This was my second visit to the Fort Moultrie Visitor Center and I'm glad we made time to stop…read moreagain while exploring Sullivan's Island. Earlier in the day, we had visited nearby Fort Sumter, but instead of taking the ferry out to the fort itself, we stopped here to learn more about Charleston's harbor defenses and the area's fascinating history. The visitor center has several exhibits providing great context before (or after) exploring the historic sites. After spending some time inside, we crossed the street to walk around Fort Moultrie itself. Between the exhibits and the fort, it was an enjoyable way to spend an hour or so. Whether it's your first visit or your second, I'd recommend making a stop here. The staff was friendly (I love rangers), the exhibits were informative, and it's a nice complement to a visit to Fort Sumter or the rest of the Charleston area.

Interesting place, but not my favorite coastal fort. For that you need to head south to Fort…read morePulaski. However, Fort Moultrie has its own story to tell and I highly recommend the short film in the visitor center. The rangers, as usual, are the highlight of these national monuments and they do incredible work. In particular, they have a great activity (sort of a scavenger hunt) for young visitors. I'm from the West Coast and most of our coastal forts are from the WWII era, and Fort Moultrie reminded me of home. If you make your way to the lower level of the fort, you will see the WWII era maps, radio displays, uniforms, etc. But, the glory days of the fort were its vigorous defense during the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. Highly recommend a visit if you are staying in Charleston and make sure you leave time to pay reverence at Toni Morrison's Bench on the Road monument nearby and also to explore Sullivan's Island.

Beautifully written review by Richard R. which will tell you everything you need to know about this…read morehistorical marker. While I can't improve upon it, I did want to note that the area is currently under construction. Normally, you would access this bench from the Fort Moultrie National Historic Park at the back of the main parking lot. Because it is blocked, to access the bench you need to take the road just prior to the fort (Station 13 Street where it intersects with Cove Avenue) and walk behind the gates to reach the bench. If nothing else, please read Richard R.'s review and the understand the importance of these type of memorials. Not everyone's history is as well documented and heralded in this area, but it is no less important.

Hello yelp friend and readers. Thank you so much for visiting my page and checking out my reviews!…read moreIt means a great deal to me and I do my very best to introduce worthwhile places to visit with a dollop of historical details for knowledge. FEBRUARY is traditionally honored as Black History Month and last year in 2021 I decided to do a month long series where every day of the month I posted a new review either highlighting a black-owned business or Black History landmarks. I've decided to extend that series to 2022, so please come on a journey with me for the next 28 days as I explore the food, history and significant offerings of a rich culture of people. FIRST UP is Toni Morisson's BENCH BY THE ROAD #1 *** Born Chloe Ardelia Wofford, Toni was an American novelist who wrote the critically acclaimed Song of Solomon and won a Pulitzer Prize for the book Beloved in 1988 whom Oprah made into a movie 10 years later in 1998. She was most notably awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1993. She met Harold Morrison (a Jamaican architect) while teaching at Howard University and married him in 1958. The 'Bench By The Road' Project was launched on February 18, 2006, on the occasion of Toni's 75th Birthday to alleviate the absences of historical markers that help remember the lives of Africans who were enslaved. She said: "There is no place you or I can go, to think about or not think about, to summon the presences of, or recollect the absences of slaves . . . There is no suitable memorial, or plaque, or wreath, or wall, or park, or skyscraper lobby. There's no 300-foot tower, there's no small bench by the road. There is not even a tree scored, an initial that I can visit or you can visit in Charleston or Savannah or New York or Providence or better still on the banks of the Mississippi. And because such a place doesn't exist . . ." *** The VERY FIRST bench placed by the Toni Morrison Society honors the memory of both the enslaved Africans who perished during the Middle Passage as well as those who arrived on Sullivan's Island, a major point of entry for Africans who entered the United States during the Transatlantic Slave Trade. About 40 percent of African-Americans alive today can trace their ancestral roots to West Africa through the arrival of slaves @ Sullivan's Island. I won't go into grave detail about the conditions of slaves during the passage, but if you are interested, here is a link to a narrative describing the voyage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmQvofAiZGA It was not uncommon to feed slaves who were sick to the sharks, because a sick slave was ZERO profit for the transporters, but a slave who died during transportation was insured and worth more dead than alive :-( The remainder of them often arrived here on the shores of Sullivan Island, where they had no control over staying with their families, many of whom were separated forever. Children were often separated as young as 3 years old. Fathers who protested were treated cruelty to subdue any uprising or sold away from their families entirely. Confusion and fear were the main measures of control. Lineage and tradition were often lost and African cultures combined to form GULLAH-GEECHEE traditions, a melting pot of their various indigenous African traditions from cooking and music, to arts and crafts, to spiritual traditions. They also created a creole language known as Gullah that is not spoken anywhere else in the world and it all began here upon arrival @ Sullivan Island. The significance of this entry point and the culture created in this specific corridor (from Jacksonville, FL to Wilmington, NC) is still alive and celebrated today in Gullah Geechee festivals, folklore, foods & time honored traditions. The bench rest in a quiet area behind the Fort Moutrie Visitors Center, beneath an outcrop of small trees overlooking the Sullivan Island Cove. Many will find this space to be filled with a quiet reflective reverence as you sit and connect with the past in a tangible way, knowing the ancient footsteps who walked here long before us were having a far different experience. I found myself wishing I had brought a single rose, so I could have scattered its pedals on the waters. *** FINAL THOUGHTS If I'm being honest, it is very emotionally draining for me to produce a months worth of Black History that you will often not find in typical American schoolbooks. This series is a labor of love for me and while taxing, I hope to enlighten my yelp family to the glory of a magnificent people. Where we have been, where we are and where we are going with no shame to anyone. I am a black man in American, and through these stories of endurance, I find strengthen and meaning. I hope you will continue all month long with me as I dive deeper into American History of the Black Experience AND celebrate those who are making their way in business and innovation while remembering the past, lest we forget. 2022 / 33

Definitely not what I picture when I think of a lighthouse haha! We had a fun time exploring…read moreSullivan's Island, and this lighthouse was one of the landmarks we visited. 10/10 would recommend!

