Tucked away at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Greenville County is the Poinsett Bridge Heritage Preserve. The protected acreage is home to what’s believed to be the oldest surviving stone bridge in South Carolina — Poinsett Bridge.
Built in 1820, the bridge honors Joel Roberts Poinsett, a former director of the South Carolina Department of Public Works.
Beginning September 29th, the Preserve will close to the public as crews begin preservation work on the historic structure. Over the next several months, the bridge will undergo resurfacing, the replacement of deteriorated lime mortar and missing stones, and the addition of a guardrail.
According to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, "This preservation project will ensure the bridge continues to stand for another 200 years."
Preservation work is expected to be completed within a year, with Poinsett Bridge Heritage Preserve set to reopen to the public in April 2026.
Press Release from the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources below:
Thursday, August 28, 2025
Poinsett Bridge Heritage Preserve will be closed for a preservation project from Monday, September 29, 2025 through Tuesday, March 31, 2026. The property is expected to re-open to the public on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. During this time, all access to the property will be closed. This includes complete closure of the Poinsett Bridge Heritage Preserve parking area.
Poinsett Bridge will undergo several months of preservation work which will include repointing the historic lime mortar, replacing missing stones, resurfacing the bridge, and adding a guardrail. This preservation project will ensure the bridge continues to stand for another 200 years.
Built in 1820, Poinsett Bridge honors Joel Roberts Poinsett, a former director of the South Carolina Department of Public Works (SCDPW). Poinsett designed the old state road that once extended from Charleston through Columbia and into North Carolina and included several bridges.
Historians attribute the design of the Poinsett Bridge to the South Carolinian architect Robert Mills based upon an illustration Mills painted in 1821 when he served as the State Architect and Engineer for SCDPW. Mills is best-known for designing the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. as well as several buildings throughout Columbia. The stone Poinsett Bridge features a traditional gothic arch with the year “1820” etched into its keystone.
Continue reading more about Poinsett Bridge, and explore the growing collection of SCDNR Heritage Trust Program StoryMaps.