The Best of Charleston: History, Culture & Architecture Tour

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon, 122 E Bay St, Charleston, SC 29401-2103

Our starting point is one of the most historical buildings in South Carolina, c. 1771. The Declaration of Independence was read here in 1776, it was used a British prison for roughy two years during the American Revolution, US Constitution ratified in SC in 1788, George Washington was entertained during week-long visit in May 1791, plus many more events.

Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Old Slave Mart Museum, 6 Chalmers St, Charleston, SC 29401-3005

Known as Ryan's Slave Mart in the 1850's, this building was an auction site of the interstate slave trade. We will speak about Charleston's role in the slave trade. The City of Charleston operates the museum and tours are available on site. We do not enter the building.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Dock Street Theater, 135 Church St, Charleston, SC 29401-2899

Entrance depending on availabilty. Built on the site of the first theater in the British colonies, The Dock Street Theatre, c. 1937 was restored from the old Planter's Hotel, c. 1809. The Charleston Stage company operates as the largest professional theater company in South Carolina. Roughly 120 performances take place every year.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Charleston City Hall, 80 Broad St, Charleston, SC 29401-2225

This building sets on one the "Four Corners of Law", named by Robert Ripley (Ripley's Believe it or Not). Built in 1801 as a bank, City Hall has been as such since 1818 and is one of the oldest continuously run city hall's in the country. During the weekdays, visitors can enter the council chamber and see their collection, complimentary.

Duration: 2 minutes

Stop At: St. Michael's Church, 71 Broad St, Charleston, SC 29401-2902

Entrance depending on availability. Oldest house of worship in the city, c.1761. We speak about Charleston's religious history of the past and present. The building has much of the original woodwork and beautiful Tiffany stained glass windows. John Rutledge and Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, US Constitution signers, are buried in the churchyard.

Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Nathaniel Russell House, 51 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401-2536

We enter the garden of this beautiful Federal style townhouse built in 1808 and owned by Nathaniel Russell. Reigning from Rhode Island, he was a wealthy merchant involved in shipping. Private tours of the home are available for $12 on site.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Edmondston-Alston House, 21 E Battery St, Charleston, SC 29401-2740

We walk up on the High Battery wall to take a look at the waterfront mansions and discuss the beginning of the Civil War. Ft. Sumter is in the distance. The Edmonston Alston House has been in the family since 1838 and was a site where Gen. Beauregard watched the bombardment of Ft. Sumter with other onlookers.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Rainbow Row, 83 - 107 East Bay Street, Charleston, SC 29415

See the longest row of attached Georgian row houses in the country. These were mariner's stores in the 18th & 19th centuries. Restored in the 1930's during Charleston's preservation efforts to a bright Caribbean color scheme.

Duration: 5 minutes