In a city so rich in history, knowing exactly where to begin your journey into the past is sometimes difficult to decide. But here are some suggestions to get you started...
If you love history...
...why not go where the Civil War began? Fort Sumter, located just 3.3 miles southeast of the City of Charleston, sits on a man-made island of 2.4 acres near the inlet of Charleston Harbor. Visitors arrive at Fort Sumter via tour boats operated by Fort Sumter Tours. The boats embark from two different locations—from Patriots Point in Mount Pleasant and Fort Sumter Visitor Education Center at Liberty Square in downtown Charleston, where historic artifacts, museum exhibits and interpretive programs set the stage for your visit to the fort.
Fort Moultrie's history covers 171 years of seacoast defense, including the first decisive victory in the American Revolution and firing onto Fort Sumter during the first battle of the Civil War. The third Fort Moultrie, built in 1809, stands today. By touring the fort, visitors can see how coastal defenses have evolved. Fort Moultrie is located at 1214 Middle Street on Sullivan's Island.
The South Carolina Hunley Commission and a private, non-profit group called the Friends of the Hunley are solving the mystery of the H.L. Hunley, the first submarine in history to sink an enemy ship. The commission is engaged in the single most important underwater archaeological expedition of the century, and is dedicated to preserving the greatest, most sought-after artifacts in the history of naval warfare. Tours of the Hunley, located inside the Warren Lasch Conservation Center in North Charleston, are available every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. Tour reservations are required in advance.
Charleston's Historic Market Hall was home to the Charleston United Daughters of the Confederacy Museum from the 1890s until 1989, when Hurricane Hugo extensively damaged the building. After more than 10 years, renovations to the building have been complete, and the museum has returned to the Market Head Building, which was built in 1841. Considered the fourth most important collection in the world, items on display include the Secession Flag, the first Confederate National Flag to fly over Fort Sumter, regimental and battle flags, dozens of uniforms, and much more.
Perhaps no other Charleston attraction presents so much of American history as the Old Exchange. Built by the British as the Exchange and Customs House in 1771, the Old Exchange stands as one of the three most historically significant buildings of Colonial America. During the Revolution the building was converted to a British prison where many prominent patriots were held. From the steps of The Exchange, the independent colony of South Carolina was declared in March 1776. In 1788, the convention to ratify the Constitution met in The Old Exchange, which is owned by the Daughters of the American Revolution and managed by the City of Charleston.
Take a bus, carriage, or walking tour...
…of Charleston's other historic attractions. There is one that suits just about any interest. For example, take a tour through the back alleyways and side streets while you listen to the haunted tales and spooky stories of Charleston's past. Just as exciting and adventurous for the curious is one of the city's ghost tours, which takes you into Charleston's oldest church graveyards, or inside the Old City Jail, which stands almost exactly as it did 100 years ago.
For the faint of heart, check out one of the many tours of Charleston's famous French Quarter, Rainbow Row, The Citadel and the Battery, overlooking Charleston Harbor. Stroll along the alleyways that pass hidden gardens in the historic district while you learn about Charleston from 1670 through the Civil War to the present.
Historic house tours…
…offer insight into life in Charleston during the 18th and 19th centuries. For example, the Aiken-Rhett House provides a complete look at antebellum life. Built in 1818 by merchant John Robinson, and greatly expanded and redecorated by Governor and Mrs. William Aiken Jr. in the 1830s and 1850s, the house has survived virtually unaltered since 1858. As an intact "urban plantation," the Aiken-Rhett property speaks powerfully about the culture of early Charleston and the interconnections among all members of the household. Original outbuilding, including the kitchen, slave quarters, stables, privies and cattle sheds, offer glimpses of life in the 19th century city unavailable anywhere else. The Aiken-Rhett House is owned and operated by Historic Charleston Foundation.
One of the first dwellings built on Charleston's High Battery, the Edmondston-Alston House is one of the city's most splendid dwellings. Built in 1825 by Charles Edmondston, the Regency-style home is a gracious example of the early 19th-century commitment to elegance, style, and comfort. In 1837, Charles Alston, a member of a well-established Lowcountry rice-planting dynasty, purchased the house. Alston modified the house's appearance in the fashionable Greek revival style. The house was the Alston city residence for more than a century and a half. Today many of the family's furniture, books and other personal belongings remain in the house. Middleton Place Foundation operates the Edmondston-Alston House.
Built prior to the American Revolution by the city's most famous cabinetmaker, the Thomas Elfe House is a small Georgian-style Charleston single house, which features 18th- and 19th-century furnishings. Elfe, who emigrated from London in the mid-18th century, was considered the best master craftsman of his time, and a contemporary of Thomas Chippendale. Elfe's fine cabinetry graces many of the area's historic homes.
The Heyward-Washington House, built in 1772, was the home of Thomas Heyward, Jr., signer of the Declaration of Independence. When George Washington visited Charleston in 1791, the house was rented for his use. Furnished with magnificent Charleston-made furniture, the collection includes the priceless Holmes Bookcase, considered to be the finest example of American-made furniture in existence today. The exquisite formal garden is comprised of plants available to Charlestonians during that period. Located in the original walled portion of the city, the neighborhood was used by Dubose Heyward as the setting for his book, Porgy.
