Newberry was recently named one of the “Most Charming Small Towns in America” by Travel Channel. This small historic town offers museums, art, hiking and more!
College graduation robes, textiles from nineteenth century mills, and lace curtains hanging at the windows of antebellum homes are some of the textures that give dimension to this proud community. The town is trimmed with architectural elements that detail its development, beginning with its early settlement in 1745 by Adam Summer. This part of the South Carolina upcountry was settled largely by Scots-Irish, English, and German immigrants in the mid-eighteenth century.
Newberry College has been one of the town's most popular points of interest since it was first chartered in 1856. Although the campus' original structure was so badly damaged a few years later by Federal troops during the American Civil War that its remains were eventually torn down, Smeltzer Hall was later constructed on that original foundation.
Newberry Opera House was completed in 1882 and is located at the very heart of downtown. The Opera House was designed as a place of entertainment for locals and seat of government for the city- including fire engine room and three jail cells! In 1920s it was renovated as a movie theather which was closed in 1952. In 1970, the building was placed on the National Register of Historic places, and in 1998 the Newberry Opera House was reopened for performances after extensive renovations.
The Newberry Palmetto Trail offers wonderful passage for those who enjoys taking walks. The path passes the old Coca Cola bottling plant (turned indoor shooting range, turned law office). The Newberry Passage is a 10-mile section of trail, with 4 of those miles within city limits, crossing pass historic houses, Main Street with shops, cafes and bars. The Lynch’s Wood is a relaxing 5 mile loop hike through a beautiful park full of old growth trees. Lynch’s Woods Park was created in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), and today the 276-acre park features trails for mountain bikers, hikers, and equestrians.
Newberry Museum housed in the 1911 Federal Building and United States Post Office. The museum offers permanent and rotating exhibitions about the history of the county as well as surrounding municipalities. The Newberry Museum regularly updates its calendar of exhibits and events, so there is always something new to explore.
The Wells Japanese Garden is a Newberry landmark that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. With a temple, tea garden, Moon Bridge, and Torri Gate situated amongst a natural landscape, there is a lot of culture and beauty to explore.
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