Charleston Stories

Thanks to Charleston’s rich history and emphasis on preservation, several movies and TV shows have been filmed here…too numerous to mention all. Two movies (fairly recent) in particular seem to strike a note with people on my tours. These are The Patriot and The Notebook. Early in The Patriot, Benjamin Martin, played by Mel Gibson,…

On the chilly night of February 17, 1864, an odd looking, submersible vessel, slipped through Breach Inlet between the Isle of Palms and Sullivan’s Island toward the United States Navy’s blockading squadron about 5 miles beyond the mouth of Charleston Harbor. It was the H.L. Hunley, and when it had completed its mission, it would…

I decided a while back to create a “Charleston Alleys and Hidden Passages Tour” because there are so many out of the way, narrow, and beautiful passages in Charleston’s Historic District.  There is a wealth of history with each alley and, as no two alleys are adjacent, there’s a wealth of sites and stories between…

I am frequently asked questions concerning the “must dos” on a Charleston vacation. While I’m happy to name several attractions that should be on everyone’s Charleston itinerary, I also like to point out a few excellent, but lesser known, attractions as well. I’ve listed a few of my favorites below, in no particular order. I hope you’ll find time to visit one or more of these attractions during your next trip to Charleston. Of course, if you have any questions concerning these suggestions, or anything else related to Charleston, please send me an e-mail and let me know! Charleston’s Alleys — I think so much of Charleston’s Alleys that I’ve devoted an entire walking tour to exploring them further! I find these enchanting passages simply fascinating. They are distinguished by their beauty and they offer remarkable insight into the history…

Every student of American History should know the name, Lafayette, the French nobleman, who accidentally landed at the Huger (pronounced “You-Gee”) plantation 50 miles north of Charleston. Major Benjamin Huger invited the Marquis to stay the night at his plantation (some sources say several nights). The story was passed down through generations of Hugers. From…

Although born and raised a slave, Robert Smalls became the most famous African-American Charlestonian during the Civil War. Robert was born slave in Beaufort, S.C. and went on to become a most talented ship pilot. His talents were needed in Charleston during the Civil War and his owner, a Mr. McKee, sent Robert to work…

Situated on one of the highest points in the City, “The Second Presbyterian Church of Charleston and Its Suburbs”, was completed on April 3, 1811 in order to accommodate the growing congregation of the First (Scots) Presbyterian Church, which itself was founded in 1731 and had outgrown its house of worship. Conceived in In 1809,…

The Great Fire of Charleston was a fire that burned much of the city in 1861. It burned over 540 acres, 575 homes, numerous businesses, and five churches. How the Charleston Fire Started On the evening of December 11, 1861, as a cold front bearing high winds swept into Charleston from the northeast, a fire started…

Located on the tip of the Charleston Peninsula, this 6.54 acre park provides a spectacular view of Fort Sumter and Charleston Harbor, where the Ashley and Cooper rivers empty into the Atlantic Ocean. The park was originally known as Oyster Point and later White Point because of the piles of sun-bleached oyster shells found at…

After the occupation of Ft. Sumter in Charleston harbor by Confederate troops in early 1861, the U.S. was focused on regaining control of our harbor in a slow, methodical campaign which would last until the end of the war. After an attack by Union ironclad ships in 1863 failed to gain control of Ft. Sumter,…

At the intersection of Meeting and South Battery Streets, on the edge of White Point Gardens, sits 2 Meeting Street, an outstanding Queen Anne style house was built in 1892 for Waring P. Carrington and his wife, Martha, a daughter of George W. Williams, a wealthy banker who lived at 16 Meeting St. Tradition says…

Charleston’s alleys are highly historical and enchanting places.  Much has been written about Dueler’s (Philadelphia), Lodge, and Stoll’s Alleys.  I would like to comment on another, out of the way, passage known as St. Michael’s Alley which connects Meeting with Church Streets.  In about 150 yards there is as much history per square inch as any other place of comparable size (except 4 Corners of Law) in the city.  Apparently many “affairs of honor” were conducted in the Alley and upstairs in #2 was probably the scene of such a bloody conclusion of an argument among 2 gentlemen; one American and one French, over a lady. Passing along St. Michael’s Alley westward toward Meeting from Church, you encounter a Philip Simmons gate, the law office of James Petigru, staunch, outspoken Unionist.  Petigru’s law office was designed by E.B. White, completed in 1849, and restored in the early 1900s…