Mills House Hotel – Charleston, S.C.

Picture and Text Source – http://www.millshouse.com/

115 Meeting Street,
Charleston,
SC – 29401
(843) 577-2400
 
www.millshouse.com/
 
“Experience the Finest of Historic Charleston Hotels
The Mills House Hotel is a gem among historic Charleston hotels.  Blending opulent accommodations, historic ambiance and modern convenience, our luxury Charleston hotel treats you to true southern hospitality, the same hospitality we showed our first guest over 150 years ago. With our recent multi-million dollar restoration, our historic Charleston hotel has recaptured its original splendor, and we’re eager to share it with you.Located in the heart of Charleston, The Mills House is the only hotel included in the city’s prestigious Museum Mile,.”

A Holiday Inn Hotel

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The Cooper River Bridge(s)

1939 Postcard of the Cooper River Bridge featured on American-Journal.org
1939 Postcard of the Cooper River Bridge featured on American-Journal.org

Picture Source – http://american-journal.org/2012/01/cooper-river-bridge-charleston-s-c-c-1939/

The Cooper River Bridge is technically three bridges with separate names that served to transport Charlestonians over the years.

Its history is revealed on CooperRiverBridge.org  .  The three bridges are:

  1. The Grace Memorial Bridge – “The 2.71-mile bridge, later to be named the Grace Memorial Bridge, was built in just 17 months, at a total cost of approximately $6 million. It was opened with a three-day celebration on Aug. 8, 1929.”
  2. The Pearman Bridge – “In ceremonies on April 29, 1966, a new $15 million bridge over the Cooper River, parallel to the Grace Bridge, was opened to traffic, and dedicated in honor of Chief Highway Commissioner Silas N. Pearman.”
  3. The Ravenel Bridge (also known as the New Cooper River Bridge) – “Now the diamond towers of the Ravenel Bridge have been named the John P. Grace Tower and the Silas N. Pearman Tower to remember the men and the bridges that served Charleston.”
Be sure to visit the Mount Pleasant Pier at 71 Harry Hallman Boulevard in Mt. Pleasant.  It is a lovely park and gives you a great view of the bridges.  Here is what the Charleston Park and Recreation Commission says about it:

“Part of the Memorial Waterfront Park complex, the 1250-foot long Mount Pleasant Pier stretches out into Charleston Harbor under the foot of the Arthur Ravenel, Jr. Bridge. The pier’s foundation was created from pared-down pilings from the old Grace Memorial Bridge, and one end of the pier now features an 8,100-square-foot covered pavilion for hosting dances and other events. Visitors can enjoy beautiful views of the bridge and harbor from the pier’s bench swings and shade structures.”

Learn more about the bridges on the Wikipedia ‘Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge’ article. 

There are many, many beautiful images of the bridges on Google images –

Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge – Charleston, S.C.

Picture source – Wikipedia.org

www.cooperriverbridge.org/

Charleston, SC – 29401
“The Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, also known as the New Cooper River Bridge, is a cable-stayed bridge over the Cooper Riverin South Carolina, connecting downtown Charleston to Mount Pleasant. The eight lane bridge satisfied the capacity of U.S. Route 17 when it opened in 2005 to replace two obsolete cantilever truss bridges. The bridge has a main span of 1,546 feet (471 m), the second longest among cable-stayed bridges in the Western Hemisphere.”  Wikipedia.orgFor more information on the history of the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, the Pearman Bridge, and the Grace Memorial Bridge – known as the Cooper River bridges – see ‘The Bridge(s) of Charleston’.
Related:

– The Mount Pleasant Pier

 

The Charleston Museum – Americas First Museum

www.charlestonmuseum.org

360 Meeting Street,
Charleston,
SC – 29403
843-722-2996

Email – info@charlestonmuseum.org

‘America’s First Museum, founded in 1773.

Its mission is to preserve and interpret the cultural and natural history of Charleston and the South Carolina Lowcountry.

We invite you to explore this rich, varied history at the Museum and its two National Historic Landmark houses.

All are located downtown, in America’s Most Historic City.

Inspired in part by the creation of the British Museum (1759), the Museum was established in 1773 by the Charleston Library Society and is commonly regarded as America’s first museum. Its early history was characterized by association with distinguished South Carolinians and scientific figures including Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Reverend John Bachman and John J. Audubon. 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.’

‘First opened to the public in 1824, the Museum developed prominent collections declared in 1852 by Harvard scientist Louis Aggasiz to be among the finest in America.

Operations were temporarily suspended due to the Civil War, but began again shortly after the conflict.

Progressively acquired from the late 18th century to the present, the Museum’s collections now present the oldest-acquired and the most comprehensive assemblage of South Carolina materials in the nation.

Modern collecting emphases include natural science, ornithology, historical material culture and both documentary and photographic resources.’

Hours of Operation

Museum – Monday-Saturday 9-5, Sunday 1-5

Historic Houses – Monday-Saturday 10-5, Sunday 1-5

Admission

Museum – $10/adults, $5/children 4-12, children 3 and under free

Historic Houses – $10 adults, $5/children 4-12, children 3 and under free

Group rates and discounted multi-site tickets available

Information and Prices subject to change

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Rainbow Row – Charleston, S.C.

83-107 East Bay Street,
Charleston,
SC – 29401
on facebook – on.fb.me/rzahLU
 
Rainbow Row is the name for a series of colorful historic houses in Charleston, South Carolina. The houses are located north of Tradd St. and south of Elliot St. on East Bay Street. It is referred to as Rainbow Row for the pastel colors used to paint all of the houses. It is a common tourist attraction and is one of the most photographed parts of Charleston.’

