Walking Around Downtown Aiken, South Carolina

Eric & the beautiful
Welcome to Aiken
sign

Aiken's horses celebrate

 the area's equine culture.

Aiken offers Steeplechasing,

Polo Games & Fox Hunting.

Eric and I live near Saratoga Springs, New York, which is known for Thoroughbred and Harness Racing.

Aiken's City Hall

The Aiken Woodmen of

 the World Monument

Woodmen of the World is a fraternal organization that does volunteer work in communities across the United States.

The Savannah River 
Nuclear Solutions
Building dominates
this corner.






The Savannah River Site covers 310 miles in Allendale, Aiken and Barnwell counties.  It was constructed in the 1950s to produce the nuclear materials used to manufacture nuclear weapons.   Savannah River Nuclear Solutions cleans up nuclear sites.  The company also does research into clean energy.

Visitor Maps are available

throughout downtown.

This is very handy for

visitors.

The Aiken Brewing Company

We'll stop in for a drink after
we walk around downtown.

The Aiken City Clock

Moon Beans Fine
Roasted Coffee

Another "Painted Pony"

The stately Carriage
House Inn

Power Cuts Salon & Spa is

housed in this  beautifully

kept Arts & Crafts home.

"A Study of Doors"

The Mellow Mushroom

serves pizza & more...

The 1953 Gas Explosion
Historical Marker










At 8:30 am on January 7, 1953 a natural gas line explosion in the basement of the Jones Electric Company sparked a fire that burned the electric company and four other buildings.  Ten people died and downtown was a disaster zone.  The explosion was felt miles away.

 

The Charles E. Simons

Federal Court House

The Aiken County

Judicial Center

Aiken's Confederate

Monument

Eric waits for me while
I take pictures.

I've been known to lag
behind on our walks.

The Park on Newberry Street

A statue of William
Aiken Sr.

He sits on the bench,
patiently waiting for
the train.





William Aiken, Sr. was the President of the South Carolina Canal and Railroad Company.  His company brought the railroad to the former crossroads community.  The City of Aiken is named in Mr. Aiken's honor.

Saint John's United

Methodist Church

With the large plaza in front of the church, I am reminded of churches in Nicaragua.

The Hotel Aiken spans
the length of a city block.








Downtown Aiken is very walkable with lots of free parking and easy to navigate with maps of the city available in multiple locations.  There are lots of restaurants and shops to explore.

Now it's time to stop in at the Aiken Brewing Company.