Named after King Charles II, Charleston was founded as a British Colony in 1670, just 63 years after Jamestown. Charleston quickly became a bustling trade center, and by the mid 1800s grew to be the wealthiest and largest city south of Philadelphia. As a key deep water port in a strategic location in the South, Charleston was central to military actions in the War of 1812 and the American Revolution, and was the site of the first battle in the Civil War. One resident, speaking on AGLCA's blog radio recently, referred to Charleston as a "lived in museum," and many locals refer to it as the "Holy City" due to its many churches. The history here is so rich, one could write a book just to summarize it!
Our visit started with a bus tour of the historic city, which covered historical facts and views of many of the important churches, markets, parks, neighborhoods and homes. After getting our bearings, we set out to walk the historic areas. Many of the oldest, more modest homes, were built on vary narrow lots and known as "one wides," as they are only one room wide. The two story verandas, called "piazzas," faced to one side, in order to give some privacy from the street and bring the summer cooling breezes into all the rooms in the structure.
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| Street lined with "one wides" and all porches facing the ocean breezes |
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| Large extravagant home along the water |
People in Charleston have been active in restoring their oldest buildings and homes, recognizing the historical value and the tourism they draw. The downtown is a mix of old and new, with upscale stores residing on the first floors of historic buildings. Warehouse buildings have been turned into markets, and the train station was turned into the visitors' center.
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| Downtown mix of old and new |
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