Savannah River Site Walking Tours Revisit Former Town of Ellenton

George (Buddy) Wingard with the Savannah River Archeological Research Program explains the local history of Ellenton, South Carolina, to tour participants.

AIKEN, S.C. - The Savannah River Site (SRS), one of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Environmental Management (EM) cleanup locations, is marking the site's history through walking tours of what was once Ellenton, South Carolina, a town displaced during the Cold War for construction of SRS.

For nearly 75 years, SRS has been part of the Central Savannah River Area, a region of Georgia and South Carolina close to the Savannah River and Augusta, Georgia. To preserve the site's rich history, Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS), the managing and operating contractor at SRS, is now offering public walking tours of the area that once included Ellenton.

"In collaboration with the Savannah River Archeological Research Program, we are excited to pilot two walking tours of Ellenton," said SRS Cold War Historic Preservation Program Manager Susie Ferrara. "The first tour completely sold out and guests really enjoyed learning the history and seeing, firsthand, the old streets and building foundations of the former residences and businesses."

The University of South Carolina's Savannah River Archaeological Research Program manages all archaeological and historic resources for DOE at SRS.

Ferrara noted that the SRS Heritage Foundation hosted the inaugural tour of the Ellenton Trail prior to the coronavirus pandemic but stopped the visits following the outbreak of the virus.

"With the feedback we received from our historic public tour surveys, our guests made it very clear they wanted to see more of the former community, so we listened," Ferrara said.

A tour informational board on the route of a walking tour displaying the history of Ellenton, South Carolina.

In 1880, Ellenton was officially incorporated as a town. It later became populated by farmers from nearby communities, benefiting from local railroad and train stations. In 1950, DOE's predecessor agency, the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, and the E. I. du Pont de Nemours Company announced that the Savannah River Plant would be built on land in Aiken, Barnwell and Allendale counties in South Carolina.

Dedicated to maintaining the highest possible safety and security standards, SRS is a key DOE industrial complex responsible for environmental stewardship and cleanup, nuclear waste management and disposition of nuclear materials.

"Both the SRS Cold War Historic Preservation and the Savannah River Archeological Research programs are committed to preserving the decades of culture, artifacts, accomplishments and history associated with the Savannah River Plant being built and operated in South Carolina," said Andy Horcher, senior manager with the Natural Resources Program for DOE's Savannah River Operations Office. "SRS is committed to its people, missions and the future, but also recognizes the sacrifices made so we can exist. Our ongoing missions couldn't have happened without the patriotism, bravery and dedication of those that came before."

There are 12 remaining SRS public tours and one Ellenton walking tour in 2024. Visitors can gain an understanding of the DOE facilities, missions and workforce that changed the face of counties near SRS and helped the United States during the Cold War. Tour guests also will learn about current and future EM and National Nuclear Security Administration missions at SRS.

For more information or to register for the SRS Tour Program, click here.

-Contributor: Aunarey Herbert