| Attractions |
|
Edisto
Island Serpentarium
This facility is dedicated to the
recognition, Preservation and study of the World of reptiles.
We provide Educational and exciting displays Of reptiles
both from around the World and native to the region.
|
Folly
Beach Fishing Pier
Delight in fishing, walking,
birding, and the opportunity to enjoy wonderful views
of Folly Beach and the “Edge of America”.
The pier is 25 feet wide and extends more than 1,045
feet into the Atlantic Ocean. |
Magnolia
Cemetery
The oldest cemetery in Charleston,
founded in 1849 on the banks of the Cooper River, is
inhabited by generations of southern leaders. |
Morris Island Lighthouse
One of Charleston's best known and most beloved landmarks
is recognized as one of the top 100 cultural sites in
the state of South Carolina by the Heritage Trust Program
Board. |
Old
City Market
Open Mon. - Sun. Built in 1841,
it features small shops, restaurants, and a flea market
with everything from produce to antiques. |
South
Carolina Aquarium
The best views of Charleston
start at the South Carolina Aquarium. There’s no
place like it in Charleston – a place where fun,
wonder and education come together in one amazing experience. |
| Gardens |
|
The Audubon Swamp Garden
Located at Magnolia Plantation, this 60-acre blackwater cypress and tupelo swamp
with wildflowers, bog plants, and native and exotic shrubs, is accessible via
boardwalks, bridges, and dikes with views of waterfowl, alligators and other
wildlife. |
Cypress Gardens
Cypress gardens is a 170 acre Berkeley County park with
beautiful gardens, walking paths, and cypress swamp.
Visitors tour the swamp in flat-bottomed boats. The aquarium
and butterfly house feature native species. The reptile
house contains exotic snakes, turtles and crocodilians. |
Philip Simmons Foundation, Inc.
The Philip Simmons Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization,
was established in 1991 by the Vestry of St. John's Reformed
Episcopal Church to develop and maintain a commemorative
landscaped garden on the grounds of the church and to
preserve the legacy of the master craftsman. |
|
| Historic Houses & Buildings |
|
Aiken-Rhett House
The expansive Aiken-Rhett House stands as the most intact
urban villa with dependency buildings showcasing life
in antebellum Charleston.
|
Drayton
Hall
Located in the Ashley River Historic
District, Drayton Hall is an architectural masterpiece.
A National Trust historic site and National Historic
Landmark, it is very likely the first building American
designed in the Palladian style. |
The
Dock Street Theatre
Built on the site of America's
first theatre building (1736), the present Dock Street
Theatre, modeled on 18th century London playhouses, was
constructed in 1937 within the shell of the Planters
Hotel (c. 1809). |
Edmondston-Alston House
One of the first dwellings built on Charleston's High
Battery in 1825, this house is a gracious example of
early 19th century elegance, style and comfort. |
Heyward-Washington
House
Built in 1772, and home to Thomas
Heyward Jr., signer of the Declaration of Independence.
When George Washington visited Charleston in 1791, the
house was rented for his use. |
Joseph
Manigault House
A premier example of Adam-style
architecture, this c. 1803 home was designed by gentleman
architect Gabriel Manigault for his brother. |
Middleton
Place
A carefully preserved 18th century
rice plantation and National Historic Landmark encompassing
65-acres of America’s oldest landscaped Gardens. |
Nathaniel
Russell House
For nearly two centuries, visitors
have admired the grand Federal townhouse of Charleston
merchant Nathaniel Russell, completed in 1808. |
Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon
Built by the British as the Exchange and Customs House
in 1771, American Patriots were held prisoner in the
Provost during the Revolutionary War.
|
The
Powder Magazine
The Old Powder Magazine is the
oldest public building remaining in North or South Carolina.
In the late 1600's, the construction of walls around
the city and the building of harbor forts added to the
defensive character of Charleston. |
The Avery Research Center for African-American History
and Culture
Beautifully restored facility, site of former Avery School
built in 1865. Research Center's purpose is to document,
preserve, and make public the unique historical and cultural
heritage of South Carolina Lowcountry African-Americans. |
|
| Historic Sites |
|
Charles Pinckney National Historic Site
The National Park Service preserves
a remnant of Pinckney’s
plantation, Snee Farm. An early 19th-century Lowcountry
cottage houses the park’s museum and visitor center. |
Charles
Towne Landing State Historic Site
History comes alive at Charles
Towne Landing, where Native Americans, English, Africans
and Barbadians came together to create the first successful
English colony in Carolina in 1670. |
Colonial
Dorchester State Historic Site
Dorchester was settled in 1696
by a small group of Congregationalists on a high bluff
on the east bank of the Ashley River. Today, ruins
of Ft. Dorchester, old St, George's Church, and interesting
archaeological excavations mark the site of Dorchester. |
Fort
Moultrie
Fort Moultrie's history covers
171 years of seacoast defense, including the first decisive
victory in the American Revolution and the firing onto
Fort Sumter during the first battle of the Civil War. |
Fort Sumter National Monument
The Civil War provides the United
States with one of its critical defining moments and
continues to play a
vital role in defining ourselves as a Nation. America’s
most tragic conflict ignited at Fort Sumter on April
12, 1861. |
|
| Museums |
|
The Charleston Museum
America's first museum showcases a variety of cultural
and natural history artifacts that tell the story of
the South Carolina Lowcountry. |
Children's
Museum of the Lowcountry
Explore a shrimp boat, race golf
balls, discover castle life, splash in SCE&G’s
WaterWise and unleash your creative spirit. The Children's
Museum of the Lowcountry offers hands-on exhibits & environments
for children ages 3 months to twelve years and their
families. |
The
Citadel Museum
The Citadel Museum on The Citadel
Campus portrays the history of The Military College of
South Carolina and Corps of Cadets from 1842 to present. |
The
Confederate Museum
Market Hall was built in 1841.
