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History Abounds on Charleston’s Museum Mile

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Immerse yourself in Charleston’s history along the Museum Mile. This 1-mile section around Meeting Street is home to six museums, five historic homes, four parks and a number of churches and public buildings – all of which are significant to Charleston’s past.

During the month of January, you can purchase a Museum Mile Month pass for access to 11 different sites for just $25 (adults) and $10 (children 12 and under). Tickets can be purchased at one of the three area Charleston Visitor Center locations (downtown Charleston, North Charleston and Mount Pleasant). For more information, visit charlestonsmuseummile.org.

Participating sites include:
Aiken Rhett House
Aiken Rhett House

Aiken-Rhett House Museum, 48 Elizabeth St. This home, built in 1820, remained in the hands of family descendants for 142 years until it opened as a museum house in 1975. The house was built by Charleston merchant John Robinson. When Robinson lost five ships at sea in 1825, he was forced to sell the house. In 1827, it was sold to William Aiken Sr.

 

The Charleston Museum, 360 Meeting St. Founded in 1773 and commonly regarded as “America’s First Museum,” The Charleston Museum was established by the Charleston Library Society on the eve of the American Revolution. First opened to the public in 1824, the museum developed prominent collections. Operations were temporarily suspended due to the Civil War, but began again shortly afterward.

 

Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry, 25 Ann St. Children from birth to 10 years of age will enjoy exploring the many activities in this hands-on museum. Kids can race boats down rapids, climb aboard a Lowcountry pirate ship, create art projects, shop in a child-sized grocery store and drive an antique fire truck.

 

Gibbes Museum of Art
Gibbes Museum of Art

Gibbes Museum of Art, 135 Meeting St. Opened in 1905, the Gibbes Museum of Art is home to the foremost collection of American art that incorporates the story of Charleston. The museum recently underwent an extension renovation and reopened in 2016.

 

Joseph Manigault House, 350 Meeting St. One of Charleston’s most exquisite antebellum structures, this house, built in 1803, reflects the urban lifestyle of a wealthy, rice-planting family and the enslaved African Americans who lived there.

 

Confederate Museum, 188 Meeting St. Market Hall is home to the Confederate Museum, which opened in 1899. Market Hall was built in 1841 and is a copy of the Temple of the Wingless Victory in Athens, Greece. It served as the front entrance to the six blocks of the roofed market space. Market vendors sold fruit and vegetables, meat and fish. No slaves were sold at the market.

 

The Powder Magazine, 79 Cumberland St. Completed by 1713, The Powder Magazine is the oldest government building in South Carolina. This facility was used as an arsenal from 1713 to 1748 to defend the colony from the Spanish, French, pirates, slave rebellion and native attacks.

 

Old Slave Mart Museum, 6 Chalmers St. This museum recounts the story of Charleston’s role in the early 1800s inter-state slave trade by focusing on the history of this particular building and the slave sales that occurred there.

 

Heyward-Washington House, 87 Church St. Built in 1772, this Georgian-style double house was the town home of Thomas Heyward Jr., one of four South Carolina signers of the Declaration of Independence. The property features the only 1740s kitchen building open to the public in Charleston as well as formal gardens featuring plants commonly used in the Lowcountry in the late 18th century.

 

Nathaniel Russell House Museum, 51 Meeting St. This house is widely recognized as one of America’s most important neoclassical dwellings. Owner Nathaniel Russell was born in Bristol, Rhode Island. A 27-year-old Russell settled in Charleston in 1765, when the city was a bustling seaport. By 1774, Charleston boasted a per capita of wealth nearly four times that of all the American colonies.

 

Nathaniel Russell House Museum
Nathaniel Russell House Museum

The Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon, 122 East Bay St. This historic building was constructed in 1771. The Old Exchange is where South Carolina ratified the U.S. Constitution in 1788 becoming the eighth state to join the union. It was used as a prison by the British occupation during the Revolutionary War.

 

Edmondston-Alston House, 21 East Battery. The collection at this house museum consists of pieces that belonged to the family, so it’s an incredible look at not only family history, but American history as well. Despite the ravages of the Civil War, the Earthquake of 1886 and numerous hurricanes, the Alston family pieces remain in place much as they have for more than 150 years.

