Did a Cherokee woman named Issaqueena give the Upstate its most unusual place names? Follow the legendary ride that may have inspired Six Mile, Twelve Mile, Eighteen Mile, and beyond, and discover the fascinating story of courage, sacrifice, and folklore that still echoes through the mountains of South Carolina.
From Cherokee towns along the Keowee River to the railroad depots of Easley and the textile mills that powered generations of families, Pickens County’s story is one of resilience, growth, and transformation. Explore how this corner of the South Carolina foothills evolved from a frontier wilderness into one of the Upstate’s most treasured destinations—where history, mountains, lakes, and small-town traditions continue to shape life today.
Before it was called Table Rock, the Cherokee knew this mountain as Sah-ka-na-ga — “The Great Blue Hills of God.” Discover the fascinating Cherokee history, legends, and meaning behind one of South Carolina’s most iconic landmarks.
Before Lake Keowee became one of South Carolina’s most beautiful lakes, the valley below was home to Cherokee towns, frontier history, family farms, and generations of local residents. Discover the forgotten world that still rests beneath the water.
Before Pumpkintown existed, Cherokee hunters, traders, and families traveled a network of footpaths through the Oolenoy Valley. Discover the forgotten trails that once connected the mountains of the Upstate to the Cherokee Lower Towns.