Things to do in Charleston

This is a town that prides itself on its history and heritage, and Charleston boasts a great number of historical buildings and some fascinating museums. Taking in the charm of days gone by as well as examining some of the darker sides of Charleston’s past will keep you occupied, while light-hearted relief can be found in the city’s parks and at the Aquarium.

Historic houses

Charleston is packed with historic houses and you will be hard pushed to get round them all. If you only have time to explore one or two, significant homes include Calhoun Mansion, which is an exquisitely ornate mansion that boasts nothing short of extravagance; Edmonston-Alston House, an antebellum treasure dating from 1825; and Nathaniel-Russell House, featuring a three-storey high flying staircase. Most of the historic houses showcase original furnishings as well as some interesting features such as slaves’ quarters.

Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon

This building has served many purposes in its time, from a customs house to a prison to a museum. Built in 1771, this colonial structure now details the history of the building and Charleston, and features exhibits on revolutionaries and pirates. The highlight are the sinister dungeons below, where prisoners were kept and punished during the Revolutionary War. Phone: +1 843 727 2165.

Confederate Museum

Tracing Civil War history, this museum is a good antidote to the colonial history that the town’s attractions tend to emphasise. Charleston’s significant role in the war is examined along with its defeat by Union forces, a blow that was to have a devastating effect on the town. The collection on display includes blood-stained ladies’ gloves, tattered flags and battleship splinters.

Charleston Museum

This is Charleston’s most visited museum, showcasing the city’s memorabilia and tracing the past of the town from its beginnings as a trade port through the Civil War and up to the present day. The museum dates from 1773, making it the oldest in the United States. Early collections include pickled snakes, Egyptian mummies and casts from the British Museum. Phone: +1 843 723 1541; website: http://www.csa-scla.org/articles/ConfederateMuseum.htm.

Avery Research Center for African-American History and Culture

This excellent museum traces black history in the region and Charleston’s role in the slave trade. Up to one third of the nations African slaves are thought to have passed through Charleston, many of whom were sold at the town’s slave market and sent to work on plantations. The fascinating museum archives document everything from oral histories to periodic films and personal papers to photographs. Website: http://www.cofc.edu/avery/.

South Carolina Aquarium

Suitable for children and adults alike, the aquarium is an exploration of the creatures of South Carolina’s water habitats. From the swamps and marshes to the salt marshes and the Atlantic Ocean, aquatic plant and animal life is explored in an educational and interesting way. There are also features on above-water animals, with various snakes and birds among other animals covered. You may also spot a school of dolphins in the river adjacent to the aquarium. Website: http://www.scaquarium.org/.

Fort Sumter

This is the site where the Civil War started, with the first shots having been fired from the fort in 1861. Built on an artificial island near the harbour, the fort succumbed to Union forces in 1865, after a lengthy battle. Accessible by boat, the fort offers great views of Charleston and also a small museum. Phone: +1 843 722 2628.