Little River in Horry County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Rev. George Whitefield
Photographed by Dave W, May 30, 2023
1. Rev. George Whitefield Marker, Side One
On Jan. 1, 1740 George Whitefield (1714-1770), Anglican evangelist, stopped at a tavern nearby on his way to Savannah. Whitefield, the most famous revivalist of the Great Awakening in colonial America, wrote in his diary that since it was New Years Day and the crowd at the tavern was dancing country dances, he believed they wished I had not come to be their guest.
Whitefield, who believed dancing was a sin, tried to convince a woman dancing a jig how well-pleased the devil was with every step she took. Although she kept dancing and the fiddler kept fiddling, they soon stopped and allowed Whitefield to preach and baptize a child. Once he retired for the night, however, the New Years spirit prevailed, and the music and dancing resumed.
Erected 2009 by the Horry County Board of Architectural Review and Historic Preservation, replacing a marker erected by the Horry County Historic Preservation Commission in 1976. (Marker Number 26-2.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment • Religion & Religious Structures • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical date for this entry is January 1, 1740.
Location. 33° 52.62′ N,
this page online
Regionally, this marker is on South Carolina’s Grand Strand and in the Pee Dee. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Deep South, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Rebecca Randall Bryan (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Village of Little River (approx. 0.4 miles away); Boundary House (approx. 1½ miles away); South Carolina / North Carolina (approx. 1.7 miles
Photographed by Dave W, May 30, 2023
2. Rev. George Whitefield Marker, Side Two
More about this marker. The 1976 version of this marker had been erected near 33° 51.873′ N, 78° 39.14′ W and was missing by 2007. It was on Highway 17 northbound lanes (U.S. 17) north of South Carolina Highway 90, on the right before the crossover to Villas Drive. It had the same text on both sides which read
On Jan. 1, 1740, George Whitefield, a fiery disciple of Methodists John and Charles Wesley preached at a tavern near here. Observing patrons dancing, Whitefield exhorted them against that vice. Soon the dancers stopped and allowed Whitefield to baptize one of the children. After Whitefield had retired for the evening, the New Years spirit prevailed, and the dancing resumed.
Photographed by Dave W, May 30, 2023
3. Rev. George Whitefield Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on January 13, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 31, 2023, by Dave W of Co, Colorado. This page has been viewed 908 times since then and 103 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 31, 2023, by Dave W of Co, Colorado. 3. submitted on June 4, 2023, by Dave W of Co, Colorado. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
