Charming Charleston Continues to Call
Charming Charleston continues today to use that Southern charm to entice visitors to sample this city of spires.
Often referred to as the ‘Holy City’. Charleston’s skyline is well punctuated by towering steeples of different styles and hues!
St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, Charleston, South Carolina.
Pure white for St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, warm sandstone, for St. Philip’s Episcopal Church and painted pink and tiled, St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church are just three of the spires making their impressive marks on the cityscape.
St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, Charleston, South Carolina.
As well as its many religious buildings of all denominations its, private period buildings from the 17th to the 20th century survive well together. Which make the city a go-to destination for anyone. Or those with an interest in architecture and history in general.
Middleton Place, Charleston, South Carolina.
Once Charleston was the wealthiest of all the cities on the American continent.
The Gullah Culture Of Charming Charleston
However, that wealth and many of the great buildings that it produced were constructed by its enslaved people locally now known as Gullah or Geechee culture of the Low Country around the city.
Gullah talk at Boone Hall Charleston, South Carolina.
This subject is still being dealt with in the city today as this dark story of slave and slave owners is constantly being pointed out and made very clear as you delve deeper into all aspects of the city’s history from the colonisation through to today.
The International African American Museum construction site Charleston, South Carolina.
In the next few years the city will be able to tell that story in the most comprehensive of ways with the opening of the International African American Museum. Currently being built on the very site where it is estimated that 40% of all slaves in the US landed.
Palm tree lined street Charleston, South Carolina.
A Welcoming City For Sure
That said, today the city is very welcoming for all. Indeed, with a desire to demonstrate that it had a history of a renegade state. And even deciding to start the American civil war on its very doorstep. Yet now, it is so open-hearted and warm to its many worldwide visitors. Who come to explore in its stylish palm tree lined streets and sample its superb Southern seafood cuisine.
Arthur Revenel Jr Bridge, Charleston, South Carolina.
As well as dripping in numerous historical buildings from several previous era’s. Also the 21st century has firmly made its mark with the Arthur Ravenel Jr Bridge. 4,000metre long 174metres high spanning the Cooper River. The concrete and cable stayed bridge is the 4th longest of its type in the world. Its hard not to miss its 2.5mile long profile from most places around the city harbour.
Boone Hall Charleston, South Carolina.
The numerous grand plantations to be found encircling the city are also great architectural and garden treats. Many are a short ride from downtown.
Many Manors To Admire
My particular favourites and not in any order are Boone Hall, Drayton Hall and Middleton Place. Others that I have not yet visited are the McLeod Plantation and the Charles Pinckney National Historic Site.
Drayton Hall, Charleston, South Carolina.
Boone Hall where the slave history is well documented and displayed. Along with some performances of story-telling and song by Gullah culture members, whom are African American men and women descended from those slaves. That once worked the land or served the masters in those very houses.
They now enthusiastically pass on the tales of the lifestyle they would have endured. And explain their traditional customs which have been passed down the generations to them.
Gullah history brought to life in charming Charleston.
Drayton Hall, is an iconic Palladian manor house built in the early 18th century. This is one of the most pretty of that style of house to be found in the United States. Standing three storey’s high. The brick and Portland Stone column façade and terrace is picture perfect. And when seen in reflection from the nearby lake, doubles the sensational view. Charming Charleston indeed!
St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, Charleston, South Carolina.
Middleton Place the home of a former signer of the American Constitution. This is still a home but tours can be made around its interior. The grounds are extensive and the beautiful butterfly wing lakes viewed from the rear terrace are really striking. Plus are the formal gardens and other water features.
Alligator at Middleton Place, Charleston, South Carolina.
Alligators Spotting In The Gardens
You are likely to spot to odd alligator as you walk around the watery areas of the grounds. But some much more conventional animals can be seen and visited on your tour. Farming livestock of horses, cows, goats, pigs and the free roaming sheep helping the keep some of the extensive lawns trimmed!
Blacksmith shows off his skills to the public at Middleton Place in Charming Charleston.
A series of period workshops are attached to the farm complex. Here you can see characters in costume either potting, woodworking, spinning or blacksmithing.
USS Yorktown a museum ship in the harbour at Charleston, South Carolina.
As well as the giant bridge its also hard not to miss the huge grey aircraft carrier tied up adjacent to it. The USS Yorktown is a former World War II carrier modernised in the 1950’s that has been turned into a Navy museum.
The flight deck and the hangers inside the ship are dressed with a selection of aircraft. All have been used over the years in US Naval aviation.
Vietnam War Exhibition at Charleston, South Carolina.
The museum allows you to access many areas of the giant carrier. Like the mess decks of the crew or torpedo workshops.
An Aircraft Carrier To Visit
Just see for yourself how little space the crew had, tiny lockers for their kit. And lines of steel wash basins in the bathrooms.
The officer’s quarters are much larger of course. Check out where the captain commanded his ship from. See where the aircraft were controlled for landings and take offs. Several levels high above the flight deck on the island bridge.
Flag raising Fort Sumter Charleston, South Carolina.
There is also a destroyer and a submarine to visit too. And close by back on the land is a detailed exhibition featuring the Vietnam War. Complete with jungle style buildings, helicopters, weapons and artefacts of the time.
Ranger at Fort Sumter Charleston, South Carolina.
Being the place where the first shots of American Civil were fired on 12th April 1861. This makes Fort Sumter in the middle of the harbour a very popular choice for US citizens and tourists alike.
Fort Sumpter A Historical Monument
Catch ferries from the Fort Sumter Visitor Centre or near to the Yorktown. They will take around 30 minutes to get you to there for a one-hour visit. Returning to which-ever boarding point you used to get there.
Pineapple Fountain in Charming Charleston, South Carolina.
The war started when confederate forces opened fire on the Union troops commanded by Maj Robert Anderson. In all 3,300 shells were fired at Fort Sumter over the next 34 hours. Although after that massive artillery bombardment not one soldier on either side was killed!
However, troops at the fort did surrender taking down the Union stars and stripes. Then allowing the soldiers evacuate under a white flag and to fight another day. And exactly 4 years later to the day from leaving the fort, the Union flag was raised there again by Robert Anderson now a Major General on April 14th 1865.
The city does go out of its way to confront that unsavoury period of slavery history, honestly. The construction of the new museum will go even further to educate and hopefully put right some of those terrible wrongs.
On the positive side, Charleston people are open, friendly and warm. This is very much a walkable city, full of Southern charm and its accompanying hospitality.
And yet after all the city has been through in the last over two hundred years it continues to show the world that Charleston has changed and for the good of all.
https://www.charlestoncvb.com/
LATEST TRAVEL NEWS
British Airways have halted their direct summer flights in December 2020.
British Airways Dreamliner was used on that service.
