Poinsett Bridge in Greenville SC

Visiting the Poinsett Bridge

As you drive along Callahan Mountain Rd near Landrum it’s easy to miss this pivotal piece of Carolina history. The Poinsett Bridge is nestled in the woods and out of sight to modern travelers. The parking area is on the opposite side of the road and offers no clue as to its purpose. Even if you’re using GPS, as I would suggest, you may have to turn around. And that’s OK, but unfortunately, good spots to turn around are few and far between here in the wilderness.

As you drive along, imagine what it would have been like 200 years ago. There were no interstates, no paved road, and there wasn’t even a single road running the length of the state – and forget about connections to other states. Traveling from one part of the South Carolina to another was a long and egregious job in the early 19th Century.

That would need to change if the state was to flourish, so the state of South Carolina set about building a road from the coast to the mountains. The Poinsett Bridge is one of the few surviving relics of that time in our region’s history.

If you want to know more about the Poinsett Bridge’s place in history Jump down the page.

The bridge itself stretches 130 feet across the Little Gap Creek and is unusual in that it features a 14 foot Gothic Arch. Today this old stone bridge is the centerpiece of the Poinsett Bridge Heritage Preserve, a 120 acre park owned by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and maintained by the Greenville County Recreation Department with a goal of preserving this piece of history for future generations to enjoy.

Along with the bridge there are a few hiking trails in the park, but be aware that they run through private property, so keep this in mind during your walk and take appropriate precautions. Otherwise you can walk along the bank of the Gap Creek and even walk under the Gothic Arch of Poinsett Bridge.

The climb down to the base of the Poinsett Bridge can be a little steep. So if you have a hard time walking, best to stay topside. But you can really get a better view of the creek and the wildflowers from the top of the bridge. And if you get tired there’s a nice seating area nearby.

Dogs are allowed, but just keep them on a leash and signs say that no one is allowed in the park after dark, although there aren’t any gates. If you do brave this bridge after dark, you should know that it’s been the subject of many ghost stories. Visitors have reported hearing strange sounds, seeing floating orbs of light, or even man shaped mists walking across the bridge. One person even reported feeling their hand grabbed by an otherworldly spirit. If you’re at all squeamish, best to do what the sign says and stay away from this Poinsett Bridge at night.

History of the Poinsett Bridge

Life before the Poinsett Bridge

Two hundred years ago, it was very difficult to to move goods from the South Carolina coast to the upstate. But even if you made it to the upstate, the Blue Ridge Mountains posed a major obstacle in any further progress.

Even transporting goods south was a problem without a well maintained road. Goods from the upstate couldn’t be easily transported to ports in Charleston, and at the same time goods coming from overseas where hard to transport even as far as Colombia.

Towns and settlements were growing up in western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee. With no reliable connection to these settlements, South Carolina was not benefiting from westward expansion.

The situation was only made worse after the War of 1812. Now that the United States was firmly in control of the Louisiana Territory, riverboats could be used to transport goods from the Ohio River Valley along the Mississippi to the port of New Orleans and then on to Europe. The rise of New Orleans meant that the port of Charleston was in decline.

The Poinsett Bridge and The State Road

Soon calls to improve the state’s infrastructure began to rise. This “internal improvements” movement led the South Carolina legislature to appropriate one million dollars to build roads, canals, and public buildings throughout the state in 1818.

Initially most of the interest was in building canals that would connect Charleston to Charlotte. This included a system of 4 canals along the Catawba between Camden and Charlotte. The only canal that survives to this day (albeit in ruins) is Landsford Canal (link).

But more was needed, and so the State Road was conceived. It was to be a direct connection between the Port of Charleston and the North Carolina state line. It would run from Charleston to Columbia and then on to the Upstate. From the South Carolina Upstate, the Saluda Gap Road would complete a connection to NC and on to TN.

In early 1820 stonemasons and other skilled workers were brought in, and work on the State Road began in the Lowcountry. As Spring moved into Summer, and with it malaria season, the workers were moved to the Upstate to start work on the Saluda Gap Road.

By July 17, 1820 around 500 locally hired laborers were hard at work. The road and three bridges were completed in only three and a half months. The only bridge still standing today is the Poinsett Bridge named after SC Board of Public Works president Joel Roberts Poinsett.

Poinsett was not only the president of the Board of Public Works at the time, but was later appointed the first US Ambassador to Mexico and is credited with introducing the poinsettia to the United States.

The Saluda Gap Road section of the State Road connected to North Carolina’s Buncombe Turnpike which by 1828 ran through Asheville and down the French Broad River into Tennessee. Finally connecting Charleston to the western settlements.

Does the Poinsett Bridge Have a Washington Monument Connection?

Some people think that the Poinsett Bridge was designed by noted South Carolina architect Robert Mills. While Mills is most famous as the designer of the Washington Monument, The US Treasury Building, and the original US Patent Office Building, he also served on the SC Board of Public works in the 1820’s and drawings of the bridge were found in his papers.

His connection with the bridge is thought to be dubious by many historians. Mills didn’t join the Board of Public works until after the construction of the Poinsett Bridge, and he was not even living in South Carolina at the time the bridge was being built. He was instead working in Baltimore and had been for a number of years.

It is possible, however, that Mills did design the bridge before coming home, and the unique design of the Poinsett Bridge hints at someone with his skill being the designer. Unfortunately there’s no way to say for sure.

Final Thoughts About The Poinsett Bridge Heritage Preserve

While the Poinsett Bridge is a great place to visit, don’t expect to spend a lot of time here. The hiking trails aren’t well marked, so unless you know the area well it would be advisable to keep close to the bridge and stream. Likewise there isn’t much infrastructure at the site. You won’t find interpretative signage like you might at other historic sites. Also there aren’t any picnic tables or restrooms.

That being said, the Poinsett Bridge is well worth a detour on a road trip or when in the area for other things. If you find yourself here, Id suggest also visiting nearby Campbell’s Covered Bridge which is nearby and has picnic tables.

I’ve never seen a lot of people here, so it’s a great spot to spend a little time unwinding and communing with nature. So if you’re in the area do yourself a favor and stop by. You won’t regret the side trip.