Photos

Located between Myrtle Beach and Charleston, SC, Pawleys Island is bordered on the east by the Atlantic Ocean and on the west by a salt marsh with an almost limitless supply of flounder, oysters, and crabs.

The families of rice planters who owned plantations on the nearby rivers first settled Pawleys Island in the early 1700's. The planters knew that it was unhealthy for their families to remain on the rivers during the summer and that the seashore was much healthier. Even though they didn't know about malaria in the 1700's, they knew enough to get away! They moved their families, horses, cows, bedding, provisions and furniture to Pawleys in May of each year, where they remained until the first frost in November!

Still remaining are 12 residences in the historic district, which date from the late 1700's to the mid 1800's. Pawleys continues to be known for its shoeless, carefree, laid-back life style, which includes crabbing in the adjacent creeks, fishing, the stories of ghosts, the rope hammocks and the unspoiled, unsophisticated, casual, delightful stretch of wide beach and sand dunes.

The Civil War and several major hurricanes have changed the face of the island but it still retains the nickname "arrogantly shabby." Pawleys is an island of simple virtues and lack of pretense.

In the historic district you will see a number of signs with a brief history of the antebellum homes. As you traverse the island you will note the variety of shapes and sizes of our beach houses.

Pawleys Island is a barrier island less than 4 miles long and mostly 1 house wide, separated from the mainland by a beautiful salt marsh and accessible by two short causeways.

I captured this man tossing his net in the high heat and humidity also so well known to the area. The marshes seem to swallow their visitors in a much almost like quicksand. The creatures that inhabit the space are not all friendly as alligators, snakes and much more were spotted while watching these fisherman. None the less the beauty which is Pawley's is undeniable.