We were planning on visiting Boone Plantation, but we were early, since it opens at Noon on…read moreSundays. So, we had some time to kill. Almost across the street I have noticed a sign for Charles Pickney National Historic Site which looked open, so off we went. There is a big parking lot upon entrance. Free to visit. Big, woodsy grounds with a few trails, historic houses (closed for the season when we visited in November), a small visitor center with picnic benches, clean restrooms, water fountains. We enjoyed walking around, decompressing, admiring the Spanish moss and the camellias in bloom. We also learnt about Charles Pickney (had no idea who he was), always interesting to get a slice of local and US History. He was a land owner, a politician, a Founding Father who contributed to the Constitution, South Carolina governor (several times), US Senator and member of the House. Also, alongside his wife, Eliza were some of the first people developing indigo crops. All this information you ready by walking around it's interesting and will tie in with the facts and stories you will get while touring Boone plantation. It all connects. Great place to stumble into, it has a bit of everything: respite, nature, history. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays. TIP: If you are early for Boone, pop in here. You should do both place if you have time! Lots to learn and the historic site has lots of charm on its own!

This historical park lies near one of Charleston's many prominent plantation-turned-attraction…read moresites. This is far less adorned, less aesthetically impressive. However, as a piece of history it was more interesting than I expected. Speaking as a Washingtonian, the name Charles Pinckney means nothing to me and is not a prominent part of the pantheon of Founding Fathers and the surrounding narrative that we so often hear. The site here tries to make the case that this individual was influential in the country's founding, as well as holding a diverse variety of other roles. And yet, the museum house that forms the centerpiece of this site also focuses on the plantation system that formed the lifeblood of the region and is quite detailed about the slave labor that went into it. Gullah spirituals echo through the walls, and dueling murals in the hall express the fundamental contradiction between the inventors of individual rights simultaneously owning human beings. I don't know what used to be here, but museums in this region have stepped up to the challenge presented by this history. Otherwise, the site offers a brief trail and a boardwalk that's more of a platform looking out into the swamp and the nearby road. I probably spent a little over an hour in the park, which was more than I thought. And it was free.

This is a great way to learn about the history of slaves and the civil war along with the history…read moreof this plot of land. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable.

I wish I could give 6 stars. Georgette was the best guide. We were able to have the most amazing…read moreconversations about history and culture and reflect on where we are now. They were so accommodating to my grandmas wheelchair, even letting us use their outdoor wheelchair for her to go inside the house. They were able to have her in a golf cart for the tour and still included her in the conversations. My only suggestion would be to have QR codes in multiple locations for electronic donations to the preservation organization! I'll recommend this place to everyone that comes to visit. Thank you!!

The Admiral's House on Navy Way in North Charleston is a beautiful and historical house that has…read morebeen fully restored and now is an excellent and unique venue option for a special event. I really like the atmosphere and location here with the three levels and the balcony overlooking everything. This is a cool place that really stands out.

This historical marker along US-17 is in front of the Hampton Plantation Historic site and provides…read morea brief overview of the history. This is old Charleston, dating back to Colonial times, and even in condensed form the place carries more weight than the marker can hold. It notes the Horry and Rutledge families and the plantation's early eighteenth century origins, but it leaves out the deeper story of the rice economy built through the labor and agricultural knowledge of enslaved Africans whose work shaped every field along the Santee. The front of the marker reads, "Hampton Plantation, 2 mi. N.W., was established by 1730 and was one of the earliest rice plantations on the Santee River, in an area settled by Huguenots and often called "French Santee." The house, built in the 1730's for Elias Horry, later passed to his granddaughter Harriott Horry, who married Frederick Rutledge in 1797. The plantation remained in the Rutledge family until 1971." And the reverse, "One of Hampton's best-known owners was Archibald Rutledge (1883-1973), educator, man of letters, and first poet laureate of S.C. He wrote of life there in Home by the River (1941), calling it "the mother plantation of this old plantation country." Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1970, it has been Hampton Plantation State Park since the state acquired it in 1971." The limited space on the marker omits much. Including the near‑loss of the house in the twentieth century and Archibald Rutledge's role in reviving interest, as well as the long‑loved Washington Oak that tradition links to George Washington's 1791 visit. Today the unfurnished house and quiet grounds at Hampton Plantation State Park offer a clearer sense of the layered past than the roadside text suggests, inviting visitors to step beyond the marker and into a landscape where memory, myth, and history still mingle. It is marker number 1040 and it was erected in 2001 by the St. James-Santee Parish Historical Society. [Review 107 of 2026 - 1377 in South Carolina - 25297 overall]

The site is still in the process of improvement, but even just walking the grounds is a memorable…read moreexperience. A history trail has been added with some visually and intellectually stimulating exhibits. The mansion is rarely if ever open but offers some interesting views. And a walk through the abandoned rice fields yields both wildlife sightings and hints of the place's past. There is a charge to get in, but they waived it for me as I stopped in just at the end of the day to take a quick walk. There are a variety of more developed areas that give private plantation tours, but this outdoor setting is an entirely worthy state park.

