Editing Spartanburg, South Carolina (section)

==Arts and culture==
{{wide image|Chapman Cultural Center panorama.jpg|1100px|align-cap=center|Panoramic view of the Chapman Cultural Center}}

Cultural events and institutions in the city include:
* Chapman Cultural Center,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.chapmanculturalcenter.org/ |title=Welcome :: Chapman Cultural Center |website=Chapmanculturalcenter.org |access-date=July 2, 2023}}</ref> Spartanburg's cultural anchor for history, art, theatre, dance, music, and science, is located in a three-building complex on the northern edge of downtown. Opened in October 2007, the Center was designed by [[David M. Schwarz]] Architects of [[Washington, D.C.]] It houses the Spartanburg Art Museum, Spartanburg County Regional History Museum, Science Center, Little Theatre, Ballet, Music Foundation, and other groups that were formerly located in The Arts Center<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.spartanarts.org |title=Welcome to the Chapman Cultural Center |website=Spartanarts.org |access-date=December 12, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090901170156/http://www.spartanarts.org/ |archive-date=September 1, 2009}}</ref> on South Spring Street. It is owned and operated by The Arts Partnership of Greater Spartanburg, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting arts and cultural agencies in Spartanburg County.
* [[Converse University]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Converse University |url=http://www.converse.edu |access-date=December 28, 2021 |website=Converse.edu}}</ref> is a nationally known four-year liberal arts institution recognized for its strong music and visual art programs. It hosts events open to the community throughout the year. Twichell Auditorium is located on the campus of Converse University. Home of the Greater Spartanburg Philharmonic Orchestra, Twichell Auditorium has served as hosts to other groups such as the Spartanburg All-County High School Band and Boston Brass. Twichell Auditorium was built in 1899 and renovated for the school's centennial celebration in 1989. The 1500-seat auditorium is home to a 57-rank [[Casavant Frères|Casavant]] organ with 2,600+ pipes. Theatre Converse puts on several plays a year, and Converse puts on an opera annually, as well as opera scenes. The university has had major concerts in recent years with such artists as [[Caedmon's Call]], [[Jason Mraz]], [[Corey Smith (musician)|Corey Smith]], and [[Colbie Caillat]].
* [[Hub City Writers Project]], serves the community as a local publishing company and independent bookstore.
* Spartanburg County Public Library headquarters,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.infodepot.org |title=Spartanburg County Public Libraries |website=Infodepot.org |access-date=December 12, 2010}}</ref> housed in an innovative building on South Church Street, is home to a voluminous collection of fiction, nonfiction, children's literature, A/V materials and items relating to local history and genealogy. The library hosts many meetings, concerts and presentations. The County Librarian is Todd Stephens.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Spartanburg County Public Libraries|url=http://www.spartanburglibraries.org/Contact/Directory|access-date=2021-02-10|website=Spartanburglibraries.org}}</ref>
* [[Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium]] is located on N. Church Street, across from the municipal building in the northwest end of the city of Spartanburg. The "SMA" has hosted acts such as [[Bob Dylan]], [[Crosby Stills and Nash]], [[B.B. King]], [[Billy Joel]], [[David Copperfield (illusionist)|David Copperfield]], [[Lewis Grizzard]], [[Harry Connick, Jr.]], [[Gerald Levert]], [[Dave Chappelle]], [[Jerry Seinfeld]], [[Phish]], ''[[A Prairie Home Companion]]'', and many others. Originally built in an [[Art Deco]] style and was renovated {{circa|2002}} including a new facade and backstage with loading area.
* Wofford College,<ref>{{cite web |date=October 22, 2007 |title=Wofford College |url=http://www.wofford.edu |access-date=December 12, 2010 |website=Wofford.edu}}</ref> liberal arts college. Not traditionally known for its arts and cultural strength, Wofford has made notable strides to develop arts programs in recent years. Poet and environmental writer [[John E. Lane]], theater artist Mark Ferguson, and visual artist [[Kris Neely]] are all graduates of Wofford. Each returned to their alma mater to develop curricular and co-curricular opportunities in the Arts, including a Creative Writing program, a Theatre Major, and a minor in Studio Art. John Lane was also a critical visionary in the creation of the Goodall Environmental Studies Center in [[Glendale, South Carolina|Glendale]].

