Historical Markers
The City of Aiken and the Friends of Hopelands Gardens and Rye Patch have the honor of working together to maintain Hopelands Gardens and the guesthouse and surrounding property known as Rye Patch. This is an on-going stewardship that brings with it a great number of on-going projects, from daily grounds keeping to infrastructure-based projects and everything in between.
The Friends of Hopelands Gardens and Rye Patch would like to share an important project that was completed last year. Two historical markers were successfully applied for and obtained through a collaborative effort between the City of Aiken and the Friends of Hopelands Gardens and Rye Patch. Allen Riddick shares this background of this project in the passage below.
The Hopelands and Rye Patch Historical Markers
On March 29, 2026, at the Friends of Hopelands and Rye Patch Annual Meeting two official State of South Carolina historical markers were unveiled. One was for Hopelands and the other was for Rye Patch. Both are components of Aiken’s most important piece of public property.
The work to make the historical markers a reality was a collaboration between the City of Aiken, the Friends of Hopelands and Rye Patch and the Aiken County Historical Society. Two members of the Friends of Hopelands and Rye Patch, authors Anna Dangerfield and Lil Brannon, were the official “researchers” for the project. Official State of SC historical markers have to have documentation for every word that goes on them. Anna and Lil had just completed their book entitled “Hopelands Gardens and Rye Patch: The Friends’ Story.” Their research and also helping with what wording should be on the historical markers was invaluable to the completion of the project. Finally, Allen Riddick, president of the Aiken County Historical Society, guided the process to its completion. His work included paperwork and phone communications with the Department of Archives and History in Columbia.
The South Carolina Department of Archives and History approves all applications for historical markers in South Carolina. Once approved, they will send you an official copy of the wording that is to be sent to Sewah Studios in Marietta, Ohio. They actually produce the marker and ship it to Aiken when complete.
The entire process to get a historical marker takes anywhere from one to one and a half years to complete. South Carolina has approximately 2,300 historical markers in its 46 counties. Aiken County has 85 historical markers. Since 1999, Allen Riddick and the Aiken County Historical Society have been involved with the erection of 45 historical markers.
The Friends of Hopelands Gardens and Rye Patch welcome visitors to come to the gardens to see these historical markers and enjoy a stroll through Aiken’s beautiful garden oasis.
