Discover Cheraw: History, Music and Nature

If you’re looking for a hotel in Cheraw, the destination’s cultural and natural attractions can help guide your plans. Historic sites, the musical legacy of Dizzy Gillespie, and trails along the river or in Cheraw State Park offer different ways to explore.

Historic Sites and Eras

The Cheraw Historic District covers 213 acres and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Lyceum Museum features exhibits on Cheraw’s history, from pre-colonial times through the 1970s. Old St. David’s Church and Cemetery is also part of the area’s historic character: the church was built in the 1770s. The cemetery contains the graves of soldiers from most American wars, as well as the first Confederate monument ever erected. Cheraw is also a stop on the South Carolina Cotton Trail.

Self-guided brochures for exploring historic areas are available to download and at the Lyceum Museum, Old St. David’s Church, Town Hall and the Cheraw Chamber of Commerce. The Historic Cheraw Self-Guided Walking Tour passes 75 homes, shops, churches and parks. For your walk, you can choose between this tour with its named stops and the brochures for independent navigation.

Dizzy Gillespie and Cultural Heritage

The Dizzy Gillespie Tour is a self-guided walk to places in Cheraw connected with Gillespie’s early life. The Southern African American Heritage Center offers a different perspective: it preserves the contributions of African Americans in Chesterfield County and features an exhibit about Gillespie. The Gillespie Home Site Park has stainless-steel benches, a modern sculpture and a historic marker. In contrast, Ingram’s River Artifacts Room displays artifacts recovered by divers from the Great Pee Dee River. Biographical sites, contributions to the county’s history and finds from the river thus offer distinct cultural themes.

Trails and River Access

Arrowhead Park has a flat, paved out-and-back trail for walking and biking that loops around the athletic fields. The Great Pee Dee Nature Trail and Tanyard Loop can be accessed from Riverside Park. The Great Pee Dee Nature Trail leads to an overlook above the Pee Dee River. Riverside Park also has a boat ramp, providing local access to the Great Pee Dee River.

Nature in the Wider Region

Cheraw State Park is in the wider region, four miles south of Cheraw. The Cheraw Nature Trail is an easy, 2-mile loop within the larger, 4.5-mile Turkey Oak Trail. The stated lengths give you a concrete basis for comparison, while the Nature Trail is also described as easy. The park has cypress wetlands at Lake Juniper, which can be explored by kayak or canoe and from a boardwalk along the shore. Other recreational opportunities include fishing and hiking and biking trails. The park is home to an extensive longleaf pine forest with red-cockaded woodpeckers and wetlands with stands of Atlantic white cedar. Since operating conditions and facilities may change, it’s a good idea to check the latest park information before your visit.

Events and Seasonal Produce

The Cheraw Spring Festival began in 1975 and features arts and crafts booths, rides, fine art, local talent and live music. The annual Sandblast Rally takes place on the first Saturday in March; it is preceded by a full weekend of events leading up to race day. The Cheraw Farmer’s Market offers locally grown produce and is open seasonally.

Discover more destinations: Pageland, Ruby

For the main travel overview: Chesterfield County.