After our sightseeing at Hilton Head Island we headed up to Charleston also in South Carolina. Another fascinating and historic city with its roots steeped in the early American colonies, Plantation life and the Civil War. Charleston reflects the gracious southern lifestyle.
"200 years ago, Charleston's ports were so busy that it made Charleston the richest city in the South and the 4th largest city in Colonial America, after Boston, New York, and Philadelphia."
One of Charleston's historical claims to fame is that on April 12,1861, a single mortar round fired by the South Carolina Confederate troops from nearby Fort Johnson exploded over Fort Sumter and triggered the Civil War in America. The background to that moment - South Carolina had seceded from the Union, yet Union forces still occupied Fort Sumter at the entrance of Charleston Harbour. The South demanded that Fort Sumter be vacated. The North refused. That single round of mortar was the start of a two-day bombardment that resulted in the surrender of Fort Sumter and Union troops. With the North's withdrawal, the South held the fort until it was finally evacuated in Feb,1865. Fort Sumter is one of the most significant historic monuments in the USA.
 |
| Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbour taken from The Battery, where canons lined up and faced out to sea ready to defend Charleston. In addition to being the first line of Charleston's defense, the Battery served as a place of execution. This was where people who were considered traitors were strung up for days after they've been tarred and feathered, a slow and gruesome way to die. |
 |
| Fort Johnson on right |
A cultural claim to fame is of course the "Charleston" Yes, the dance the Charleston began here in Charleston! Obviously!
"The Charleston is a dance named for the city of Charleston, South Carolina. The rhythm was popularized in mainstream dance music in the United States by a 1923 tune called "The Charleston" by composer/pianist James P. Johnson which originated in the Broadway showRunnin' Wild[1] and became one of the most popular hits of the decade. Runnin' Wild ran from 29 October 1923 through 28 June 1924.[1]The peak year for the Charleston as a dance by the public was mid 1926 to 1927.
The Charleston as a dance came from the "star" or challenge dances that were all part of the Black American dance called Juba. The Juba dance was originally an African-American plantation dance, brought from West Africa by slaves who performed it during their gatherings when no rhythm instruments were allowed due to fear of secret codes hidden in the drumming."
Again lots of architectural eye-candy.......... Loved it!
 |
| The Fort on Marion Square Now a hotel |
 |
| If you buy a home in historical downtown Charleston you have to preserve the property in its original historical state. There is a Board that oversees and supervises this. |
 |
| These home were built sideways, facing the south to catch the breeze. The false front door led onto the verandah. If the door was open they were accepting visitors, if it was shut no one was welcome ! |
 |
| St Michael's Episcopal Church |
 |
| The second largest home in Charleston |
 |
| Th original gaol - prisoners were treated so harshly in there that they never wanted to be put in there again! |
 |
| Housing for the troops waiting to head off to WW1 |
 |
| James Simmons House |
 |
| The Calhoun Mansion The largest privately owned home. It is an Italianate urban villa of 24,000 square feet, with 35 rooms and fireplaces. Designed by William P. Russell for merchant and banker George Walton Williams in 1876 at a cost of $200,000. There is a rope motif round the front door and windows which is an ancient Chinese symbol meaning "money made in water" - the more ropes shown, the more money you had. George Williams made his fortune in the shipping industry and also financed blockade runners during the Civil war, amassing a two million dollar fortune by the end of the war. |
 |
| Another view of the Calhoun Mansion |
 |
| Ravenel House This mansion on east Bay St, close to the harbour , was where Confederate Brigadier General Beauregard observed from the top balcony the initial shots fired at Fort Sumter and then conducted a battle from the top of the mansion and relayed his instructions to the troops below. |
 |
| Colonial Lake The gathering place of the rich to talk and walk and picnic |
We enjoyed a tour through one of the preserved historic homes - Aiken-Rhett House
 |
| Aiken-Rhett House Built in 1820 and greatly expanded by Governor and Mrs William Aiken Jr in the 1830's the house and its outbuildings have survived as a time capsule virtually unaltered since 1858. Original outbuildings include the kitchen (not in house because of fear of fire), slaves' quarters, stable, coach house and privies. A successful businessman and planter, Governor Aiken and his wife took the "grand tour" of Europe and returned with magnificent crystal and bronze chandeliers, classical sculptures and paintings with which they furnished and decorated the mansion. They are all still in the home. (Photography not allowed inside so unfortunately no photos) |
 |
| The back of the house- on the left is the slaves quarters and on the right are the stables and coach house |
 |
| One of two privies in the yard |
 |
| The coach house with the original coaches still there |
 |
| Notice the long seat - it is a rocks seat. Popular on the verandahs of the mansions |
 |
| Famous Jestine's Kitchen Jestine's is one of those places in the South that everyone knows for its good, low-country home-cooking. The Fried Chicken and Pecan Pie are worth having over and over and over again. |
 |
| Delicious seafood prepared Southern Style at Hyman's! |
 |
| Hyman's Seafood Co - another famous Charleston restaurant |
 |
| The Old City Markets with its home-made and hand crafted items |
 |
| Market stores One of the intriguing items that are available are hand-made baskets made by craftsmen of the Gullah community in South Carolina. The Gullah are African-Americans well known for preserving a lot of their cultural heritage from Africa and mixing it with local American dialect and folkways. It is said that the baskets they made are woven so tightly that it can easily carry water. It is not unusual for these baskets to be priced at least at a hundred dollars because of its craftsmanship. |
 |
| Mill House Hotel Ghosts are said to haunt certain places including Mill House Hotel – Robert E Lee is said to be haunting the 2ndfloor, but only in December. |
 |
| Marion Square |
Interesting...........
The "Four Corners of Law" is situated at the corners of Broad and Meetings Streets, represents four laws. City Hall c.1800, represents municipal law, the County Court House, previously known as the State House, c.1753, represents state law, the Post Office, c 1896, represents federal law and St Michael's Episcopal Church c.1761, represents God's law.
 |
| St Michael's Episcopal Church (church/Gods law) and the Post Office (federal law) |
 |
| City Hall(municipal law) and the County Court House (state law) |
Hurricane Hugo in 1989 devastated Charlestown and it took years to reconstruct but what a marvellous job they have done - it is a charming city!
Good to see some Pete eating his way around the USA pix again :)
ReplyDelete