Source – Wikipedia

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Gov. Thomas Bennett House – a Landmark – Charleston, S.C.

Photo Source – http://www.governorthomasbennetthouse.com/

Listed in National Register of Historic Places.

69 Barre Street,
Charleston, SC
WebsiteThe Governor Thomas Bennett House is available for rent during the day or evenings, for weekday or weekend events. The rental fee is for the use of the house and gardens.

‘It was built in approximately 1825 on land which had once belonged to architect and builder Thomas Bennett, Sr. (1754-1814).

Thomas Bennett, Sr.’s son, Thomas Bennett, Jr. (1781-1865), took over his father’s lumber and milling business but was also active in state and local politics.

He was superintendent of Charleston, South Carolina; a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives (and was its speaker from 1814 to 1818); a member of the South Carolina Senate; and governor of the state.

After his term as governor, Thomas Bennett, Jr. undertook the construction of this notable house on land which originally overlooked the rice and saw mills which he owned.

The house is a 2 1/2-story wooden structure on a high foundation of stuccoed brick.

The house has a single-story piazza with a fanlighted entrance, engaged columns, and entablature.

The house has a pediment on the south facade, a Palladian window, and round-headed stair window on the north side.

The interior is notable for its Regency style woodwork and plasterwork.

It also has a cantilevered stair which connects the first and second floor without visible means of support along the walls.

It is one of only two such stairs in Charleston, the other being the Nathaniel Russell House at 51 Meeting St.

The house’s floorplan is a basic double house.

Immediately behind the front door is a hall, separated from a rearward stair hall by a keystone arch and fanlighted doorway.’

Source – Wikipedia

Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum – Mt. Pleasant, S.C.

Picture Source – Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriots_Point

40 Patriots Point Road,
Mt. Pleasant,
SC – 29464
866-831-1720

www.patriotspoint.org/

‘Patriots Point is home to three museum ships:

– USS Yorktown, an aircraft carrier

– USS Laffey, a destroyer (closed as of August 2009; to be brought back December 2011)

– USS Clamagore, a submarine

 

‘The Yorktown has many exhibits on board, including:

– Medal of Honor museum, with biographies of all medal recipients

– 25 naval aircraft, including:

A-4 Skyhawk

A-6 Intruder

A-7 Corsair

F-4 Phantom

F-9 Cougar

F-14 Tomcat

 

‘Exhibits ashore include:

– Civil War-era cannon

– Vietnam War-era:

US Navy Bell UH-1 helicopter

USMC Bell AH-1 Sea Cobra helicopter

PBR-105 river patrol boat

Naval Support Camp

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Calhoun Mansion – Charleston, S.C.

Calhoun Mansion, Charleston, S.C.

Picture Source – CalhounMansion.net 

The Largest Privately Owned Home in Charleston.

16 Meeting Street,
Charleston,
SC – 29401
843-722-8205

‘Nothing else on the Charleston Peninsula compares to the Calhoun Mansion.

Boasting a striking italianate design, the Calhoun Mansion, the largest residence in Charleston, has 35 rooms, a grand ballroom, japanese water gardens, 35 fireplaces, 75 foot high domed stairhall ceiling, khoi ponds, private elevator, three levels of piazzas, ornate chandeliers, a 90 foot cupola, and many more wonderful surprises that make up the house’s more than 24,000 square feet.’

‘Italianate manor house built in 1876 currently used as a private home and a museum; includes photos, tour schedule, and history of the property.’

Source – CalhounMansion.net

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The Citadel – The Military College of South Carolina – Charleston, S.C.

The Citadel - Inside of PT Barracks (Wikipedia)

Picture source – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Citadel,_The_Military_College_of_South_Carolina

171 Moultrie Street,
Charleston,
SC – 29409
843-225-3294
 
www.citadel.edu
 

‘The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, also known simply as The Citadel, is a state-supported, comprehensivecollege located in Charleston, South Carolina, USA. It is one of the six senior military colleges in the United States, and has 14academic departments divided into five schools offering 20 majors & 25 minors.’

‘The Citadel is best known for its undergraduate Corps of Cadets military program which combines academics, physical challenges and military discipline.’

Core values – Honor, Duty, Respect.

Source – Wikipedia 

Read the History of The Citadel on Wikipedia 

The Citadel and cadets has been depicted in books, movies and music videos including:

– Dear John

– For the Boys

– Pat Conroys novel ‘The Lords of Discipline’

– Tom Schroders novel ‘The Citadel’

– Dave Matthews Bands video ‘American Baby’

and others.

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The Confederate Museum – Charleston, S.C.

Confederate Museum, Charleston, S.C.
Photo source – http://www.csa-scla.org/articles/ConfederateMuseum.htm
 
188 Meeting Street
Charleston,
SC – 29401
843-723-1541
 
The Confederate Museum is located above the open-air market a National Historic Landmark

Hours of Operation: Tuesday – Saturday 11AM – 3:30PM,  Closed on Sundays and Mondays/ Call to verify hours and days. 

Admission: Adults & Teens $5.00—-6 – 12 years old $3.00, Under 6 Free

Built in 1841.

Contains the Daughters of the Confederacy Museum.

During the Civil War the hall was a recruiting station.

Features Greek Revival-style architecture.

The museum has a library, exhibits and artifacts of the confederacy.

Donations Always Welcomed ~
Mail to: Confederate Museum
P.O. Box 20997
Charleston, SC 29413

Find out more…http://www.csa-scla.org/articles/ConfederateMuseum.htm

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