Jul 29, 2015

Lowcountry Living – Downtown Sightseeing

◂ Back to Posts

Signers of the Declaration of Independence and authors of the U.S. Constitution have walked the streets of this historic city. It was the first English settlement established south of Virginia and by the mid-18th century, Charleston was the wealthiest and fourth largest city in colonial America.

Interested in learning about some of the historic locations downtown? Follow along on our trip down memory lane…

College of Charleston – Founded in 1770 and chartered in 1785, the College of Charleston is the oldest institution of higher education in South Carolina.

Dock Street Theatre – The structure, which was built as a hotel in 1809 and converted to a theater in 1935, occupies the site of the first building in the Thirteen Colonies designed for use as a theater.

Exchange and Provost Building – Built from 1767-1771 as the Royal Exchange. The first cupola was damaged by a hurricane in the early 1800s, the second deteriorated before the Great Earthquake of 1886, and the third was not placed until 1981 when the building opened as a museum.

Fort Sumter – one of a number of special forts planned after the war of 1812, combining high walls and heavy masonry, and classified as Third System, as a grade of structural integrity. Work started in 1829, but was incomplete by 1860, when South Carolina seceded from the Union.

Hibernian Hall – Hibernian Hall is the only remaining building associated with the Democratic National Convention of 1860, one of the most critical political gatherings in United States history.

Marion Square – It is best known as the former Citadel Green because The Citadel occupied the arsenal from 1843 until 1922, when the college moved to Charleston’s west side. The name was then changed to Marion Square, in honor of Francis Marion.

Market Hall and Sheds – Established in the 1790s, the market stretches for four city blocks from the architecturally-significant Market Hall, which faces Meeting Street, through a continuous series of one-story market sheds, the last of which terminates at East Bay Street.

United States Custom House – Construction began in 1853, but was interrupted in 1859 due to costs and the possibility of South Carolina’s secession from the Union. After the Civil War, construction was restarted in 1870 and completed in 1879.

Ready to learn more? Contact one of our experienced agents for additional details about Downtown Charleston and area neighborhoods.

Recent

Articles

Hear it from the experts

Stay up-to-date on Charleston real estate with William Means' Luxury Insider.

Explore All Editions