If you're traveling from the north to the Grand Strand, Dillon County is one of the first areas you pass through as you enter the state of South Carolina. It's worth a stop in the city of Dillon to check out some of the Main Street businesses listed on the National Register of Historic Places. One of those landmarks is the JW Dillon House.
Built in 1890 and restored and moved to its current location in the 1960s, it’s a must-see destination for history buffs. You really can’t talk about Dillon without mentioning James W. Dillon because there wouldn’t be a Dillon County without him. Dillon started building his home in another location but it burned down before he could move into it. Even so, some of the furnishings in the home are original pieces, including a sofa imported from England. Thanks to donations and volunteers from the Dillon County Historical Society, the house is now fully furnished as it would have been in the early 1900s.
The home features a parlor, office, sitting room and dining room on the first floor and five bedrooms on the second. The kitchen is attached to the rear of the home. Docents enjoy showing family photos and sharing stories about the house to shed light on the history of the tight-knit community. To schedule a tour or visit, call (843) 774-6122.
The renovated Dillon County Theatre is home to the MacArthur Avenue Players, the county’s theater group which performs a variety of plays annually. The theater also hosts a variety of events, including concerts and pageants. The building is one of the few remaining examples of Spanish Colonial architecture in the state and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Just 10 minutes away in Latta, you’ll find the Dillon County Museum. It’s housed in the restored former medical and dental office of the late Dr. Henry Edwards and features old dental and medical equipment, farming implements, military memorabilia, indigo displays and many local historical items. Constructed in 1915, the building was deeded to the Dillon County Historical Society, which began restoration in 1996. Today, the museum offers a glimpse of turn-of-the-century life in Dillon County through documents, photographs and other artifacts from the area.