The Sullivan's Island Lighthouse, also commonly known as "Charleston Light" holds a unique title in…read moreCarolina Lighthouse lore as one of the most modern lighthouses in the country. The distinctive triangular and slim structure, The lighthouse itself is fenced off and is not open to the public, however, visitors are welcome to explore the surrounding grounds during the day to snap photos, and look up and admire the towering structure. It continues to act as a guiding point to Charleston Harbor ships, Atlantic vessels passing along the coast, and visitors who want to light the way for a great vacation. PS: there is no parking space, you just park on the side of the street and hope you won't get a ticket...

Had a wonderful hair cut here. Staff were all extremely nice. Dedicated surface lot--yes!…read moreRecommended!

I went on my honeymoon here and it was the best experience. I miss this place and have such good…read morememories. I can't wait to return, and look forward to coming back.

You have to stop here. Beautiful area, in the heart of downtown, next to the pier, a great place…read morefor walking, relaxing under the huge trees, it's just a must see spot. Parking can be a bit harrowing because of the area, but it's a gorgeous place.

Review #4 of My Charleston Vacation 20-plus Review Series…read more The Pineapple Fountain is one of the most photographed spots in Charleston. It was the Pineapple Fountain that brought me to spend time Waterfront Park with my Dad and Brother. Dissimilar from several of the nearby attractions including the City Market and Rainbow Row; The Pineapple Fountain has a short history that dates to 1990, four months after Hurricane Hugo caused havoc in Charleston. Disparate from unwelcoming hurricanes, the pineapple is a Charleston symbol of warm welcome and wealth. From my perspective, on July 22, 2026 it served as a warm welcoming place to take photos of a photogenic pineapple fountain with the backdrop of the Copper River and a base of botanical flowers. For some people it served as a welcoming place to cool off in the water on a hot and humid Charleston afternoon. While I took pictures my Dad and Brother rested on a scenic bench under the shade of mature oak trees. This photogenic experience costed me nothing. There was zero need to worry about parking. The Free Charleston Shuttle 211 Route dropped us off close by. It was a relatively short walk from Vendue Range at Concord Street stop.

I bought a ticket for this museum as part of a combination ticket with the Charleston Museum. I…read moreactually walked from there, stopping along some spots. It's a long walk, but nice if the weather is fitting. This is worth a visit, especially if you're into American history. George Washington stayed here while visiting the area. Also, Thomas Heyward was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. While it's not a vast mansion, the house is nicely decorated and the garden in the back was a good touch. The audio tour was informative and allowed you to go at your own pace. The staff here were friendly and helpful. The house is also near a nice residential neighborhood and close to Rainbow Row and the water.

In 1791, the city of Charleston rented Heyward's home for President George Washington's weeklong…read morestay in the city. The association with America's first president has persisted ever since. Built in 1772, the Heyward-Washington House earned its moniker for two men who figured prominently in its history, Thomas Heyward Jr. and President George Washington. Heyward, a Revolutionary War officer and South Carolina delegate to the Continental Congress in 1776 is best known for contributing his signature to the Declaration of Independence. The architecture of the three-story red brick double reflects the Georgian style that spread widely through English colonies for its order and symmetry.

The Cistern is a huge park used as a venue for concerts owned by College of Charleston. I attended…read moreThe Punch Brothers concert during the Spoleto Festival. The concert was at 9:00 PM so it was dark. The park was lit up with pretty lights strung between the huge old oak trees. So pretty! There was no restroom in the park but on our way out of the concert we were able to use the restroom in a college building across the street;) I would love to visit this park during the day and I would absolutely attend another concert here as well.

Went to a Spoleto event at the Cistern, and I feel it was marvelous. I went for a live jazz music…read moreperformance, and the setup was awesome. Sound and lighting were as good as indoor facilities, seating was folding chairs but with decent comfort, and row spacing was roomy. It's May/June and I was worried about bugs and bites, but next day I had no bites, no itching. Don't know if they sprayed, or we just got lucky. I didn't use the "facilities," so I can't comment on the cleanliness or amount of bathrooms.

Beautiful Garden! Another hidden gem in downtown Charleston. I highly recommend taking a walk down…read moreLegare Street to see this home and the famous Sword Gate House at 32 Legare Street.

This small cemetery is more of a spiritual journey than a physical one. While there are many people…read moreburied in it, there's only one marker. There's also a cross with shells leaning against the central Live Oak tree. The people buried in the cemetery were all residents of Sullivan's Island prior to 1949. Parishioners of Mt. Zion and Stella Maris churches who were of mixed race rest here, too. Significant and historical, it recognizes a period of our history where cemeteries were divided by race. Many of those buried here helped built nearby Fort Moultrie. Small parking area with limited spots. Driveway located on Ben Sawyer Blvd. Lean-to for shade and bench seating.