Charleston Stories

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

Most visitors head to the Holy City to visit — well, the Holy City! But how many travelers make their way up to North Charleston? Technically, a lot. Since many of Charleston’s iconic plantations are located here. (Though visitors usually head straight for the plantations without stopping to enjoy the local eateries and scenery). Do…

The Gullah people of South Carolina have a rich heritage that’s associated with both their African roots and adopted European customs. Descended from enslaved African Americans that were brought to Charleston through the 1800s, Gullahs live predominantly in South Carolina, and the Geechee people generally live in Georgia and Florida. Discover more about this rich…

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 – https://library.brown.edu/collections/askb/, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=45388127 If you…

If your plans to visit Charleston this spring were put on hold because of the coronavirus, fear not! You can still virtually visit Charleston from the comfort of your own couch. Just put on some jazz and check out these Charleston virtual tours.  As the country gets vaccinated and things start looking more normal, we’ll…

Charleston was home to many Irish immigrants in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. In fact, many areas of the city and many local establishments were named after Irish settlers. Today, our residents still celebrate their Irish heritage. Here’s our definitive list of where to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Charleston.   Charleston Irish History…

Women have officially had the right to vote for 100 years! Help us celebrate women in Charleston in the month of March by learning about the women who helped build the city — and fought for women’s rights all over the U.S. Here are just some of our women to honor throughout Women’s History Month…