A new smartphone app gives tourists, students and anyone else curious about South Carolina’s history a new way to discover the stories that made the Palmetto State. 

ExploreSC provides an interactive map of more than 4,000 historical sites, including the state’s roadside markers and local monuments, throughout South Carolina. The app also can detect the user’s location and identify nearby sites of interest. 

Developed by the Institute for Southern Studies at the University of South Carolina, the app draws on data from the South Carolina Encyclopedia, but it adds interactive components designed for smartphone users. 

“Anyone visiting or living in South Carolina can benefit from this app," says Mark Smith, director of the Institute for Southern Studies. "It helps give meaning to place and time and is a wonderful way to access our state’s rich, textured heritage, culture and traditions.” 

Joel Samuels, dean of USC's College of Arts and Sciences, says the app is part of the college’s ongoing commitment to community outreach. 

“ExploreSC speaks directly to our dedication to making our scholarship and research relevant and useful to the broadest audience possible,” Samuels says. “I can’t think of any constituency that won’t find the app of immense value.” 

To learn more about ExploreSC, visit its page on the Institute for Southern Studies website, or watch an introductory video by the Take on the South podcast. 

Development of ExploreSC was supported by the Watson-Brown Foundation.  

The app is available for download from the iPhone and Android app stores. For Android devices, It requires Android 12 or higher and needs the precise location permission.