You have to come here when you visit Charleston. Oldest museum in the United States. I love the…read moreHunley submarine outside. I liked how you followed a course through the place... rather than a bunch of stuff in one big room...

I've not been here since 2014! Not only is this America's first established museum, not the…read morebuilding itself, but the establishment of a historical museum, as well stocked with a ton of Charlestonian and South Carolina in history and artifacts. It is well worth the visit and highly recommend.!

Visited: February 16, 2026…read more The Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon was the perfect blend of history and hustle. From the moment you step onto the grounds, you feel the weight of Charleston's past. Inside, the immersion begins immediately -- postcards, patches, and meaningful souvenirs that make it easy to bring a little history home for friends and family. The highlight, though, was the tour. Our guide was a jolly local with razor-sharp, dry Southern wit -- the kind of storyteller who can pivot from Revolutionary War imprisonment to a perfectly timed sarcastic aside without missing a beat. Equal parts charm and "bless your heart," she made centuries-old history feel present and personal. Down in the Provost Dungeon, those brick walls carry gravity. British occupation. Prisoners of war. Pirates passing through. It's one of those rare spaces where you instinctively lower your voice. You don't just learn history -- you feel it. History hit different here. If you appreciate immersive storytelling, preserved architecture, and a tour that balances education with personality, this is absolutely worth your time.

Fact: Provost Dungeon is older than our country!…read more The British originally owned it and used it as a commercial exchange and customs house. Also used as a post office, prison, and city hall, it is currently a museum. In addition, in 1788 South Carolina approved the US Constitution here. Yet another testament to the rich history of Charleston, Old Exchange, and Provost Dungeon a fascinating places to visit. Built in 1771, it has changed roles countless times: it was a British dungeon during the American Revolution, an elegant hall during George Washington's 1791 visit to Charleston, and a meeting place for the ratification of the Constitution, In 1780 the British occupied Charleston for two years and housed many prisoners in one large cell in this basement making it a provost, or dungeon. Because of the awful conditions here, disease was rampant due to crowding, and no bathroom facilities. Under these conditions, many people died while in prison here. This prison held all types of people, including American and British soldiers, private citizens, and slaves. The first and second floor of the building is home to a museum dedicated to the other uses of the Exchange Building. Fee: Admission to this historic building is only $12 for adults. For a small fee, a guided tour through the lower level and you can learn a lot from the guide.

USS Laffey is closed for maintenance but no big deal since lots to see on Yorktown. I have now…read morebeen on all five aircraft carrier museums and Yorktown is a very close second to Midway and Intrepid which, IMO, are tied for best. Plenty of exhibits and planes to see. There are two guided tours available: Captain's and Admiral's Tours. These are just the names and have nothing to do with meeting Captains or Admirals. I purchased the Admiral's Tour and thought it was worth the $40. Great tour guide and we saw lots. I visited on Tuesday and Friday. I thoroughly enjoyed my time onboard. Admission also includes the Vietnam War Experience which I think is worth checking out.

I took a ghost tour on the USS Yorktown. The history and sites, incredible. The views at sunset up…read moreon the flight deck, absolutely breathtaking and such a memorable experience. This is a great spot if you enjoy learning about history.

The museum itself was beautiful. The exhibits were detailed, educational, and thoughtfully put…read moretogether. I really enjoyed learning about the history and culture that was presented. Although the museum is smaller than others we've visited, the quality of the exhibits was excellent. The confusing part was the admission policy. We arrived about an hour before closing and were told the museum was no longer admitting guests. We understood that and only asked to use the restroom. Once inside, another employee told us we could purchase tickets after all. That was confusing because we had just been told the museum was closed to new visitors. What made it even more confusing was paying full admission for only 30 to 45 minutes inside the museum. If the museum has a policy of not admitting guests during the final hour, that information should be clearly posted so visitors know before making the trip. If guests are going to be admitted during that last hour, they should be able to enjoy the museum without mixed messages or paying full price for a significantly shortened visit. The museum itself is worth seeing, but I believe the admission policy needs to be more consistent and transparent. History should be as accessible as possible, and visitors shouldn't leave confused about whether they're welcome to enter or not.

