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Give the gift of Museums for Christmas!

Charleston's Museum Mile - CharlestonMuseumMile.org
Charleston’s Museum Mile – CharlestonMuseumMile.org

“During the month of January 2018, enjoy access to participating Museum Mile sites with the purchase of one low ticket price! With the Museum Mile Month pass, you can spend an entire month learning about Charleston’s rich history and culture while visiting sites in the order that best fits your schedule.

Participating sites include:

Tickets ordered in advance can be mailed to your door or you may request to have them held for pick up at The Charleston Museum, the Heyward-Washington House or the Joseph Manigault House.

PLEASE NOTE: Purchases can be made in advance online until 12/31/2017. During January 2018, ticket purchases must be made in person at a Charleston Visitor Center downtown, in North Charleston or in Mount Pleasant. “

Source:  CharlestonMuseum.org

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Charleston boasts of the Largest Keelboat Regatta in the Western Hemisphere

CharlestonRaceWeek.com posted…

“Race Week Culminates with Moderate Winds and High Spirits

After three days of intense competition across 16 different classes of sailboats, the biggest keelboat regatta in the Americas is in the books! The past half week has been filled with exciting racing, rockin’ beachside parties and some great camaraderie. Another edition of Sperry Charleston Race Week comes to a close.

Full scores, photos, videos and more tell the story on their Website and on Facebook!

SAVE THE DATE for 2018!
April 12-15, 2018

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Weather is right for Charleston Water Taxi!

Beginning in Mid March the Charleston Water Taxi’s schedule expanded to daily from 9 am to 8 pm. Prior to that they were mostly open on Saturdays.

There are four departure points with different departing times.  The four points are:

  • Aquarium Wharf/MaritimeCenter
  • Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum
  • Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina
  • Waterfront Park/Market St/Historic District

Visit their Website  |   Visit their Facebook page

Click here to see their excellent TripAdvisor reviews.

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The Exchange and Provost – a Landmark

A  National Historic Landmark

The Exchange and Provost - a Landmark

Picture Source – National Park Service

122 East Bay Street,
Charleston, SC 29401
843-722-2165 
oldexchange.org/

‘The Exchange and Provost, a National Historic Landmark, was a pivotal building in colonial Charleston, where many significant events of the American Revolution and early Federal period occurred.

As Charleston became the South’s largest port, the Exchange and Custom House was built from 1767 to 1771 for the expanding shipping industry, but also served as a public market and meeting place.

After a protest meeting against the Tea Act, confiscated tea was stored here in 1774.

The Provincial Congress of South Carolina met here the following year.

During the Revolutionary War, the British used the building for barracks and the basement as a military prison.

The State Legislature met here in 1788, after the Statehousewas destroyed.

When George Washington visited Charleston on his southern tour of 1791, a grand ball was held for him on the second floor.’

Source – National Park Service 

To learn more about the architectural style of the builiding, how it originally fronted the harbor, its original purpose, damage to the building due to the Civil War and the 1886 earthquake AND the builiding’s relationship to the DAR see the National Park Service Website OR Wikipedia.

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Caw Caw Nature & History Interpretive Center

Caw Caw Nature & History Interpretive Center

Photo and text source – http://bit.ly/33Llua

5200 Savannah Highway, 
Ravenel, SC 29470
 
Contact

(843) 889-8898 or

(843) 795-4386

Email

Hours

Wed-Sun: 9:00am-5:00pm

Mon and Tue: Closed

Admission

$1 or 1 Greenbax per person

Free: 2 years and under

Free: Gold Pass members

‘Journey from the past to the present and heritage to habitat at the Ravenel Caw Caw Interpretive Center. Rich in natural, cultural and historical resources, Caw Caw was once part of several rice plantations and home to enslaved Africans who applied their technology and skills in agriculture to carve the series of rice fields out of cypress swamps.

To help preserve and protect our natural resources and interpretive trails, dogs and bicycles are not permitted.’

Features

– Over 6 miles of trails with trailside exhibits

– Elevated boardwalks through wetlands (1,435 ft.)

– Environmental and social studies education programs from pre-school through college level

– Interpretive exhibits, displays, and programs

– Former 18th and 19th century rice fields and on one of the most important sites of the Stono Rebellion

– Thousands of naturalized tea plants from a 20th century tea farm

– Areas managed for wildlife including waterfowl, songbirds, otters, deer, and more

– Favored habitats for rare wildlife: American Alligators, Swallow-tailed Kites, Bald Eagles, and others

Group Rates

Environmental Educator or Interpreter-led educational group rates are available with reservations Monday through Sunday or self-led educational group rates available with reservations Wednesday through Sunday. For more information, call (843) 889-8898.