The Joseph Manigault house, built in 1803, is a premier example of neoclassical architecture. Designed by gentlemen architect Gabriel Manigault for his brother Joseph, the house is one of the most distinguished in the city, capturing the lifestyle of a wealthy, rice-planting family. The interior reflects an outstanding collection of American, English and French furnishings of the period. A charming Gate Temple is the focus of the period garden. The Joseph Manigault House, which is owned and operated by the Charleston Museum, has been featured on "America's Castles."
Completed in 1808 and set amid spacious gardens, the Nathaniel Russell House is recognized as one of America's most important neoclassical dwellings. The mansion features graceful interiors with elaborate plasterwork ornamentation, geometrically shaped rooms and a magnificent free-flying staircase. Furnished with period antiques and works of art, many of Charleston origin, the house evokes the gracious lifestyle of the city's merchant elite. The Nathaniel Russell House interprets the lives of both Nathaniel and Sarah Russell and their African-American slaves, through the workings of a grand Federal townhouse in one of the antebellum South's premier urban centers. The house is owned and operated by Historic Charleston Foundation.
The Calhoun Mansion is the largest privately-owned home in Charleston. Boasting a striking Italiante design, the mansion features 35 rooms, a grand ballroom, Japanese water gardens, 35 fireplaces, 75-foot high domed ceilings, koi pond, private elevator, three levels of piazzas and a 90-foot cupola that overlooks Charleston Harbor. The Calhoun Mansion, open daily for tours, stands as a testament to Charleston's architectural splendor.
Life revolved around plantations… …in much of the South. Alleyways of live oaks, magnificent estate houses, and Old World gardens are part of any story about the gracious living, hospitality and elegance of plantation life in the antebellum South.
Built in the early 1700s, Boone Hall Plantation is known as America's most photographed plantation. It was originally part of a plantation, which covered more than 17,000 acres. Huge moss-draped Spanish oaks line the half-mile entrance to the plantation. The original estate house, cotton gin, slave cabins, smoke house and formal gardens were built with brick and tile made on the plantation. Today, many of these buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Many varieties of old roses, some dating from the 16th century, complement camellias and azaleas in the formal gardens. To this day, Boone Hall continues as a working plantation, producing various agricultural products. Strawberries, tomatoes, peaches and Christmas trees have replace cotton, once the primary crop of the plantation.
Completed in 1742 by Royal Judge John Drayton, the 125-acre Drayton Hall National Historic Landmark stands majestically along the Ashley River. The plantation house is one of the oldest and finest examples of Georgian-Palladian architecture in America. Through seven generations of Drayton ownership, this Drayton Hall remained in nearly original condition and is the only Ashley River plantation house to survive the Civil War. Its unique state of preservation and rich, handcrafted details offer visitors a rare glimpse of a bygone era, and stands as an amazing time capsule telling the story of a plantation and community spanning over 250 years. With its extraordinary architecture, scenic landscaped walks, and serene river views, Drayton Hall evokes a sense of timelessness and continuity, adding to the excitement of discovering a true gem in historic architecture.
Magnolia Plantation, described as the "South's Most Complete Plantation Experience," was built in 1676. Over three centuries later, it stands as the centerpiece of Ashley River history, having played important roles in the early days of settlement, the Revolutionary War, and the Civil War. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, stately Magnolia Plantation has what is considered by many experts as "the most beautiful gardens in the world," offering the maximum color possible during every season. The plantation was described by travel expert, Charles Kuralt, in his best-selling book Charles Kuralt's America, as "…my greatest Charleston pleasure."
Also on the banks of the Ashley River is a carefully preserved 18th-century plantation that has survived the Revolutionary War, the Civil War and the earthquake of 1886. It was the home of Henry Middleton, President of the First Continental Congress; his son Arthur, a signer of the Declaration of Independence; his grandson Henry, Governor of South Carolina and an American Ambassador to Russia; and his great-grandson, William, a signer of the Ordinance of Secession. Today, Middleton Place, a National Historic Landmark, features America's oldest landscaped gardens. Originally created in 1741 by Henry Middleton, the gardens reflect the grand classic style that was in vogue in Europe and England in the early 18th century. The house, built in 1755 as a gentlemen's guest wing, became the family residence after the plantation was burned during the Civil War. Craftspeople in the Plantation Stableyards demonstrate the skills performed by slaves, and domestic animals roam nearby. Other exhibits include a slave church and a rice field where Carolina Gold Rice grows for the first time in 130 years.
For a taste of 20th century history…
…visit Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum. Patriots Point is the home of the famous World War II aircraft carrier Yorktown, the submarine Clagamore, the destroyer Laffey, and the Coast Guard cutter Ingham. It also features the Medal of Honor Museum, 25 vintage aircrafts and displays of military weapons. Living and working areas are open for exploration. Patriots Point is located in Mount Pleasant at the foot of the Arthur Ravenel, Jr. Bridge.
