Many historical cities have services that provide narrated walking tours. Charleston, SC is no different in that regard. many of the services that provide walking tours are quality and offer some entertainment for a hefty price. Honestly, you can save yourself a lot of money, by devising your own walking tour with the help of a good city map and a list of available sights to see.
Allow an entire day for this walking tour because you may want to enter some of the sights and look around. If you find an online walking tour with an app and an audio feature, these are very helpful and provide information about the points of interest.
Starting point and Stop #1 – Charleston City Market
Begin this walking tour at the Charleston City Market. While you are there, you can pick up a horse-drawn carriage ride as most of the carriage companies begin and end their journey right outside the market. Take some time to shop at the City Market. You can find unique items for purchase at the flea market housed inside. The market dates back to 1788 when the plot of land was owned by the famous Charlestonian, Charles Pinckney, who sold it to the city for a public market. The city held on to the property until 1804 when construction began, but the City Market buildings were not completed until 1841. The original vendors sold, meat, fish and vegetables, but now vendors sell their handmade items, crafts and food. City Market is the best place to purchase a handmade sweetgrass basket, which is the best example of West African art in the United States.
Stop #2 – The Circular Congregational Church
Exit the City Market through the front on Meeting Street and turn left. Walk two blocks to the Circular Congregational Church, situated between Cumberland Street and Queen Street at 150 Meeting Street.
You can enter the churchyard through some iron gates located closer to Queen Street. The church is open for services on Sundays at 11 a.m. The church is a progressive United Church of Christ that accepting of all people and has a unique history as one of the oldest practicing churches in America. The graveyard surrounding the church building is particularly notable. It is the city’s oldest cemetery with markers dating back to 1691.
The church was founded in 1681 as a dissenting Protestant church. The first town meeting was held in this church, which is the origin of the name of the street it sits on, Meeting Street. The current structure is the third structure to be built on the property. The first structure was destroyed in the fire of 1861 that ravaged Charleston. The church is registered as a National Historic Landmark. The church and graveyard are a testimony of the perils of life and nature withstanding hurricanes, fire, cannonballs, earthquakes and vandalism.
William Tennant, a prominent member, toured the countryside to attain support for American independence in 1775. When Charleston was captured by the British in 1785, the church leaders were sent to prison in St. Augustine and Philadelphia and the church was vacant and used as a hospital for British soldiers. As soon as the Revolutionary War was over, the remaining members of the church decided to rebuild it. Construction began on the new church in 1804. The building was designed by Robert Mills, who also designed the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. Mills’ design presented a circular form, which was considered the first domed building in America, but it was missing one key element: a steeple. For many years, the Charlestonians ridiculed the building for the lack of a steeple until around 1838 when a steeple was finally erected.
In 1861, a tremendous fire swept through Charleston decimating the city with the church being one of its victims. The Civil War started soon after causing more damage to this key city. The church was rebuilt by 1892 with bricks saved from the previous church structure that was destroyed in the fire, but by that time, the congregation had diminished significantly. The circular design of the current structure is reminiscent of the circular design of the previous church and derives more meaning as a symbol of universal eternity and wholeness. The interior of the church was last restored in 1987 and still withstands its invitation of acceptance to everyone.
Stop #3 – The Powder Magazine
Exit the Circular Church through the front gate on Meeting Street. Turn right and turn right again on Cumberland Street. Turn right again on Church Street. The Powder Magazine is on the right.
The Powder Magazine was built in 1718 to store gunpowder and other weaponry supplies. The arsenal was used to store weapons for the defense of the colony against Indians, Spanish, French and rebellions. The building has a tile roof and very thick walls, about 32 inches. In the event of an explosion, the fire would blow the roof. Sand was stored in the roof, so if an explosion did occur, the sand would immediately fall on the fire to put out the flames. The building was used as an arsenal until 1748. In 1770 the building was condemned by the city, but the start of the Revolutionary War caused the reopening of the Powder Magazine for its original purpose. In the early 1800s, the building was used for storage and other purposes. Now the building is a museum. Visitors can enter the Powder Magazine Monday – Saturday 10-4 or Sunday 1-4. Adult tickets are $6 and Children are $4. Groups of 5+ can inquire about special rates.
If you have time to go in, this is an interesting place to visit. If you need to continue your walking tour, save this location for another day.
