HISTORIC OCONEE COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA Subject: Keowee Toxaway State Parks Version 1.0, 5-Jan-2003, FCH-17.txt **************************************************************** REPRODUCING NOTICE: ------------------- These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format for profit, or presentation by any other organization, or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Paul M Kankula - nn8nn Seneca, SC, USA Oconee County SC GenWeb Coordinator Oconee County SC GenWeb Homestead http://www.rootsweb.com/~scoconee/oconee.html Oconee County SC GenWeb Tombstone Project http://www.rootsweb.com/~scoconee/cemeteries.html http://www.rootsweb.com/~cemetery/southcarolina/oconee.html Contributor: Frederick C. Holder, Box 444, Pickens, SC 29671 **************************************************************** DATAFILE INPUT . : Paul M. Kankula at kankula1@innova.net in Jan-2003 DATAFILE LAYOUT : Paul M. Kankula at kankula1@innova.net in Jan-2003 HISTORY WRITE-UP : Frederick C. Holder in 1989 KEOWEE TOXAWAY STATE PARK Although not within Oconee County and not a historic site, the Keowee Toxaway Interpretive Center is a special place to visit. A varie- ty of exhibits are contained in the larger main building and in four smaller outside display buildings located along a nature trail. These exhibits help relate the story of the Cherokee Indians in South Carolina. An excellent model of Fort Prince George prepared by Mar- shall Williams is also on exhibit. (The fort was built in the fall of 1753 on the present-day Pickens County side of the Keowee River.) Some materials, including books, on the Cherokee are available for purchase in the main building. Location: The park is on both sides of Highway 11 immediately after crossing the bridge over Lake Keowee going east into Pickens County. The Interpretive Center is on the right hand side of the road within the park. Signs mark the entrance. OCONEE STATE PARK Oconee State Park has a small number of artifacts on display in a section of the building which houses the restaurant. Plans are current- ly underway to restructure this small exhibit area and perhaps alter the focus. The bathhouse located within the park is one of the best ex- amples of Civilian Conservation Corp stonework within the state. Recently a reconstruction of the water wheel built during the 1940s and used as part of the first water system within the park has been completed. The C. C. C. was but one of the organizations during the Depression era which provided work for the unemployed. As with many other government sponsored programs of that time, the Corp was involved in projects which would benefit the general public. Location: The park is north of Walhalla on the right hand side of State Park Road (Hwy. 107) going north. The restaurant building is within the park. The reconstructed water wheel is near the bathhouse. There is a small admission fee to this heavily visited park.