For anyone interested in taking a day trip...
…don't miss Summerville, the Flowertown in the Pines. This Southern village is a town of delightful contrasts: sophisticated shopping and old-fashioned neighborliness; South Carolina's only AAA Five Diamond Dining Room and a Southern specialties restaurant that closes at 7 p.m.
Summerville is famous for the thousands of azaleas and camellias that grace its parks and houses, and for the Flowertown Festival, an arts and crafts extravaganza sponsored by the Summerville YMCA each spring. Sculpture in the South, held each May between Mother's Day and the start of the Spoleto Festival, features fine sculptors from across the country who present their sculpture for exhibit and sale in individual "galleries" in historic Azalea Park.
Nearby Moncks Corner is home to Mepkin Abbey. Founded in 1949 on land donated by publisher and philanthropist, Henry R. Luce and his wife, the Honorable Clare Boothe Luce, Mepkin Abbey has become a place where people can find peace, joy and perspective. The monks of Mepkin, commonly called Trappists, belong to the worldwide Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance. They open their doors to people of all faiths for individual or group tours and retreats. They offer an array of tour schedules to the award-winning Mepkin Abbey Church and the formal Luce Gardens.
Located outside Charleston near Goose Creek, S.C., Cypress Gardens offers visitors the rare experience of being one with nature as they explore the swamp on flat-bottom boats or wander on meandering trails. Visit the Butterfly House, Aquarium, Reptile Center, Crocodile Isle and Aviary. See cypress knees and mirrored reflections of trees. Experience one of the world's most fascinating natural environments.
Just a few miles north of Charleston on Highway 17, visitors can discover Brookgreen Gardens, which was founded in 1931 by Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington to preserve the native flora and fauna, and to display objects of art within that natural setting. Today, Brookgreen Gardens is a National Historic Landmark with one of the most significant collections of figurative sculpture in an outdoor setting by American artists in the world. It also has the only zoo accredited by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association on the coast of the Carolinas. The Lowcountry History and Wildlife Preserve, the Huntington Sculpture Garden and the Center for American Sculpture are located within the garden's more than 9,000 acres.
For a guide to tours, attractions and what to do in Charleston, click here.
Tommy Condon’s has made his name by becoming one of Charleston's favorite local spots to serve up Lowcountry specialties such as shrimp and grits and fish and chips. Tommy runs a family-oriented establishment where children are welcome as they are. A special children's menu is available for "little leprechauns."
Learn the artistry of Lowcountry cooking from the area’s top chefs, or rub elbows with guest chefs from world-class restaurants. Add the most delicious secrets to your cooking repertoire – in a friendly atmosphere that’s pure fun. Each month’s schedule is packed with informative classes on techniques, tips and food specialties.
Since we began five years ago, Carriage Properties has gone from zero to more than $160 million in sales. Our success comes from a team of agents with unmatched experience, professionalism and determination. It’s the success of our clients that counts most. We do whatever it takes to find whatever they’re looking for.
In a city so rich in history, knowing exactly where to begin your journey into the past is sometimes difficult to decide. But here are some suggestions to get you started...
One of the first dwellings built on Charleston's High Battery, the Edmondston-Alston House is one of the city's most splendid dwellings. Built in 1825 by Charles Edmondston, the Regency-style home is a gracious example of the early 19th-century commitment to elegance, style, and comfort. In 1837, Charles Alston, a member of a well-established Lowcountry rice-planting dynasty, purchased the house. Alston modified the house's appearance in the fashionable Greek revival style. The house was the Alston city residence for more than a century and a half. Today many of the family's furniture, books and other personal belongings remain in the house. Middleton Place Foundation operates the Edmondston-Alston House.
…in much of the South. Alleyways of live oaks, magnificent estate houses, and Old World gardens are part of any story about the gracious living, hospitality and elegance of plantation life in the antebellum South. 
Summerville is famous for the thousands of azaleas and camellias that grace its parks and houses, and for the Flowertown Festival, an arts and crafts extravaganza sponsored by the Summerville YMCA each spring. Sculpture in the South, held each May between Mother's Day and the start of the Spoleto Festival, features fine sculptors from across the country who present their sculpture for exhibit and sale in individual "galleries" in historic Azalea Park. 
Tommy Condon’s has made his name by becoming one of Charleston's favorite local spots to serve up Lowcountry specialties such as shrimp and grits and fish and chips. Tommy runs a family-oriented establishment where children are welcome as they are. A special children's menu is available for "little leprechauns."
Learn the artistry of Lowcountry cooking from the area’s top chefs, or rub elbows with guest chefs from world-class restaurants. Add the most delicious secrets to your cooking repertoire – in a friendly atmosphere that’s pure fun. Each month’s schedule is packed with informative classes on techniques, tips and food specialties.
Since we began five years ago, Carriage Properties has gone from zero to more than $160 million in sales. Our success comes from a team of agents with unmatched experience, professionalism and determination. It’s the success of our clients that counts most. We do whatever it takes to find whatever they’re looking for.