Stop #4 – The French Huguenot Church
Exit the Powder Magazine through the front and turn right on Church Street. Walk about half a block to see the French Protestant (Huguenot Church. on the corner of Church and Queen Streets. You can’t miss it; it’s pink. Tours are given after Sunday services and one day in the Spring and one day in Fall.
Huguenots were French Protestants in the 16th -17th centuries who followed John Calvin. The Huguenots fled to America and other parts of Europe due to persecution by the French Catholic Church. The teachings of John Calvin appealed to more educated French families. The first Huguenot church was created around 1555 in a private home in Paris. As the church grew in number, they were initially tolerated, but by 1562 the Edict of St. Germainerecognized their religious beliefs; however, limits were placed on their act of worship. The Massacre of Vassy brought on the beginning of a war on religion that lasted for decades. A truce was finally called when the Duke of Guise was assassinated by a Huguenot. The truce did not hold for long, though. More violence ensued; the worst of it was called the St. Bartholemew Day Massacre ordered by Catherine de Medici, the regent queen and mother of King Charles IX. This massacre is what caused the exodus of many Huguenots to other countries. The Edict of Nantes in 1598 ended the wars by giving the Huguenots their civil rights. Persecution of the Huguenots began again when King Louis XIV ascended to the throne in 1643, forcing the Huguenots to convert to Catholicism. The Edict of Fountainebleu made Protestantism illegal. Again, many Huguenots fled to other countries. The mass exodus from France to other countries placed a strain on the French economy because these were educated workers in many industries. Knowing this, other countries welcomed them with open arms to boost their own economies.
Stop #5 – Dock Street Theater
Right across the street from the Huguenot Church stands the Dock Street Theater at 135 Church Street. The Dock Street Theater is a working theater with historical significance that provides theatrical events year-round. The theater is home to the Charleston Stage. The best way to see the inside of the Dock Street Theater is to purchase tickets to the current performance.
The theater was the first of its kind built specifically for theatrical events. It first opened in February 1736 with the play, The Recruiting Officer. The theater was also the first in America to run an opera. The original Dock Street Theater was most likely destroyed by the Great Fire that ravaged the city in 1740. In its place, the Planter’s Hotel was built using the facade of the theater. The Planter’s Hotel is the location where Plater’s Punch was first introduced. After the Civil War, the Planter’s Hotel became run down and was almost demolished when some citizens saved it in 1935 by proposing to rebuild the theater on the site. The best parts of the hotel were restored and repurposed to accommodate the theater audiences. The stage itself was built in the hotel’s courtyard area. The grand opening of the 2nd Dock Street Theater occurred in November 1937. In 2007, the theater was once again shut down for a monumental overhaul that lasted three years. It reopened in March 2010 with state-of-the-art lights and sound, modern a/c and heat, new bathrooms and new seating in the auditorium.
Stop #6 – The Old Slave Mart Museum
Turn right out of the Dock Street theater on Church Street and walk to the corner. Turn left on Chalmers Street. About half a block on the left is the Old Slave Mart at 6 Chalmers Street.
As you are walking to the Old Slave Mart Museum, notice the cobblestone street. The Old Slave Mart. The slave trade was active from 1856-1863. Charleston was one of the major slave collecting and selling centers as they were called, for the domestic slave trading system. More than a million American-born slaves worked the cotton and sugar plantations in the South. In Charleston, enslaved African-Americans were sold at the open area at Broad and East Bay Streets. In 1856, a city ordinance prohibited the practice of public sales, which resulted in the opening of a number of other sales rooms, yards or marts in the downtown area. Auctions ended in 1863. The building changed hands many times after that and was used for many purposes until it was bought to house a museum for African-American arts and crafts. Eventually, the city of Charleston placed the location on the register of historic places and reopened it in 2007 as the museum it is known today.
Stop #7 – Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon
Exit the Old Slave Mart through the front door and turn left on Chalmers Street. Turn right at State Street. Turn left on Broad Street. Straight ahead in the intersection of Broad and East Bay Street is the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon located at 122 East Bay Street. If you see nothing else, you must see this.
Admission to the top two floors gains entrance to a self-guided museum and reproductions of formal period meeting rooms. Admission also allows for a guided tour of the Provost Dungeon in the sub-basement of the Old Exchange. A docent conducts a tour about every half hour. Admission is $12 for adults, $6 for children and children under 6 are free. Check the website for admittance times.
