Today tourists flock to the warm waters of Myrtle Beach, explore
refurbished plantations, and stroll the picturesque streets of old
Charleston. In this history of the state, Kenneth Townsend examines the
rich and complicated past of these places. Beginning with the area's
earliest settlers, Townsend traces the state's integral role in the
American Revolution and its rise as an agricultural powerhouse; the
Civil War and the legacy of slavery; its recent economic reemergence
after the Civil Rights era. Highlighting major historical figures, key
events, and cultural icons from Andrew Jackson to James Brown, Townsend
sheds light on one of the country's oldest and loveliest states.