Congaree Self Guided Boardwalk Tour Stop #15

Stop #15

Quick Facts

Location:

33.827, -80.8179

Significance:

Tour stop

Moonshine Still

The 18th Amendment was passed in 1919, prohibiting the sale and consumption of alcohol in the United States. Moonshiners and bootleggers found refuge in places like the Congaree River floodplain to earn a living. The iron box you see in the distance is an old still used to make alcohol. Water and corn squeezings were used to make mash. The mash was heated and distilled through copper tubing to produce moonshine. The Congaree floodplain’s difficult terrain and tall trees made it a perfect place for moonshiners to hide stills and produce their illegal liquor.