New Mural Highlights Blackville’s History and Brightens Downtown

August 11, 2025

New Mural Highlights Blackville's History and Brightens Downtown

The Town of Blackville is rich in history as many locals and tourists alike know the town for some of its major landmarks. Visitors to downtown Blackville will now enjoy a new mural highlighting the town’s history, courtesy of SouthernCarolina Alliance’s Regional Beautification Program and special funding from Palmetto Pride, South Carolina’s anti-litter and beautification organization.

Blackville’s new mural, located on the outside wall of Harrison’s Travel Agency on Main Street, gives color and brightness to the entire downtown while also showcasing two of Blackville’s most beloved landmarks: The Old Depot and God’s Acre Healing Springs.

The Old Blackville Train Depot was constructed in the early 1900s and renovated in 2005. Once situated near the Charleston Hamburg railroad line, the depot was moved to its current location in 1985, where it now houses the Blackville Branch Library. Located just a short drive from downtown, God’s Acre Healing Springs draw hundreds of visitors to the area each year. Situated on land that has the unique distinction of being deeded to God, the spring’s mineral water flows from nearby artesian wells.

Blackville’s downtown area is seeing many new and exciting developments, including a clothing store, new restaurant, landscaping projects, and more, under the leadership of Mayor Ronnie Pernell.

“First, I would like to thank the SouthernCarolina Alliance for providing the resources for installment of the beautiful mural,” said Mayor Pernell. “It brings vibrancy, highlights our history, and displays the character of our great town.”

Now entering its fourth year of operation, SCA’s Regional Beautification Marketing Program, led by Graci Hiers of SouthernCarolina Alliance (SCA), exists, “to help make our counties more marketable as the best place to live, work, and invest to beautify he region by cleaning up our roadways, industrial parks, downtowns, neighborhoods and waterways. Adding public art to our communities plays a major role in the revitalization of downtown areas,” said Hiers.

Studies have shown that public art, a form of visual art, can improve the quality of life for a community by promoting economic growth, cultural understanding, community revitalization, and a sense of belonging. However, public art is also a great litter prevention strategy, that has recently gained attention not only in South Carolina, but internationally.

“Palmetto Pride believes that public art projects help create cleaner, safer communities,” says Sarah Lyles, Executive Director of Palmetto Pride. “Public art, such as murals, has been a proven tactic in community improvement plans for many years. This mural captures the historical importance of Blackville and is a beautiful addition to its downtown.”

As the SCA regional program concludes, directional signage for Healing Springs and other Barnwell County landmarks will be installed.

To learn more about SCA, visit: www.SouthernCarolina.org or follow SCA on social media.

To learn more about Palmetto Pride, visit: www.palmettopride.org.