1. The state tree, seen on the iconic South Carolina flag, is a cabbage palmetto. Did you know that cannonballs bounce off of palmetto trees? Fort Moultrie, on Sullivan's Island, was built out of palmetto tree trunks on top of sand walls. The palmettos' incredible spongy consistency repelled the British cannonballs and helped the Patriots win the first major naval battle of the Revolutionary War.
2. The palmetto tree isn't technically a tree at all. It doesn't have a solid wood trunk.
3. South Carolina is home to the US's first commercial tea farm, and is the birthplace of that most delicious of icy, refreshing drinks: sweet tea.
4. The poinsettia is named after South Carolinian Joel Roberts Poinsett, the US's first ambassador to Mexico. He introduced the plant to the US when he sent specimens of the lovely red and green plant to his greenhouse in South Carolina 1825.
5. South Carolina is home to some of the best golf courses in the world today, but did you know that it has always been at the center of golf in America? The first known shipment of golf clubs came into Charleston in 1739. The first golf club in the US, the South Carolina Golf Club, was also founded in Charleston in 1786. They played on the first golf course in America, Harleston Green, which was roughly between Calhoun and Beaufain streets near the Ashley River.
6. South Carolina isn't just known for traditional golf, though. Myrtle Beach is considered the mini golf capital of the world, with more than 50 mini golf courses and home of the US Pro Mini Golf Association Master's National Championship course.
7. The fantastic, amazing Angel Oak tree on John's Island is the oldest living thing east of the Mississippi River.
8. And Angel Oak isn't the only amazing tree in South Carolina. Congaree National Park is home to more than two dozen "champion trees," trees which are the largest specimen of their kind. Congaree has the highest concentration of champion trees of anyplace in America and one of the highest concentrations in the world. If you like trees, Congaree is your place.
9. The first European settlement on the North American continent was in South Carolina. San Miguel de Guadalupe was founded in 1526 by Lucas Vázquez de Ayllón, probably near present-day Georgetown. The colony only survived three months.
10. While sweet tea was born in South Carolina and is known as the state's hospitality beverage (Come sit on the porch and have some tea, y'all!) it's not the official state drink. That
honor belongs to milk. And with so many beautiful dairies and creameries to visit here in the Palmetto State, one can see why. Stop by Happy Cow Creamery outside Greenville to for a true taste of milk bottled right on the farm from, you guessed it, happy cows.