We very much enjoyed our visit to the Aiken-Rhett House. The guided tour was very well done, and…read moreour tour guide was knowledgeable and informative throughout the experience. We appreciated learning not only about the home and the family who lived in the home, but also about the enslaved people connected to the property and their lives. The preserved nature of the house provides an authentic experience. There were, however, a couple of distractions that took away from the experience. Early in the presentation, the tour guide was drinking a soda and repeatedly belched while speaking to the group, which felt somewhat unprofessional and made the presentation less enjoyable. We also did not care for the indigo art installation displayed throughout parts of the home. In our opinion, the artwork distracted from the preservation-focused experience that makes the house so interesting. Having modern art pieces placed among the furnishings made it harder to fully appreciate the rooms as historical spaces and also made it difficult to take clean photographs of the home itself. Overall, though, this was still a worthwhile visit, and we are glad we included it during our time in Charleston.

I absolutely loved this house and the three star rating has nothing to do with the preservation and…read moreI very much respect the opinion of others to leave the house as it was found but in MHO preservation also means to keep it in good repair as it was once kept in its original grandeur state or social importance. A few more years and the decay to the elements will bring this house to the ground. If you compare this house to the mansion in the Magnolia Plantation you can see what I mean, restoration doesn't necessarily mean modernizing the house with today's comforts like AC but actually preserve it so future generations can have an idea of how the house looked and functioned back in the years. It is not about the 16 dollar entrance fee but I would rather pay more to see what the house looked like in the splendor of the Chas boom rather than what it looked when the family moved out, moreover if the family was going through hard times and couldn't keep it up in good repair I am sure it was better than today and every day that goes by and for respect to the family the Charleston Museum owes some effort to make it look better not just show it as bad as it looks, just rain seeping through cracks and windows is little by little deteriorating it's appearance until some day it will be a parking lot. Our tour took almost two hours TMI

Enjoyed a quiet, early morning walk along the water. The views of the lighthouse were incredible…read more-very peaceful.

The lighthouse is not accessible from land and you can't even get there directly from Morris…read moreIsland! That said, if you're willing to drive a half hour or so from Charleston across James Island and across the Folly Island causeway and then a couple of miles parallel to Folly Beach to get to the gate at the entrance to the Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve https://www.yelp.com/biz/lighthouse-inlet-heritage-preserve-folly-beach?hrid=fwYKXGE-nutYG9bRU9dKgw and then walk a half mile or so down a graffiti road and then a few hundred yards of sand, you can get to a point where you can actually SEE the lighthouse. Was all of that journey worth it? Unquestionably so. A great addition to my Lighthouses collection https://www.yelp.com/collection/GLWJhPZloUBCLUFSYgLw4g. Standing at the entrance to Charleston harbor since 1767 and updated many times since then, the lighthouse has suffered from the erosion caused by rerouting the Ashley, Cooper and Wando Rivers. It used to be *on* the island and now it *is* the island. It's also been damaged by storms including Hurricane Hugo in 1989 and Hurricane Irma in 2017. The lighthouse is closed to the public and as far as I know, the small amount of space at the base is also off limits. But you can sure appreciate it from the tip of Folly Beach or perhaps you're on a boat. Definitely check it out. [Review 19513 overall - 1084 in South Carolina - 483 of 2023.]

The small museum and dungeon tour is worth the experience. It gives you a good overview of early…read moreCharleston's history while also covering the darker history of the dungeon. They also offered a multi-museum pass that included the Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon, the Slave Mart Museum, and the Powder Magazine, which was well worth the price.

We do not recommend this place. The Dungeon tour guide made a problematic comment about Native…read moreAmericans and went on to share sexist ideas about women. As we left, we let the staff at the front desk know about her remarks. The two staff looked at us, shrugged their shoulders, and said, "Oh, that's just Carol." Then, the male staff person proceeded to give us inaccurate information about another museum we inquired about. We left the museum surprised and disappointed by this behavior. We hope someone will review the tour script and suggest more inclusive and affirming language.

Was driving home from Florence on a Friday afternoon, taking a rural route, and saw the sun shining…read morethrough the ruins. I immediately stopped, and had to check it out. Plus it screamed take pics!! Really not much to see, but church ruins and grave stones. The winter weather was making it dark and gloomy, but the church ruin is amazing to look at. Historical marker standing nearby to give some history. Many faded tomb stones, hard to read, but I did notice the last name Cordes. I would assume that is why it's called Cordesville nearby. Glad I could stop before the sun set. Would I return? Maybe in the spring to see green and the azalea blooms. If passing by on hwy 402, check it out.

Biggin Church Ruins is a beautiful old historic church near Moncks Corner. No commercial…read morephotography is allowed. And they've put up a fence around it for preservation efforts. But it's a peaceful place to stop for a snapshot and walk through the quiet cemetary.

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.

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.