===Points of interest===
* Cottonwood Trail, walking trail located in the Edwin M. Griffin Nature Preserve that runs along part of Lawson's Fork Creek. The trail includes picnic areas, a raised path over an extensive wetlands area and access to sporadic sandbars. Located just east of downtown, it is used frequently by cyclists, joggers and walkers. Since the Lawson's Fork floodplain is not suitable for development, wildlife populate the area. Larger animals that can be found here include [[white-tailed deer]], [[raccoon]]s, [[wild turkey]]s, [[pileated woodpecker]]s, [[mallard ducks]], [[Canada geese]] and [[common snapping turtle|snapping turtle]]s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.spartanburgconservation.org/edwin.htm |title=Edwin M. Griffin Nature Preserve |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100702000517/http://www.spartanburgconservation.org/edwin.htm |archive-date=July 2, 2010 |website=Spartanburg Area Conservancy |access-date=December 12, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Cottonwood Trail {{!}} SPACE |url=https://www.spartanburgconservation.org/cottonwood-trail |website=Spartanburg Area Conservancy |access-date=July 2, 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Hampton Heights|Hampton Heights Historic District]], the city's oldest intact downtown neighborhood, located a couple of blocks south of Morgan Square. Architectural styles in this neighborhood range from large [[Queen Anne style architecture in the United States|Queen Anne]] and [[Neoclassical architecture|Neoclassical]] homes to cozy early 20th-century bungalows.
* [[Hatcher Garden and Woodland Preserve]], preserve located in the midst of an urban environment. Retired social activist Harold Hatcher and his wife Josephine transformed an eroding gully into a thick woods and flower garden which now provides a haven for birds and other wildlife.<ref>{{Cite web|title=About Us|url=https://www.hatchergarden.org/about-us-2|access-date=2020-06-19|website=Hatcher Garden|language=en-US}}</ref>

Early European settlers to this area included French fur trappers, English woodsmen, and Scots-Irish farmers. Few remnants survive from these early pioneering days, but traces can be found in the more rural areas of the county.

* [[Pacolet River|Lawson's Fork Creek]], tributary of the [[Pacolet River]], was once known for its plentiful wildlife and crystal clear waters. Parks and woodlands line much of its banks (which lie entirely within Spartanburg County), and rocky shoals and natural waterfalls can be found throughout its course. It stretches from the northern end of the county to the eastern end, where it empties into the Pacolet River.
* [[Jammie Seay House]], another 18th-century home, is a more typical representative of a pioneer home. Its single stone fireplace and simple construction were common traits of farmsteads from this period.

First established in the 1780s as a courthouse village, Spartanburg may have been named for the Spartan regiment of the South Carolina militia. The city was incorporated in 1831, at the time of the 50th anniversary of the [[Battle of Cowpens]], a pivotal fight of the [[American Revolution]] that took place only a few miles away. The city's streets and architectural record reflect the changes of the 19th and 20th centuries.

* Magnolia Street Train Depot, one of the older buildings in Spartanburg and stands as a reminder of Spartanburg's old nickname "the Hub City," referring to the many transportation routes that connected Spartanburg with cities throughout the region.<ref>{{cite book |url=http://digital.tcl.sc.edu/cdm/ref/collection/access/id/2974 |title=Spartanburg, City and County, South Carolina |date=1888 |publisher=Spartanburg Board of Trade |page=5}}</ref> It is now the home of the [[Amtrak]] station, the Hub City Railroad Museum, and the Hub City Farmers' Market.
* Morgan Square, the city's primary downtown hub, is the original courthouse village. It was founded adjacent to a small spring (now underground) on the western slope of a ridge, which forms the border of the [[Tyger River|Tyger]] and [[Pacolet River]] watersheds. The square's name derives from [[Daniel Morgan]], the general who commanded the American forces at Cowpens. A statue of Morgan was placed in the square in 1881. The oldest existing buildings on Morgan Square date to the 1880s.
* The Price House, the third 18th-century home maintained by the Historical Association, is unique. Its sturdy [[Flemish bond|Flemish-bond]] brick construction and three stories are less common in this area. By carefully examining the original inventory lists of the house, the Historical Association has been able to retrieve period pieces that approximate the original contents of the house.
* [[Walnut Grove Plantation]], an 18th-century farmhouse, has been preserved by The Spartanburg County Historical Association. The site of a locally famous skirmish during the [[American Revolutionary War]], it was the home of the Moore family. The plantation lies south of Spartanburg near the town of [[Roebuck, South Carolina|Roebuck]], and is open to the public for tours and during annual festivals.

[[Cotton mill]]s have abounded in the Spartanburg area since 1816, earning Spartanburg the reputation as the "[[Lowell, Massachusetts|Lowell]] of the South." Although there were few mills in the area before the [[American Civil War|Civil War]], technological advances, northern capital, and out-migration from the poor farms that made white labor available, created a wave of [[Reconstruction Era of the United States|postbellum]] mill development here and in much of the Piedmont [[Southern USA|South]]. Additionally, the abundant streams and rivers in the area are just beginning their descent towards the lower-lying [[Midlands (South Carolina)|Midlands]] region. In many places, these waterways descend abruptly, providing a source for plentiful [[waterpower]]. Cotton mills were built along these rivers to harness this power, and so began the region's servitude to [[King Cotton]]. These mills, their owners and their slaves dominated the politics and economy of the region for nearly a century. Although nearly all abandoned, many mills remain along the riverbanks, the Piedmont equivalent of [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] ruins.