The Old Exchange is the site of some very important events in South Carolina history and United States History. The building has served as the post office, military, customs house, city hall and museum during its time. Owners of the building have changed hands many times between the British, the United States, the Confederacy and the City of Charleston. Today it is owned by the Daughters of the American Revolution.
The building is of the Georgian-Palladian style of architecture and was built with the finest materials Charleston could offer representing the town’s wealth and power. George Washington was entertained at the Old Exchange along with many wealthy and well-known Charleston residents. The Old Exchange hosted a meeting place for American leaders to debate and approved the Constitution of the United States in 1788. It is one of four buildings still standing where this occurred. Prior to the Civil War, the Old Exchange was a primary venue for slave auctions
During the American Revolution, the British used the basement of the building as a dungeon to hold American prisoners. It was a harsh place to be imprisoned. Excavations in the dungeon have uncovered the only viewable portion of the Half Moon Battery wall that remains.
Stop #8 – Rainbow Row
When facing the street in front of the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon, turn left on Old East Bay Street. Continue walking to the intersection of Old East Bay and Tradd Street where you will find the famous colorful houses known as Rainbow Row. This series of 13 homes near the waterfront in Charleston were not always painted with vibrant colors. At one time, this area was considered a slum area just after the Civil War. In 1931, the row of houses was purchased and revitalized. When one home was painted a bright pink the other homeowners followed suit with their own bright, pastel colors; however, many theories about why the homes were painted abound. One theory is that back in the day, the colors became a beacon for drunken sailors to find their way home. Another theory is that the bright colors keep the inside of the homes cooler.
The brightly colored houses are a huge draw to tourists and Charleston Residents alike. A city ordinance is in place to protect historical properties. Even though the homes are a tremendous photo op, each home has its own historical significance. Rainbow Row is worth a pause for admiration along your walking tour route.
Stop #9 – The Battery and Edmondston-Alston House
Continue walking down East Bay Street. You will see the Battery on the left side that borders the bay. The Battery is lined with beautiful antebellum homes. A few houses from the corner of East Bay and Atlantic Streets stands the Edmondston-Alston House. This particular house stands out from all the rest because it is the oldest among all of them. Built in 1825, the furnishings and contents of the house depict the lives of those who lived there as many of the items belonged to the owners. Guided tours are offered throughout the week. Visit the website for more information about the hours of operation. Tickets for entry range from $5-$15.
Stop #10 – White Point Gardens
Continue walking along the Battery and follow as the Battery makes a sharp right turn. You will be able to view Fort Sumter in the bay at a distance across the water to your left. On your right is White Point Gardens. Walk until you see an entrance to the Garden and take a rest on one of the park benches to enjoy the shade of the oak trees and the beautiful gazebos.
White Point Gardens was first used as a public garden in 1837. You will see some cannons placed around points in the garden because the area was a fortification during the Civil War for the city. Also on one end of the garden is a monument of General Moultrie.
Stop #11 – Nathaniel Russell House
From White Point Gardens, the next stop requires getting your bearings, depending on where you are in the garden. The best idea is to place yourself in the middle of the garden at the gazebo and walk towards the street that lines the residential side of the garden. The street that lines the garden on that side is South Battery. Meeting Street connects to South Battery. There is only one way to go on Meeting Street as this is where the street begins or ends. Walk up Meeting Street. In the fourth block on the left side of Meeting street is the Nathaniel Russell House at 51 Meeting Street. Nathaniel Russell was a successful merchant and slave trader in Charleston. The Russell home was one of the finest neoclassical dwellings in the area at the time. The home is adorned with a beautiful, spiral staircase and lovely ornamental trim work. The home is meticulously restored to its early 19th-century appearance. Tickets must be purchased in advance for guided tours. Check the website for pricing and available times
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Stop #12 – St. Michael’s Episcopal Church
Stepping out of the Nathaniel Russell House, turn left on Meeting street. Walk up Meeting Street until you arrive at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church.
St. Michael’s Episcopal Church was first named St. Phillip;’s Church. It is the oldest church in Charleston. It started out very small in a wood-framed building in the 1680s until a new brick church was erected on Church street. The brick church was destroyed by the fire of 1835. The congregation moved into another church that was erected in 1781 on the site of the original wood church and changed its name to St. Michael’s. This church was designed with a tall steeple. The church has a rich history in its architecture and furnishings that are worth exploring, including a decorative chancel made by Tiffany. Check their website for visitation and service times.
From St. Michael’s, you can turn right on Meeting Street and head back to the City Market to end your walking tour.
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