Charleston is a southern city in the Lowcountry region of South Carolina on the Atlantic coast of the United States.
Its history dates back to 1670. It is now considered a North American architectural jewel, since many buildings of the 19th century and occasionally even older age are preserved. Typical of these buildings is the neoclassical Antebellum architecture. Charleston was formed on a peninsula in the area of the confluence of Ashley River and Cooper River. Both rivers form a wide mouth funnel, which merges into the Atlantic Ocean in the southeast. This bay provided the ideal sheltered location for a natural harbor, the Charleston Harbor.
districts : Cainhoy Peninsula, far eastern limits of Charleston bordered by the Wando River to the west and Nowell Creek to the east. James Island, popular residential area between Downtown and the town of Folly Beach where the McLeod Plantation is located.
Daniel Island, fast-growing residential area to the north of downtown, east of the Cooper River and west of the Wando River. Johns Island, far western limits of Charleston home to the Angel Oak, bordered by the Stono River to the east, Kiawah River to the south and Wadmalaw Island to the west. West Ashley, residential area to the west of Downtown bordered by the Ashley River to the east and the Stono River to the west.
Downtown, or sometimes referred to as The Peninsula, is Charleston’s center city separated by the Ashley River to the west and the Cooper River to the east.
Access : Coordinates: 32.783333, -79.933333 / By train : Charleston is approached once a day through Amtrak’s Silver Service / Palmetto, which travels from New York to Miami. It takes over 13 hours from New York, nine hours from Washington, seven hours from Richmond, 13 hours from Miami, 7:40 from Orlando, and four hours from Jacksonville. The ticket is – in advance booked . The train station is located in the far north of the city, a taxi to downtown costs around $ 40.
By car : Charleston is located on parallel to the coast of the U.S. Highway 17 from Myrtle Beach and Georgetown in the north and Savannah in the south. It is also the terminus of Columbia’s Interstate 26 (Highway).
By boat : Charleston is a popular cruise ship destination. The terminal is located just a few meters from the old town.
By plane : Charleston International Airport is well connected to the major East Coast airports New York, Baltimore, Washington, Philadelphia, Charlotte, Miami , but also to Atlanta. Lufthansa offers a direct flight from Munich .
Highlights :
- churches : The French Protestant Huguenot Church (1844) / The German St. Johannes Lutheran Church / St. Michael’s on Broad Street
- The German St. Johannes Lutheran Church / The French Protestant Huguenot Church (1844)
- St. Matthew’s German Evangelical Lutheran Church / The Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
- Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church
- St. Philip’s Episcopal Church / First Scots Presbyterian Church
- Museums : Edmondston-Alston-House, 21 E Battery Admission $ 12 / American Military Museum, Citadel Mall,2070 Sam Rittenberg Blvd
- Charleston Museum, 360 Meeting St. Admission $ 12 / The Old Slave Mart Museum, 6 Chalmers St. The former slave market, which today documents Charleston’s supporting role in slavery as an urban museum. Open: 9: 00-17: 00
- Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum, 68 Spring Street. One of 12 US-distributed museums by David and Marsha Karpeles.
- Gibbes Museum of Art, 135 Meeting Street / South Carolina Aquarium, 100 Aquarium Wharf , Liberty Square at the end of Calhoun St.
- Historic Buildings : Nathaniel Russell House : Neoclassical home of a merchant from the early 19th century ,Meeting Street 51
- The Powder Magazine , South Carolina’s oldest public building, built in 1713 as a powder magazine Open: 10:00 – 16:00
- The Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon, 122 East Bay Street , A historic building, which since its establishment in 1771 was often the site of American history. A permanent exhibition and guided tours teach it. Open: 9: 00-17: 00. Price: $ 8 / $ 4./
- City Hall, 80 Broad St. , Built in 1804 in Adam’s style and serving today as the seat of the mayor city hall of the city
- The Pink House : the oldest stone building in Charleston, was built of Bermudian limestone at 17 Chalmers Street, between 1694 and 1712
- Military Heritage :
- Fort Sumter, ( 1214 Middle St, Sullivan’s Island 30min ferry. 9AM-5PM ) access with ferry from Liberty Square, 340 Concord Street. Fort located on an island in the Bay of Charleston, scene of the first military conflict of the American Civil War.
- The Citadel. Historic military college founded in 1842
- Other : Charleston Market : old shopping district / Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site. Off US 171 on the west bank of the Ashley River, 3 miles northwest of downtown / The College of Charleston. Founded in 1770
- Randolph Hall. At the College of Charleston. Built in 1828.very Popular civil war movie-making site
- Fireproof Building, 100 Meeting Street, A National Historic Landmark constructed in 1827 one of the oldest building of fireproof construction in the United States
- Liberty Square, east og Calhoun St. fronting the Cooper River / Waterfront Park, from Vendue Range south to Water St. along the Cooper River
Activities: Horse-drawn carriage / Charleston Harbor Tours / Adventure Sightseeing / Nature Adventures , Kayak , Stand-Up Paddleboard Tours and Rentals in Charleston / Fort Sumter Tours / Walking tours / Trophy Lakes , waterski and wakeboard lessons, family lake rentals, day camps /
Charleston Surf Lessons , Folly Beach, US 29439 / Cruises , Sightseeing Harbor Tours / Charleston Food Tours /
Events : Taste of Charleston (October) / Christmas in Charleston (December) / Lowcountry Oyster Festival (January) / Southeastern Wildlife Exhibition (February) / Charleston Wine + Food (Early March) / Walking Garden and House Tours ,mid-March to mid-April / Spoleto Festival USA , Memorial Day to mid-June / Piccolo Spoleto Festival , Memorial Day to mid-June
Go next : Folly Beach / Sullivan’s Island / Isle of Palms / Mt. Pleasant /
