The Gen. John A. Wagener Historical Marker is located in Walhalla, South Carolina, at the intersection of South Church Street and Short Street. Erected in 2007 by the Oconee Arts and Historical Commission and the Greater Walhalla German-American Club, the marker commemorates Wagener’s significant contributions to the region.

🧔 About Gen. John A. Wagener

• Born: July 21, 1816, in Sievern, Kingdom of Hannover, Germany.​
• Emigrated: To Charleston, South Carolina, where he became a prominent leader in the German immigrant community.​
•  Founder of Walhalla: Organized the German Colonization Society to establish a settlement for German immigrants in upstate South Carolina, leading to the founding of Walhalla in 1850.​
• Military Service: Served as a Colonel in the German Artillery of the South Carolina Militia during the Civil War and was later promoted to Brigadier General in the Confederate States Army.​
• Political Career: Elected Mayor of Charleston in 1871, serving for two years.​
• Death: Passed away on August 29, 1876, in Walhalla. Initially buried at St. John’s Lutheran Church cemetery, his remains were later moved to Bethany Cemetery in Charleston, where a monument was erected in his honor by veterans of the German Artillery.​
•  The marker is situated at the intersection of South Church Street and Short Street in Walhalla, SC. Nearby, visitors can also find the John A. Wagener Monument, erected in 1900 on West Main Street, honoring Wagener and his fellow members of the German Colonization Society.​

These sites are part of a rich tapestry of historical landmarks in Walhalla, reflecting the town’s unique German heritage and the legacy of its founder.