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Charleston Stories

What Is Charleston Known For?

What is Charleston known for? When it comes to fun, we’ve got it all, including history, romance, drama, and food. Check out our definitive list of all the best activities that make the Holy City one of the best in the continental U.S.   1. History By Alonzo Chappel If you love history, you’ll love Charleston,…

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March 15, 2024

Secret Charleston

Charleston is quickly becoming one of the most popular tourist destinations in the U.S. But did you know there is a secret Charleston that only the locals know about? You won’t find Charleston’s most hidden treasures in just any guidebook. To find them, you’ll need to ask a local.  Tips to Find Secret Charleston Sites…

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September 18, 2023

Mother/Daughter Trip Ideas for Charleston

Charleston is one of the most stunning cities in the South. What better destination for a bonding trip? If you’re looking to book a mother/daughter trip to Charleston, we’ve got some mother/daughter trip ideas and tips to help your vacation go smoothly. From activities to pampering to iconic Lowcountry foods, there’s no shortage of girl…

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August 23, 2023

Visiting Charleston FAQs

Q: How many days do I need to explore Charleston? A: That’s a tricky one! Most of us have lived in Charleston all our lives — and we still haven’t explored every nook and cranny of the Holy City. That being said, you can easily spend one day, a long weekend, or even up to…

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February 16, 2023

Christmas in Charleston

One of our favorite times to be in Charleston is during the December holidays. The city is decorated with hundreds of thousands of lights, the weather is mild, and there’s so much to see and do! With Charleston being nicknamed “The Holy City”, Christmas in Charleston is especially spectacular. Come see the city’s historic homes…

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November 14, 2022

CHARLESTON BATTERY: From Marsh to Mansions

“THE BATTERY” is the common name used in Charleston to describe the pair of man-made seawalls that border the eastern and southern tips of the Charleston peninsula.  The “High Battery” is just over 1,400 feet long and was built in the early 1800s which led to the creation of what is now East Battery Street…

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September 8, 2022

The Path To The Civil War

By Mark Jones MarkJonesBooks.com One of the seminal events of American history was the Confederate firing on the U.S. Army at Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, on April 12, 1861. But long before that first shot landed, a thirty-year long bitter undercurrent of turbulence undermined the years in post-Revolutionary America. Starting with the Missouri Compromise…

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April 18, 2022

The Old Exchange Building

By Mark R. Jones For guests of the Charleston’s Alleys and Hidden Passages Tour,  your meeting location – at the “Slave Auction” marker on the north side of the Old Exchange Building – is one of the most historic sites in the United States. To support Charleston’s burgeoning transatlantic trade, in 1767 the South Carolina…

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March 31, 2022

Charleston City Hall & the Four Corners of Law

By Mark R. Jones Centrally located at the famous Four Corners of Law, Charleston City Hall is where the “Historic Downtown Tour” begins each day at 10 a.m. and 2 p. m. City Hall, 1870s & 1950s Courtesy of the Library of Congress. The “four corners” nickname is attributed to Robert Ripley, who in his popular newspaper…

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March 14, 2022

Some Charleston Romances

By Mark R. Jones Anyone who has strolled Charleston’s quaint streets and hidden alleys has felt the faint echo of a more serene era, removed from the bustle of today’s America. For anyone interested in nineteenth-century Charleston culture Jane Austen’s novels (Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Emma) are accurate guideposts. With Valentine’s Day as…

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February 8, 2022

Robert Smalls: An Extraordinary Life

by Mark R. Jones Robert Smalls was born into slavery in 1839 in Beaufort, S.C, in the home of Henry McKee, a cotton planter.  The surname “Smalls” was most likely chosen by Robert after his emancipation. His mother, Lydia, was a house slave for the McKee family. In comparison to other circumstances, the McKees were…

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February 4, 2022

Charleston Architecture

Charleston is known around the world for its stunning architecture. Founded in the year 1670, the Holy City has witnessed many of America’s (and the South’s) architectural trends. From Colonial to Federal to Gothic Revival, Charleston’s buildings represent over 300 years of popular architectural styles. This self-guided Charleston architecture tour will take you past some…

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April 21, 2021