Rock Hill is preparing to celebrate its 175th anniversary with a unique new public art project that will permanently transform its downtown. City leaders have just approved plans to install 13 massive stone sculptures along the city’s Storyline urban park over the next two years.
The Rock Hill City Council approved a memorandum of understanding with North Carolina artists Carl and Ethan Peverall, a father-and-son stone sculpting team that has worked together professionally since 2011.
The sculptures will be placed throughout the Storyline, a two-mile urban park that connects Winthrop University with Fountain Park in downtown Rock Hill. City officials say the artwork will commemorate the city’s past, present, and future while enhancing one of Rock Hill’s signature public spaces.
Five sculptures are scheduled to be installed by April 2027 in time for Rock Hill’s 175th anniversary celebration. The remaining eight will be added by December 2027.
Under the agreement, donors will fund 10 of the sculptures, while fundraising efforts will continue for two additional pieces. The Peveralls will donate the 13th sculpture to the city at no cost.
The city will prepare installation sites, coordinate transportation, and host a public unveiling event in the spring of 2027. The artists will assist with installation, participate in community events, and provide ongoing maintenance and repairs if needed.
One of the sculptures is currently on loan in Cashiers, North Carolina, and will be transferred to Rock Hill before its installation in late 2027.
The project is part of Rock Hill’s ongoing investment in the Storyline, a growing network of parks, trails, and public spaces designed to connect downtown destinations while celebrating the city’s history through art and storytelling.
The memorandum of understanding remains in effect through Jan. 1, 2028, as the city completes the installation of all 13 sculptures.
