Historical Tour
You may have heard … Charleston has a bit of a history.
In Charleston, the past is alive in the gas lanterns, the wrought iron gates, and the stories whispered by every cobblestone. From pirates and patriots to poets and preservationists, this city has seen it all. So lace up your shoes (and maybe bring a little curiosity), because in Charleston, history is everywhere. Here are just a few suggestions:
Fort Sumter National Monument
Reachable only by boat, this island fort is where the first shots of the Civil War rang out in 1861. The site is now a solemn reminder of the conflict that divided a nation, with powerful exhibits and sweeping harbor views that frame its historic significance.
đź“Ť Location: Charleston Harbor Between Charleston and Mount Pleasant
USS Yorktown at Patriots Point
Step aboard the massive aircraft carrier USS Yorktown, a naval museum rich with World War II history. Located at Patriots Point, this site includes additional ships, a Medal of Honor museum, and exhibits detailing America’s military past from land, sea, and air perspectives.
đź“Ť Location: Mount PleasantÂ
🕒 Plan to spend: 2–4 hours
The Battery & White Point Garden
The Battery is one of Charleston’s most iconic sites, a scenic promenade lined with antebellum mansions and Civil War-era cannons. White Point Garden at its southern tip offers shady paths, harbor views, and a tranquil space to reflect on Charleston’s layered past.
đź“Ť Location: Downtown Charleston
Visit a Plantation
There are many tours available for well-maintained plantations and gardens. Here are a few options:
McLeod Plantation Historic Site
The closest plantation tour to Folly Beach, McLeod Plantation is a 37-acre Gullah/Geechee heritage site. This former Sea Island cotton plantation provides a profound insight into the lives of enslaved individuals and their descendants. The site emphasizes African American resilience and cultural contributions.
đź“Ť Location: James Island
Middleton Place
Middleton Place is America’s Oldest Landscaped Gardens and home to a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Tours focus on the contributions of the Middleton family as well as the enslaved Africans and African Americans who lived and worked here.Â
đź“Ť Location: West Ashley, Charleston
Tour an Antebellum Home
Downtown Charleston offers numerous tours of Antebellum homes, showcasing the city’s rich history and architectural beauty. Here are a few options:
Aiken-Rhett House
One of Charleston’s best-preserved antebellum townhomes, the Aiken-Rhett House presents an authentic glimpse into 19th-century life. The main house, preserved rather than restored, and the intact slave quarters together tell a vivid story of wealth, power, and exploitation in urban Charleston.
đź“Ť Location: Downtown Charleston
Edmondston-Alston House
The house was built in the late Federal style by Scottish shipping merchant Charles Edmondston at the height of his commercial success. In 1825, it was one of the first substantial houses to be built along the city’s sea wall away from the noisy wharves and warehouses further up the Peninsula.
đź“Ť Location: Downtown Charleston
You may have heard … Charleston has a bit of a history.
In Charleston, the past is alive in the gas lanterns, the wrought iron gates, and the stories whispered by every cobblestone. From pirates and patriots to poets and preservationists, this city has seen it all. So lace up your shoes (and maybe bring a little curiosity), because in Charleston, history is everywhere. Here are just a few suggestions:
Fort Sumter National Monument
Reachable only by boat, this island fort is where the first shots of the Civil War rang out in 1861. The site is now a solemn reminder of the conflict that divided a nation, with powerful exhibits and sweeping harbor views that frame its historic significance.
đź“Ť Location: Charleston Harbor Between Charleston and Mount Pleasant
USS Yorktown at Patriots Point
Step aboard the massive aircraft carrier USS Yorktown, a naval museum rich with World War II history. Located at Patriots Point, this site includes additional ships, a Medal of Honor museum, and exhibits detailing America’s military past from land, sea, and air perspectives.
đź“Ť Location: Mount PleasantÂ
🕒 Plan to spend: 2–4 hours
The Battery & White Point Garden
The Battery is one of Charleston’s most iconic sites, a scenic promenade lined with antebellum mansions and Civil War-era cannons. White Point Garden at its southern tip offers shady paths, harbor views, and a tranquil space to reflect on Charleston’s layered past.
đź“Ť Location: Downtown Charleston
Visit a Plantation
There are many tours available for well-maintained plantations and gardens. Here are a few options:
McLeod Plantation Historic Site
The closest plantation tour to Folly Beach, McLeod Plantation is a 37-acre Gullah/Geechee heritage site. This former Sea Island cotton plantation provides a profound insight into the lives of enslaved individuals and their descendants. The site emphasizes African American resilience and cultural contributions.
đź“Ť Location: James Island
Middleton Place
Middleton Place is America’s Oldest Landscaped Gardens and home to a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Tours focus on the contributions of the Middleton family as well as the enslaved Africans and African Americans who lived and worked here.Â
đź“Ť Location: West Ashley, Charleston
Tour an Antebellum Home
Downtown Charleston offers numerous tours of Antebellum homes, showcasing the city’s rich history and architectural beauty. Here are a few options:
Aiken-Rhett House
One of Charleston’s best-preserved antebellum townhomes, the Aiken-Rhett House presents an authentic glimpse into 19th-century life. The main house, preserved rather than restored, and the intact slave quarters together tell a vivid story of wealth, power, and exploitation in urban Charleston.
đź“Ť Location: Downtown Charleston
Edmondston-Alston House
The house was built in the late Federal style by Scottish shipping merchant Charles Edmondston at the height of his commercial success. In 1825, it was one of the first substantial houses to be built along the city’s sea wall away from the noisy wharves and warehouses further up the Peninsula.
đź“Ť Location: Downtown Charleston
