Attractions in Charleston

When it was settled in 1670 by British traders, Charleston was named Charles Towne in honor of King Charles II. Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site captures the essence of the Colonial era on 664 acres surrounding the site of the first settlement, across the Ashley River from present-day Charleston. Highlights include artifacts, archeological digs, a replica of a 17th-century ship and a visitors center with interactive exhibits. This is also a good place to learn about the advent of the plantation system.

That Lowcountry plantations are nearly intact is a marvel. Three along the Ashley River, each architecturally unique, document the antebellum culture--slavery, agriculture, horticulture, architecture, trade, society and so forth. Magnolia Plantation and Its Gardens has been lovingly maintained by Drayton family descendents since 1676; the gardens are said to be America's oldest. Drayton Hall is one of the South's finest examples of preserved Georgian-Palladian architecture. With its formal gardens, terraced lawn and stately house full of museum-quality artwork and family collections, the Middleton Place evokes Southern plantation refinement. House, grounds, nature or wetlands tours (or varying combinations thereof) are available at each location.

A city ordinance prohibits the destruction of buildings over 75 years old. As you tour Charleston on foot, look for preservation society plaques identifying historic properties, especially the hundreds of meticulously restored houses. While most are privately owned, the following of exceptional interest do offer tours: Edmondston-Alston House, Heyward-Washington House, Nathaniel Russell House and Joseph Manigault House.

Church steeples are among Charleston's tallest structures, and none stands more prominently than the 186-foot spire of St. Michael's Episcopal Church, constructed in 1761. Multiple spires topped with finials top the 1845 Gothic Revival-style Huguenot Church. Other noteworthy examples of ecclesiastical architecture include Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim, a Jewish synagogue, and the imposing St. Philip's Episcopal Church, which protrudes into Church Street.

Contemporary Charleston's cultural scene thrives with its mix of performing and visual arts. Standout museums include Charleston Museum, one of the nation's oldest museums, and Gibbes Museum of Art, featuring outstanding American art. Historic Dock Street Theatre frequently offers plays; visitors can tour this 18th-century classic on weekdays.

Although the compact city lends itself wonderfully to independent exploration, guided tours provide an excellent introduction to history, architecture and culture. Ghosts, gardens, Gullah, graveyards--you name the topic and there's a walking tour to cover it. Two of the most romantic ways to savor charming Charleston are by horse-drawn carriage and an evening harbor cruise. In addition to providing a climate-controlled environment for city sightseeing, motorized tours usher passengers to the outlying plantations in comfort.

Many bus and van tours pick up passengers at their place of lodging, and then head to the Charleston Visitor Center on Meeting Street for the official start of the tour. If you don't stop here with a tour group, go on your own to pick up free tourist information and view "Forever Charleston", an orientation film designed to help you prioritize your things-to-see-and-do list. Tip: If you're going to be in the area for a few days, the Charleston Heritage Passport, a discount attraction ticket giving admission to multiple must-see points of interest, offers great savings and can be purchased at the center.

Charleston's two riverfronts are a source of enjoyment for locals and visitors alike. White Point Gardens, also known as Battery Park, is one of the oldest and most-visited public spaces. Fronting The Battery, Charleston's premier address with its colorful display of mansions, the park hugs the lower tip of the peninsula at the confluence of the Ashley and Cooper rivers, allowing for extended views across the harbor--all the way to Fort Sumter. Aquarium Wharf, farther north facing the Cooper River, features the South Carolina Aquarium and also includes an IMAX Theatre and the National Park Services Visitor Education Center, with exhibits and an orientation program preceding a boat trip to Fort Sumter National Monument.

Tour boats to Fort Sumter also depart from Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum, an attraction across the Cooper River in Mount Pleasant. The centerpiece of this flotilla of naval vessels with military aircraft is the USS Yorktown, a World War II aircraft carrier. While in Mount Pleasant, you won't want to miss Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens. One of America's oldest working plantations, the estate includes a symmetrical oak allée planted in the mid-18th century, a "slave street" with nine original brick slave houses, Gullah presentations, house tours and tidal marsh tours. Just east of Boone Hall is Charles Pinckney National Historic Site, the former plantation site of one of the framers of the United States Constitution.

Old Santee Canal Park in Moncks Corner, north of Charleston, preserves remnants of a vital canal linking the port of Charleston with inland cities. Exhibits here detail canal workings and regional history. At nearby Cypress Gardens visitors can follow walking paths through specialty gardens or explore the calm waters of a cypress swamp in a boat. The acreage comprising Cypress Gardens was once part of a prosperous rice plantation.