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SC Picture of the Month – Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant

Shem Creek flows through the heart of Mount Pleasant and is known for its many waterfront bars and restaurants. It also offers a variety of leisure activities including fishing, boating, kayaking, and paddleboarding.

Shem Creek
© 2006 Suzette Morganelli of Gilbert

Originally inhabited by Sewee Indians, the creek's name is thought to derive from the Native American word "Shemee," which may have been a small band or tribe that settled on its banks. The creek begins near present-day Bowman Road, where several small tributaries meet to form its head. It continues to wind through Mount Pleasant's Old Village before eventually emptying into the Charleston harbor.

Shem Creek has a long history as a working creek, beginning in the 1740s when Peter Villepontoux operated a lime kiln on its banks. Several notable businessmen, including Andrew Hibben, also established successful ferries on the creek during this time. Although ferries have since given way to charter boats, Shem Creek remains one of the most popular channels in the area.

Several mills and factories were stationed on the creek during the 1800s, but commerce came to a halt during the Civil War as the mills were either destroyed or abandoned. It wasn't until the turn of the century that the seafood industry began to take shape. By the mid-1940s, shrimping had grown into one of the most important industries in the area and several seafood companies, including the Mount Pleasant Seafood Company, had already been established on Shem Creek.

Today Shem Creek is a favorite watering hole, where tourists and locals alike go to enjoy everything the Lowcountry has to offer.

SCIWAY thanks Suzette Morganelli of Gilbert for this great picture taken in 2006.

Submit your SC pictures to SCIWAY and the next photo of the month could be yours!

South Carolina's March Calendar of Events

National Shag Dance Championships
March 8-10, 2012

Grab your dancing shoes, practice your six-count, and get ready to start shagging! The National Shag Dance Championships started in 1984 and is the longest continuously running shag dance contest in the country. Past winners have gone on to perform on countless shows and events including: Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, PGA Annual Banquets, NBA Games, Beach Music Awards, and more!

South Carolina Events
Complete Calendar of March's SC Events
Statewide – March 1-31, 2012

Want to see the full calendar? Just click here to check out SCIWAY's complete calendar of March SC events! Also, remember that all our event calendars, for every month of the year, are always available on SCIWAY's website – just go to https://www.sciway.net/calendar.html.

If you would like to feature your event in our newsletter or on our calendar, please visit our calendar information page. Thanks!






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