By Traci Magnus
One of the most beautiful destinations in the U.S., Charleston, South Carolina has so much to offer the thousands of visitors who pass through the area each month. The mild climate of the region makes it an ideal place to travel any time of the year—though the summer heat can be overwhelming at times. For those who live in a cold part of the country, you’ll find solace in Charleston’s winter temperatures, which typically never require more than a pair of pants and a jacket. When visiting Charleston, S.C., you’ll be surrounded by gorgeous scenery and an abundant number of options for things to do. Because the city was established during colonial America, the area has a rich and unique history that visitors are almost always interested in learning about. During your trip, try visiting some of our favorite historical sites in the Holy City.
A Brief History of Charleston
Originally named Charles Towne, the city of Charleston was first founded in 1670 when a group of English colonists sailed into the harbor and decided to make roots here. Over the next several hundred years, the area would be heavily involved in conflicts, including the Revolutionary and Civil wars. Many of the earliest inhabitants also ran into issues with pirates, including one of the most notorious pirates in history—Blackbeard. Nearly every area of Charleston has some type of interesting story tying the physical location to a significant event in history.
Staying in Charleston, S.C. allows visitors to explore and visit all of these amazing historical areas and learn more about the region and the country as a whole. From late-night ghost tours, where legends of spirits come to life, to ferry tours to Fort Sumter, a key location during the Civil War, you’ll find yourself surrounded by fascinating history.
Top Historic Attractions in Charleston
Fort Sumter
Potentially one of the most popular historical sites to visit, Fort Sumter is well-known for its role in the Civil War. Though this location is often cited as the place where the first shots of the war were fired, local history tells us that this isn’t entirely true. Several months before the attack on Fort Sumter, cadets from Charleston’s Citadel were gazing out over the ocean one night when they saw a Union ship headed to the fort to bring supplies and decided to shoot.
As a visitor to Charleston, you can catch a ride on the ferry from downtown Charleston and take the short but pleasant ride out to Fort Sumter where you can explore the grounds, get an up-close look at real cannons used during the war and hear stories of how Confederate soldiers gained (and eventually lost) control of the fort. If you head to the island for the last tour of the day, you can help participate in the daily lowering of the flag.
Magnolia Gardens
Found on the Magnolia Plantation in Charleston’s West Ashley neighborhood, the Magnolia Gardens are known as the oldest public garden in America. You can spend the entire day exploring various parts of this once private residence with a variety of sectioned gardens, including the bamboo forest, Cypress Lake, the Camilla Collection and the Cattail Wildlife Refuge. The gardens were first created more than 300 years ago by members of the Drayton family who lived in the plantation’s house. Originally, Magnolia Plantation was a major rice farming operation that used enslaved people to work the land. Because of the area’s unfortunate link to slavery, there’s also quite a bit of Gullah culture to learn about when visiting the plantation as the Africans who worked the land developed their own unique language and culture over time and continue to be a major part of Charleston’s culture.
H.L. Hunley Submarine
One of the most interesting pieces of history found in Charleston is the H.L. Hunley submarine housed at a museum in North Charleston. The history behind the Hunley is shrouded in mystery. The submarine was tasked with the mission of sinking the USS Housatonic in 1864 and succeeded, making it the first time in history that a submarine sunk a combat ship. However, after completing its task, the submarine vanished without a trace. Researchers and explorers spent decades trying to figure out what happened to the H.L. Hunley, but no new information ever turned up. That is, until 1995, more than a century after the submarine’s disappearance, a diving team found and retrieved the Hunley. Now, anyone visiting Charleston, S.C. can make the short trip to North Charleston to visit this fascinating piece of history.
Charleston Historic District
While there are dozens of specific sites throughout the city that you can visit to learn more about Charleston’s unique history–including places not on this list like the Angel Oak Tree on Johns Island, the Morris Island Lighthouse and a number of other plantations–the downtown area itself is rich with history. You can embark on an actual history tour or plan your own routes on a self-guided tour of the downtown area. Visit mansions of some of the most prominent Charleston families, the Historic Charleston City Market and the many museums and parks.
Visiting Charleston, S.C. is a magical experience as you’ll find yourself surrounded by the beautiful Lowcountry scenery. Each night, you’ll have easy access to world-class cuisine and each morning you can embark on an exciting new adventure through the Holy City’s history–from the many churches and plantations in the area to specific Civil War sites like Fort Sumter. Be sure to do your research ahead of time and get a sense of which sites you don’t want to miss as Charleston is packed with great things to do and places to visit.
This piece was prepared online by Panuruji Kenta, Publisher, SEVENSEAS Media