard labor.
Indeed it is. I will soon post on another site that was owned by an ugly human being who owned many. My heart was in such pain as I heard the ranger tell his story. I’m sure nothing as compared to their pain.