Wow! There's not much to say besides this experience was absolutely amazing!…read more Parking wasn't terrible, actually, and it's not too far from the aquarium. There's street parking and a few lots nearby. There's also a park across the street as well. The experience begins on the outside. From the half-statues to the imprints in the ground. Once through the security check, you go to the second floor. I learned it was elevated 13 ft off the ground to honor where grounds were like almost half of the nation's enslaved were brought to the US right in that very spot. It truly was so impactful standing in that spot reflecting on that. Once inside, the ticket counter is straight ahead, and there's a gift shop on the left and a coffee shop on the right. If you look closely or ask. They will tell you where to start. Also, they have maps as well. Every exhibit was absolutely beautiful and moving. I had chills for the majority of the experience, and to think how even though it feels like ancient history, it wasn't that long ago all of these things happened was just overwhelming. They have quiet rooms as well, which I thought was very thoughtful. On one side it's a set amount of exhibits, and on the other side it's like the American experience. It is one journey after another and truly could be broken up into a multiple-visit experience. They also have a room to explore family history and much more. The art was beautiful. I mean truly an incredible experience. My children enjoyed their time as well. They have coloring pages for the young kids, but that is all, but it's okay because I still enjoyed moving through that experience with them and introducing them to our history beyond books. I had a coffee and some chips for a snack. Everyone was so kind. The coffee was pretty good. I can't wait to go back. It is literally so much to take in, and that's in more ways than one. Some parts made me sad, but overall it made me so proud thinking and reading about the perseverance and determination, and through all the circumstances, the creativity, courage, commitment, wisdom, and culture throughout every journey. It is just so beautiful there. Connecting what they present with the stories that has been shared with me, I just cannot wait to return.

The Old Mart Museum -- History, Not "His-Story"…read more When we toured the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon, we were offered the chance to double down on history -- prepay access to the Old Slave Mart Museum just a few blocks away. We took it. But first? Food. Because nothing says "processing 18th-century imprisonment" like realizing your blood sugar is tanking. After regrouping and refueling, we made our way to the Old Mart Museum. The lesson takes place upstairs -- smaller space, more intimate setting. No theatrics. No dramatics. Just truth. Our guide -- well-groomed, composed, clear-spoken -- absolutely killed it. No sensationalism. No softening. Just facts delivered with gravity. What he described was horrific. Human beings cataloged. Sold. Families separated. Lives reduced to transactions. It was hard to hear. But it was history -- not HIS-story. There's a difference. This wasn't about personal interpretation or modern spin. It was documented record. It was accountability. It was context. Charleston is beautiful. Charming. Architectural eye candy. But layered beneath that beauty is commerce that once depended on human suffering. And standing in that upstairs room, listening quietly, you feel that weight. We walked out quieter than we walked in. Some stops on this trip were fun. Some were adventurous. This one was necessary.

The Old Slave Mart is located at 6 Chalmers Street and is a must-have on your itinerary, even if…read moreyou visit Charleston for a short time. In the heart of the French Quarter, near the French Huguenot Church, One of the first African-American slave museums in the country, Old Slave Mart, is set inside the building where enslaved people were auctioned before the Civil War and is a somber, but important part of a Charleston trip focusing on history. The tour is self-guided, with signage explaining the history. There are also personal accounts from enslaved individuals, artifacts, and audio and visual exhibits. It is a small but deeply affecting museum that gives a sobering view of history. Here, you can listen to the recording of an interview with a former slave. Old Slave Mart was a real slave auction site in the 18th and 19th centuries. Slave auctions were held here till 1863.

What a great, free, experience in downtown Charleston. This is located in a CofC building on Coming…read moreand Calhoun. There is a small store and option to donate. The amount of fossils was great for the kids and adults. Don't forget to look up! There are hanging fossils! Definitely worth a stop.

