Charleston Stories

The Charleston Museum was founded by the Charleston Library Society in 1773 while South Carolina was yet a British colony. Commonly regarded as “America’s First Museum”, many of the original collections were destroyed by fire in 1778 and operations were suspended during the American Revolution, however, collecting resumed in the 1790s. In 1824 the Museum…

I hope you enjoy these photos of the Robert William Roper House, located at 9 East Battery Street. Declared a National Historic Landmark in 1973, the Roper House is one of Charleston’s most beautiful Greek Revival houses. Robert William Roper, a prominent cotton planter, built this house in 1838. It is said that Mr. Roper…

Enjoyed a tour of the Edmondston-Alston House today. Despite the rain, and wind, it was a beautiful house tour. The House was one of the first dwellings built in the newly created neighborhood in 1825. Although photos are not allowed inside of the House, I’ve included a few of the exterior below. For more information and to purchase tickets for the tour, go to http://www.edmondstonalston.com/visit/tickets.html. One item of note, black wreaths and purple bunting were hung in memoriam for Lieutenant John Julius Pringle Alston, who was a First Lieutenant in the SC Artillery and who died September 20th, 1863 of Typhoid contracted in the defense of South Carolina at Fort Sumter and Battery Wagner.

Bill telling the story of Gus Smythe, and reading from a letter Gus wrote to his mother, describing the shelling of Charleston during the Civil War and a close call that nearly took Gus’ life! Learn more on Bill’s “Charleston’s Most Beautiful Walk” tour.