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Charleston FAQ's

Choosing a hotel and where to stay in Charleston all depends on your budget and goals. Do you want to stay Downtown, at the beach or in the outer areas such as North Charleston where you have to drive to get everywhere? For more help on deciding: https://travelerofcharleston.com/articles/hotels/

Charleston has 3 main public beaches which are: Folly, Isle of Palms and Sullivans. Each beach has it’s own atmosphere. The most common beach that people visit is Folly Beach and then Isle of Palms followed by Sullivans Island. For more info on Charleston’s beaches visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/guide-charlestons-beaches/

Charleston, SC is full of historical things to do. Everything from museums, to public sites and free landmark sites such as Rainbow Row and the Battery can be seen. For more info on Charleston’s top historical sites visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/places-to-learn-about-charleston-sc-history/

There are many things that will keep the kids and family entertained and educated in Charleston. There are historic sites such as Fort Sumter, a Children’s Museum, Aquarium and the USS Yorktown…a WWII era aircraft carrier you can tour. For more info visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-family-fun-activities/

There’s so many  things you could do in Charleston it can be overwhelming. We recommend that first time visitors, checkout the ultimate first-time visitor guide here: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-first-time-visitors-guide/

Spring in Charleston, SC is an amazing time of year to visit. The flowers are blooming and the weather is mild and sunny. For more info, check-out our spring guide to Charleston here: https://travelerofcharleston.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-springtime-in-charleston/

Summer in Charleston is a great time to visit. There’s plenty of things to keep you busy and visiting the beach will probably….or should be on your short-list. Also water-based activities and tours are popular. Checkout this summer guide to Charleston for more info: 

Our 10 Favorite Summer Activities in Charleston

Fall is one of the best times to visit. The weather cools down a bit and the skies are typically blue and clear. In addition there are many great events, festivals and the large crowds of summer have gone back to school or work. For more info on visiting in the fall, checkout this article: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-12-things-to-do-fall/

There are so many great things to do that it’s difficult to narrow the list down. This article does a great job with figuring out the must do things to do in Charleston

7 Can’t Miss Reasons to Visit Charleston, SC Now

The consensus is a minimum of 3-days is needed to settle in and experience Charleston. For instance, many people take 2 days exploring downtown and another day visiting sites outside of downtown such as the plantations, Angel Oak Tree or beaches. Checkout this page for a list of tours and attractions: 

Charleston’s Top Tours & Attractions | Things to do

Downtown Charleston was made for walking and for sure one of the best way to soak up and experience the history first-hand. This article goes over getting around Charleston with and without a car as well: 

Getting Around Charleston, SC

We’re of course partial to Charleston, but here’s the truth. There are many similarities however there are some differences in our opinion: 

  • Both cities are historic and beautiful. 
  • Both cities are extremely walkable. Savannah, with it’s park-like squares maybe more walkable than Charleston. 
  • Charleston has a more established and food scene with many more options. 
  • Charleston has better hotels and shopping.
  • Both cities have equally good tours.
  • Charleston has better beach options. Savannah has Tybee which is great, however it’s 1 beach vibe versus Charleston which has 3 beaches with different vibes. Checkout this Charleston beach guide article: https://travelerofcharleston.com/guide-charlestons-beaches/
  • In Savannah you can walk with alcoholic beverages on the street. This is not allowed in Charleston. This can be good or bad depending on your stance. 
  • Savannah is more affordable.
  • TourPass offers all-inclusive passes in both cities: https://tourpass.com

There are always great and world-class events happening in Charleston. For a calendar of events and things to do in Charleston, checkout our online calendar of events: https://travelerofcharleston.com/events/

Of course there are free money-saving coupons that you can use. Visit the coupons page for a bunch of ways to save: https://travelerofcharleston.com/coupon/

Charleston has some fantastic can’t miss tours such as Fort Sumter, carriage, ghost, harbor, historic and culinary tours. For a full list with more info visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/attractions/

Checkout the Charleston Relocation Guide page which will guide you during your move: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-sc-relocation-guide/

Additional Places to Explore

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