Charleston
Antebellum architecture and Southern hospitality thrive in one of America’s oldest cities
Characterized by gorgeous ocean views and quaint old pastel buildings, the coastal city of Charleston exudes southern charm and beauty. The oldest city in South Carolina (and one of the oldest in the country), Charleston was first founded by English settlers in 1670, and some of its old historic buildings remain intact to this day. In fact, the city is perhaps most celebrated for its beautiful antebellum, Georgian and Victorian buildings, although its numerous high-caliber restaurants and its excellent performing arts scene make it equally attractive to visitors. Add clean beaches, pleasant weather, and famously gracious and hospitable locals, and it’s easy to see why Charleston is so popular.
Civil War History
As one of the oldest cities in the country, Charleston has plenty to offer history buffs. For starters, the Charleston Museum, established in 1773, is the oldest museum in the country. This exceptional institution houses an array of artifacts from the American Revolution and Civil War, and along with a rotation of temporary and visiting exhibits, it has plenty of noteworthy permanent exhibits on show.
The Armory Exhibit has a huge selection of historic guns and swords, along with many weapons that were used in World Wars I and II. The Natural History Gallery Exhibit features skeletons of prehistoric animals and dinosaurs, while the Early Days Exhibit showcases artifacts from ancient Greece, Rome, and Egypt—there’s even a mummy. The Lowcountry History Hall Exhibit features Native American artifacts from the region around what is now Charleston, while the City Under Siege Exhibit focuses on life in the city during the Civil War.
On an island in Charleston Harbor, Confederate forces stationed in Fort Sumter fired the first shots of the Civil War in the wee hours of April 12, 1861. The Fort Sumter National Monument has a visitor center in town for those who want to learn more about the conflict and the war in general. The fort itself is accessible only by boat, and travelers can book trips to the battle site through tour operators.
On the Waterfront
One of the city’s most popular attractions is scenic Waterfront Park. Rimming the edges of the downtown peninsula, the park offers a mix of everything that has put the city on the map, including history and incredible ocean views. Old-fashioned park benches, water fountains and picnic areas are set against a constantly shifting backdrop of sailboats and small cruise liners.
The Charleston City Market is open 364 days a year (it’s closed on Christmas Day) and dates to the 1790s. It spans four city blocks and the entire open-air bazaar is now an official National Historic Landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Vendors sell fresh produce, crafts, antiques and other goods.
In the French Quarter, cobblestone streets and old colonial-era city walls still stand. Visitors can browse art galleries or join guided walking tours to historic spots.
Old Southern Plantations
One of the most popular plantations in town, the antebellum Boone Hall is one of the oldest working plantations in the country. The main house here is relatively new, dating back to the mid-1930s, but the site is believed to have been operational since 1681. A big highlight is the beautiful Avenue of Oaks, a mile-long driveway flanked with gorgeous old oak trees that have stood at the site since the mid 18th century.
On the banks of the Ashley River, Magnolia Plantation and Gardens is one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions. Along with a 60-acre expanse of gardens that bloom through the year, the site also has a restored and partially reconstructed iteration of the original house, which succumbed to fire during the Civil War.
The oldest unrestored plantation house in the United States, Drayton Hall is a gorgeous example of Palladian architecture. Dating back to 1738, this unfurnished home is in close to the same state it was back when it was built, and it was never updated with modern electricity or plumbing.
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Historic Charleston-area Homes
Charleston is full of beautiful old historic houses, many of which have been turned into museums. Fans of Victorian art and architecture will love the Calhoun Mansion, a gorgeous 1876 private-home-turned-museum boasting 35 rooms filled with stunning decorative art pieces and Japanese water gardens out back. Modest in comparison, the red-brick Nathaniel Russell House is a Federal-style townhouse featuring a gorgeous elliptical spiral staircase and lots of original heart-pine flooring, gold-leaf molding and plenty of period antiques dating back to the home’s construction in the early 19th century.
The 1821 Edmondston-Alston House is a beautiful Greek-revival city mansion with three floors of columned terraces and a large collection of memorabilia and antique furniture. A 10-minute drive away, the Aiken-Rhett House is full of old decorative and historical objects. This 1820 building is considered the most intact antebellum structure within the city and its historic interiors have looked more or less the same since 1858. Walking through its halls is like traveling back in time.
Visitors interested in seeing how the elite of Charleston lived over the centuries won’t want to miss a visit to the Middleton Place House Museum, which was built in 1775 and is home to what is considered to be the oldest landscaped garden in the United States. This former family residence is full of memorabilia that spans four generations of the Middleton family, as well as 18th- and 19th-century stable yards, complete with costumed actors demonstrating old artisanal crafts, including blacksmithing and pottery. Animal residents include Cashmere goats, water buffalo, chickens, cows and Guinea hogs.
For More Information
Charleston Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
800-774-0006
www.explorecharleston.com
South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism
803-734-1700
www.discoversouthcarolina.com