* Beaumont Mill, north of the downtown, has recently been purchased by Spartanburg Regional Healthcare who moved their billing, human resources, and medical records to the {{convert|180000|sqft|adj=on}} mill.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wyff4.com/spartanburg-regional-healthcare-system/former-textile-mill-once-again-buzzes-with-activity/40997314|title=Former Textile Mill Once Again Buzzes with Activity|website=[[WYFF]]|access-date=September 8, 2016}}</ref> The adjacent mill village has been designated as a local historic district.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cityofspartanburg.org/index.cfm?PageID=369&ParentPageID=147 |title=Beaumont Village Local Historic District |website=Cityofspartanburg.org |access-date=January 29, 2012}}</ref>
* Converse Mill, located east of the city along the Pacolet River. It has recently been purchased by a developer. The mill was reconstructed in 1903 after a huge flood washed away the original mill. The dam is still in use by Converse Energy Inc as a hydroelectric plant.
[[File:Glendalebridge.jpg|thumb|right|220px|The old bridge and millpond at Glendale. The mill itself (background) has since burned.]]
* Glendale Mill, located off Lawson's Fork Creek, southeast of the city. Although gutted by fire in 2004,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sciway.net/sc-photos/spartanburg-county/glendale-mill.html|title=Glendale Mill – Glendale South Carolina SC|website=Sciway.net|date=December 7, 2011|access-date=September 8, 2016}}</ref> a few towers and smokestacks remain, providing a dramatic backdrop to the dam, shoals and waterfalls of the creek below. The former company store now serves as the home of the [[Wofford College]] Environmental Studies Center. The Glendale Shoals bridge will be getting a $600,000 makeover, and will ultimately connect to the state's [[Palmetto Trail]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.goupstate.com/news/20120530/glendale-shoals-bridge-to-receive-600000-makeover|title=Glendale Shoals bridge to receive $600,000 makeover|last=Doughman|first=Andrew|newspaper=Spartanburg Herald-Journal|access-date=September 8, 2016}}</ref>

When the United States entered [[World War I]] in 1917, one of the sixteen divisional cantonments for the training of National Guard troops was Camp Wadsworth, which is located in the vicinity of [[Westgate Mall (Spartanburg)|Westgate Mall]]. Large numbers of New York National Guardsmen trained there in addition to many southern troops. During [[World War II]], Camp Croft south of the city trained Army recruits. This is now a South Carolina state park with the same name. Some portions of the park contain the original [[quonset hut]]s.

===Attractions===
* Dickens of a Christmas, Victorian holiday event held annually in downtown Spartanburg on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving.
* The Greek Festival, major street festival that is held in September by the local Greek community at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. The festival offers Greek food and cultural activities, and is the sister festival to the Greek Festival held every spring in [[Greenville, South Carolina|Greenville]].
* Festifall, an historical celebration held on the grounds of the 18th-century Walnut Grove Plantation in October, featuring demonstrations and reenactments.
* The Hotspot Skatepark
* The Hub City Farmers Market, outdoor market held Saturday mornings from 8:00am – 12:00pm from April to December at Harvest Park in the Northside neighborhood, showcasing local (often organic) produce and goods.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hubcityfm.org/ |title=Hub City Farmers Market|website=Hubcityfm.org|access-date=2022-01-11}}</ref>
* The Hub City Hog Fest, annual barbecue festival and competition that benefits Mobile Meals. It is held in the heart of downtown Spartanburg with food trucks, over 40 BBQ teams, and two days of live music.
* Hub City Railroad Museum<ref>{{cite web |title=Hub City Railroad Museum |url=http://www.hubcityrailroadmuseum.org |access-date=July 20, 2012 |website=Hubcityrailroadmuseum.org}}</ref>
* The International Festival, event showcasing culture and cuisine from countries around the globe held at Barnet Park on the first Saturday in October.
* Music on Main, street concert event held every Thursday (April through August) in downtown Spartanburg.
* Spartanburg Music Trail,<ref>{{cite web |title=Spartanburg Music Trail |url=http://spartanburgmusictrail.com/ |access-date=July 20, 2012 |website=spartanburgmusictrail.com}}</ref> trail with a series of signs throughout downtown recognizing local musicians.
* Red, White and Boom, [[Independence Day (United States)|Fourth of July]] event held at Barnet Park featuring patriotic music and a fireworks display.
* Taste of the Backcountry, historical celebration held on the grounds of the 18th-century Price House in April, featuring food samples and demonstrations