Saluda County Historical Museum & Theatre

The Bonham House was built in Saluda, SC in 1780 and was owned by Sophie Smith Bonham. Her husband fought in the Revolutionary War. Her son, James Butler Bonham, would become one of Saluda’s famed sons who would die defending the Alamo. One of his brothers would go on to be a Civil War General and Governor of SC. Call ahead to schedule a tour of this home and the Historical Society’s other Revolutionary Era home (the Marsh-Johnson House). Leave plenty of time to visit the Museum on the square and check out the mural depicting the Saluda Old Town Treaty of 1755 where “Old Hop” and other chiefs of the Cherokee Nation gave up much of their SC lands west of the Broad River. SC militia and provincial officers gained military experience fighting against and alongside the Native Americans during what would be known as the Cherokee Wars. These skills would soon be used again.