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Things To Do In Charleston SC: Historic District and History, Traditions and Tours, Slave Market, Ships, And More...

Updated on May 6, 2011

Charleston SC History...

The southeastern United States is filled with many old and historic cities and attractions, and they are all just waiting to be explored by you… One of the oldest cities is Charleston SC, and with its colonial charm and traditions it will be sure to delight! There are many things to do in Charleston SC, including taking a tour of the historic district on a trolley, checking out the slave market where they used to buy and sell slaves when they came in from the ships, and touring the U.S. Naval WWII aircraft carrier, Coast Guard cutter, and WWII submarine that are docked just outside the city.

You will really love this area, as the coastline of South Carolina has a quaint atmosphere about it and is also the home of the “Gullah” people… The Gullah originated from runaway slaves that came to the low country on the coast to escape slavery, and today they have kept more of their African traditions and language than any other black group in the U.S. There are many very old buildings in Charleston SC; it’s really a must to visit or tour the whole historic downtown area. Some of the old buildings have been converted into museums, and two that you should definitely see are the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon, and the Magnolia Plantation & Gardens. Both are excellent, and great for learning a little something about what life may have been like during the 18th century.

Fort Sumter, Near Charleston SC...

There are many different trolley companies or tour buses that you can take for a nice narration on the historic buildings and areas of the downtown area of Charleston SC, including the Battery which is located right on the shoreline looking over the harbor. There are many cannon located here, as this area was used to fend off enemy ships entering the bay. Today it is used as a park, which many runners and bikers take advantage of. With many of the tour buses or trolleys, you are free to get off and on at the many stops.

Fort Sumter is located just offshore on an island, and is accessible by a ferry. Today this is a National Park or Monument, and stands as a reminder that the War of Northern Aggression started here back in 1861 when the south seceded from the Union in order to protect their rights. If you have time, this is a great way to soak in some of the cultural and military significance of Charleston SC during that time period. If you’re not careful here, you might just learn something!

U.S.S. Yorktown Aircraft Carrier Near Charleston SC...

If it is Naval ships that you’re interested in, there is the Patriots Point Maritime Museum in Charleston SC, famous for having the U.S.S. Yorktown aircraft carrier located here for viewing, along with a Coast Guard cutter and a WWII submarine also. These are all fantastic ships to see, and I definitely place this on the must see list if you have an interest at all in the Naval warfare history of the U.S. Actually getting to step on board an aircraft carrier that was active during combat in WWII is amazing! You get a feeling of what it was like to live and work on board one of these combat ships… Then when you get on the submarine and walk through it, you will not be able to believe how small it is compared with the subs of today! You are constantly ducking as you walk through, and you can see where the sailors slept… Some of them were berthed right on top of the torpedoes! All available space was used, as it was at a premium…

Old Slave Market...

Haunted Charleston SC...

Charleston SC is also one of the most haunted cities in the United States, and has a long history and tradition of death and dying under harsh conditions here… If you are a believer in ghosts or if you are interested, then this is the place for you to visit! There are many great ghost tours and attractions that will be sure to spook and mystify you! Some of the walking tours will take you on an eerie tour of some of the many haunted houses or areas of interest, in addition to giving you a narration of the ghostly happenings for you to check out later… Any of these tours are fantastic, and if you are interested in trying your luck with sleeping in specific haunted rooms at some of the hotels or bed and breakfasts in the area, they can point you to the best ones! A word of warning however, be prepared to vacate your room before daybreak if something a little eerier than you can imagine comes your way… You may not be as brave as you think!

The many things to do in Charleston SC will amaze you, and it will definitely take you more than one trip to see it all… That just means that you’ll be back for sure though, and it’s one of my favorite cities in the southeast. However, another great southern city is Savannah Georgia, and you may also want to check it out... Feel free to walk a little on the wild side, come to Charleston SC for a visit!

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