Since 1898, the Daughters of the Confederacy have been
operating the Confederate Museum which contains flags,
uniforms, swords, and other Confederate memorabilia. |
Gibbes
Museum of Art
Housed in a 1905 Beaux Arts building
located in the historic district of downtown Charleston,
the Gibbes Museum of Art offers one of the finest collections
of American art in the Southeast. |
Karpeles
Manuscript Museum
The Karpeles Manuscript Museum
houses the largest private collection of historically
significant manuscripts in the world (over 1 million).
Philanthropist David Karpeles supports seven museums
across the nation and his collection ranges from Ancient
Egypt to the Apollo moon landing. |
Patriots
Point Naval & Maritime Museum
The imposing 888 foot aircraft carrier Yorktown is the
flagship of the Patriots Point battle group. The destroyer
Laffey, the Coast Guard cutter Ingham and the submarine
Clamagore are also on display along with 25 aircraft,
Congressional Medal of Honor Museum and Cold War Submarine
memorial. |
|
| Parks & Recreation |
|
Beachwalker Park
Beach access park with 300 feet of ocean footage. Amenities
include dressing areas, outdoor showers, restrooms, boardwalks,
a snack bar, and a picnic area. |
Caw
Caw Interpretive Center
This 643-acre park highlights
Charleston’s natural, historical, and cultural heritage,
including the significance of successful rice cultivation
technology brought to America by Africans. |
Charleston
County Parks
The county's park system presently
includes over 4,586 acres with emphasis on passive activities,
the environment, and beach access. Each park facility
offers a variety of programming. |
Charleston
Waterfront Park
Located on 1,280 feet of waterfront
property along Concord Street in Charleston, this public
park provides visitors the ideal setting to relax and
experience the ever-changing beauty of the waterfront. |
Folly
Beach County Park
Beach access park with 4,000
feet of ocean frontage. Dressing area, outdoor showers,
restrooms, picnic areas, snack bar, and boardwalks. |
Francis
Beidler Forest
The 13,000-acre sanctuary for
plant and animal life is located in Four Holes Swamp
and contains the largest remaining virgin stand of
bald cypress and tupelo trees in the world. |
Francis
Marion National Forest
The forest offers wide variety
of recreation activities including picnicking & camping
sites, boat ramps, fishing ponds, rifle ranges, hiking,
horse & motorcycle
trails. |
The
International Center for Birds of Prey
Experience more than 80 species
of eagles, hawks, falcons, owls, and other birds of prey
from all parts of the world in this 152-acre campus dedicated
to education, avian medicine, research, and conservation. |
Isle
of Palms County Park
Conveniently located at the foot
of the Isle of Palms Connector, this park offers 350
parking spaces, a dunes boardwalk, showers, restrooms,
and vending. |
James
Island County Park
A 643-acre park with a variety
of recreational opportunities, including crabbing and
fishing from floating docks along tidal creeks and lagoons,
biking, pedal boats, and picnicking. Splash Zone waterpark
open seasonally. |
North
Charleston Wannamaker County Park
This 1,015-acre park has two playgrounds,
a 20-foot play hill, and picnic sites with grills, open
meadows, paved trails, and the Cypress Hall and Park Center,
with snack bar, bicycle/pedal boat rentals. |
Old
Santee Canal Park
Old Santee Canal is a 195 acre
park located on the first true canal in America. The
park's boardwalks and trails wander through Biggin Creek
leading to the last one mile section of the old canal.
Visitors can canoe or hike through the park. |
Palmetto
Islands County Park
This 943-acre park offers a variety
of recreational opportunities, including crabbing and
fishing from floating docks along tidal creeks and lagoons,
biking; pedal boating, and picnicking. Splash Island
waterpark is open seasonally.
|
South
Carolina State Parks
State parks are gateways to
South Carolina’s natural, cultural and recreational
destinations and they offer lots of venues from which
to enjoy them. |
| Plantations |
|
Boone Hall Plantation
Visit one of America’s
oldest working plantations. Enjoy 300 years of history
and heritage. Stroll the world renowned avenue of oaks,
visit the nine original slave cabins, and sample excellent
southern cuisine at Serena’s Kitchen. |
Drayton Hall
Drayton Hall, c.1738, is the oldest preserved plantation
house in America open to the public. After seven generations,
two great wars, and numerous hurricanes and earthquakes,
the main house of this National Historic Landmark remains
in nearly original condition. |
Magnolia Plantation and Its Gardens
This 17th century estate, acquired
in 1676 by the Drayton family, features America’s
oldest gardens (c.1680), which bloom year-round. |
Mempkin
Abbey and Gardens
Since 1949 Catholic Trappist
monks have lived and worked on this 3,000 acre 18th century
Cooper River rice plantation once owned by Patriot Henry
Laurens. Visitors tour a working monastery and adjacent
gardens and shop in Mepkin Abbey Store. |
Middleton
Place
A carefully preserved 18th century rice plantation
and National Historic
Landmark encompassing 65-acres of America’s oldest landscaped
Gardens. |
|
