Beech Island Historical Society
Encyclopedia
Beech Island Historical Society (BIHS) is a non-profit historical society and museum dedicated to the history of Beech Island
, and its county, Aiken County
, both of which are situated in the U.S. state
of South Carolina
.
to renovate a circa 1900 brick cottonseed barn and turn it into an agricultural museum.
, which attracted more than 10,000 visitors. In subsequent years, the society organized an annual event known as Beech Island Heritage Day, which was held for 20 consecutive years before the society eventually voted to end this event. The final one was in 2006.
In 1991, the heirs of George McElmurray (one of the society's charter members) donated an acre of land to the society, a big warehouse and a four-room meeting hall. The Beech Island Historical Society and Visitor's Centre was opened for tourists and visitors.
On April 3, 1998, the society won the Progress Award for the Beech Island Historical Society and Visitor's Centre building, at the Confederation of Local South Carolina Historical Societies, in Columbia, South Carolina
.
In 1997, the South Carolina General Assembly
passed a motion to "express their best wishes to the members of the Beech Island Historical Society as this group observes on May 24, 1997, the eleventh annual Beech Island Heritage Day."
Beech Island, South Carolina
Beech Island is an unincorporated community of Aiken County, South Carolina, United States. It appears to take its name from Beech Island, a nearby former island that is politically part of Georgia but geographically separated from the rest of Georgia by a river which changed its bed...
, and its county, Aiken County
Aiken County, South Carolina
Aiken County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. In 2000, its population was 142,552; in 2010, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that its population had reached 160,099...
, both of which are situated in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
.
U.S. Federal Government grant for museum
The society received a $200,000 Rural Development Enterprise grant in 2005 from the United States Department of AgricultureUnited States Department of Agriculture
The United States Department of Agriculture is the United States federal executive department responsible for developing and executing U.S. federal government policy on farming, agriculture, and food...
to renovate a circa 1900 brick cottonseed barn and turn it into an agricultural museum.
History
In 1986, the society ran the Beech Island Tricentennial Celebration at Redcliffe State ParkRedcliffe State Park
Redcliffe Plantation State Historic Site is a state park in South Carolina, USA. Redcliffe Plantation, also known as Redcliffe, completed in 1859, is a Greek Revival plantation house located on the site that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The house was designed by the...
, which attracted more than 10,000 visitors. In subsequent years, the society organized an annual event known as Beech Island Heritage Day, which was held for 20 consecutive years before the society eventually voted to end this event. The final one was in 2006.
In 1991, the heirs of George McElmurray (one of the society's charter members) donated an acre of land to the society, a big warehouse and a four-room meeting hall. The Beech Island Historical Society and Visitor's Centre was opened for tourists and visitors.
On April 3, 1998, the society won the Progress Award for the Beech Island Historical Society and Visitor's Centre building, at the Confederation of Local South Carolina Historical Societies, in Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
.
In 1997, the South Carolina General Assembly
South Carolina General Assembly
The South Carolina General Assembly, also called the South Carolina Legislature, is the state legislature of the U.S. state of South Carolina. The legislature is bicameral and consists of the lower South Carolina House of Representatives and the upper South Carolina Senate. Altogether, the General...
passed a motion to "express their best wishes to the members of the Beech Island Historical Society as this group observes on May 24, 1997, the eleventh annual Beech Island Heritage Day."