I enjoyed it so much that I made a video about it:…read more https://youtu.be/0Ok_JxlhT50?si=DWTaVX2yVNEUNuVP

I visited Gibbes on a Wednesday when it is free entry to Charleston residents. Before that I hadn't…read morebeen here since I was in middle school. It was a great solo treat to see so many beautiful pieces, read, and learn. This is a two story experience with every changing exhibits. Currently you can see a few Monet pieces. I had no idea they would have Monet before visiting so this was a lovely surprise! In general the regular admission price is fair. The staff are incredibly friendly and the space is beautiful. It's also worth noting you are able to host weddings here.

Had the most amazing experience here. Staff are so friendly, welcoming, supportive and educated. I…read morevisited about a week ago when visiting Charleston and thoroughly enjoyed the Mary Whyte gallery. I easily spent 3 hours in the museum and didn't want to leave. I felt more connected to Charleston and its history after exploring this museum and would recommend to everyone!!

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

This is an Unreal experience of historical significance. My Dad was a WWII Navy man and served on…read moreboth a destroyer and a cruiser during his 7 year service, making this tour even more special. I highly recommend the captain's tour for important behind the scene education. Tom was simply the best guide. The Vietnam exhibit is unreal, as well. Very well done.

There are only five American aircraft carriers that have been converted into museum ships, and i…read morebelieve none predate the USS Yorktown. The ship is birthed just across the Cooper from downtown Charleston at Patriots Point. Admission wasn't terribly expensive, THOUGH PARKING ACTUALLY COST MORE. That's right, the parking situation is a ripoff, particularly for anyone who might stay on site over two hours. Yorktown is a large combat ship built in the middle of a war several decades ago, so there are certain things you should expect. First, there will be plenty of walking, not to mention lots of stairs. There is an elevator installed for those who might need it, but keep in mind that individuals with mobility challenges will not get to see much of the ship. Secondly, the "Fighting Lady" is old, so you're going to see damage, missing parts, etc. Third, only a few areas onboard are air conditioned, and while there are a few areas with installed fans or access to fresh breezes you're likely to find the tight quarters of this WWII era carrier a bit stifling. All that said, it's quite remarkable to walk through the compartments and corridors, to stand on the flight deck, to see the numerous aircraft and artifacts displayed, and to enjoy some pretty lovely views of the Holy City and the Ravenel Bridge. There are four unguided tour routes aboard the ship. Tour 2 is largely focused on the pilot ready room, the flight deck and the spaces above; this is where you'll get the best views from aboard the ship. Tours 1 and 3 are concentrated on what makes the ship and its crew function. Tour 4 is probably the least interesting in my opinion, though it contained some interesting information about American naval history. There's also a destroyer berthed at Patriots Point, the Laffey, but she's currently closed to visitors. It's pretty easy to see from the exterior that the ship is in need of significant maintenance work. It's easy to buy admission tickets online, but you'll still have to enter and exit the complex through the gift shop. Once you get to the aircraft carrier and its hangar deck, that's where you'll get a map at the info desk. The gentlemen I encountered there was pleasant and helpful, far more so than the folks at the rear of the gift shop who scanned the QR code from my ticket.

My family was gifted a SC Aquarium family membership. My wife and kid have been a couple of times,…read morebut I finally had the opportunity to come with my kid. There is a lot to like about visiting. My interactions with staff were all very positive. How nice and personable staff were really stood out for me and my kid. We came on a slow Sunday afternoon so parking was decently easy at the garage across the street. Since this was my first time everything was fun to see for the first time. We loved the otters, the large tank with mermaids, and the touch tank. My kid also loved the indoor playground which we spent a good deal of time at. I really love the blend of semi-outdoor areas and the sundeck area. I really loved the variety of fish and animals. It was also really cool to see the snowy white barn owl downstairs. I am not sure how I would feel had I bought tickets to visit and it will also be interesting to see how often animals change which makes multiple visits fun and interesting.

We enjoyed our visit to the South Carolina Aquarium overall, but it didn't quite live up to our…read moreexpectations and it was VERY pricy. The exhibits were clean and well maintained. The staff we interacted with were friendly and helpful. That said, we expected more for the price of admission. The aquarium is smaller than we anticipated, and we made it through everything fairly quickly. It's a nice stop if you're already in Charleston, but I don't know that I'd make a special trip just for it.