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Morris Island and Morris Island Light

Morris Island Lighthouse, Charleston, S.C,

Picture and Text Source – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morris_Island

“Morris Island is an 840 acre (3.4 km²) uninhabited island in Charleston Harbor in South Carolina, accessible only by boat. The island lies in the outer reaches of the harbor and was thus a strategic location in the American Civil War.

Morris Island was heavily fortified to defend Charleston harbor…It was the scene of heavy fighting during the Union Army‘s campaign to captureCharleston, and is perhaps best known today as the scene of the ill-fated assault by the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, an African-American regiment. The regiment and this assault, where it suffered over 50% casualties, was immortalized in the film Glory.”

After the Confederates abandoned Morris Island in 1863, the Union occupied it and transferred 520 Confederate officers from Fort Delaware to Morris Island… They were used as Human Shields…”   Be sure to read on! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morris_Island and the article on the Morris Island Light 

Morris Island Light - Wikipedia

Picture Source – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morris_Island_Light

 

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Old Jail – Charleston, S.C.

Old Jail - Charleston, S.C.

Picture and Text below source – http://1.usa.gov/r0A2rr

21 Magazine Street
Charleston, SC 29401
843-577-5245

‘Now occupied by the American College of the Building Arts.’

‘Tours are available by appointment.’

‘The Old Jail building served as the Charleston County Jail from its construction in 1802 until 1939. In 1680, as the city of Charleston was being laid out, a four-acre square of land was set aside at this location for public use. In time a hospital, poor house, workhouse for runaway slaves, and this jail were built on the square…Increased restrictions were placed on slaves and free blacks in Charleston as a result of the Vesey plot (explained on the Website), and law required that all black seaman be kept here while they were in port. During the Civil War, Confederate and Federal prisoners of war were incarcerated here. It is one of more than 1400 historically significant buildings within the Charleston Old and Historic District.’

 

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Nathaniel Russell House – Charleston, S.C.

A National Historic Landmark

Nathaniel Russell House - Charleston, S.C.

Picture Source – Wikipedia

51 Meeting Street
Charleston, SC 29401
843-724-8481
bit.ly/8I2d1U

‘Since 1808, visitors have admired the grand Federal townhouse of Charleston merchant Nathaniel Russell.

Set amid spacious formal gardens, the Nathaniel Russell House is a National Historic Landmark and is widely recognized as one of America’s most important neoclassical dwellings.

The graceful interior with elaborate plasterwork ornamentation, geometrically shaped rooms and a magnificent free-flying staircase are among the most exuberant ever created in early America.

Located in Downtown Charleston near High Battery, the house is furnished with period antiques and works of art that evoke the gracious lifestyle of the city’s merchant elite.

Today the Nathaniel Russell House interprets the lives of the Russell family, as well as the African American slaves and artisans who were responsible for maintaining one of the South’s grandest antebellum townhouses.’

Source – HistoricCharleston.org Nathaniel Russell House Website.

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Magnolia Plantation and Gardens – Charleston, S.C.

Listed on theNational Register of Historic Places.

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens - Charleston, S.C.

Picture Source – Wikipedia

3550 Ashley River Road,
Charleston, SC – 29414
800-367-3517

www.magnoliaplantation.com/

‘Magnolia Plantation and Gardens (70 acres, 28 hectares) is a historic house with gardens located on the Ashley River at 3550 Ashley River Road, Charleston County, South Carolina, United States.

It is one of the oldest plantations in the south, and listed on theNational Register of Historic Places.

‘A variety of tours are offered including the slave quarters and the family home. Tram tours are led by naturalists and visitors often see alligators, turtles, snakes, peacocks and waterfowl. The gardens are one of the oldest INFORMAL gardens in the U.S. with cooperation with nature rather than control of nature’.Adapted from article about Charleston by Judith Evans.

The house and gardens are open daily; an admission fee is charged.

Magnolia Plantation is located near Charleston and directly across the Ashley River from North Charleston.

The plantation dates to 1676 when Thomas and Ann Drayton built a house and small formal garden on the site.

(The plantation remains under the control of the Drayton family after 15 generations.).’

Source – Wikipedia

There is a lovely blog post related to Magnolia Plantation, magnolias and camellias entitled, Magnificent Magnolia Plantation: By Gene Phillips.

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