CHARLESTON, SC - HISTORIC CHARLESTON

Saturday, April 25th to Sunday, April 26th, 2015

Day 264-265
Miles Traveled: 0
Total Miles Traveled: 3318


  Saturday we started laundry early to get done before the rain and storms started.  It was a day of staying aboard.  The wind had the Cooper River stirred up, so we were rockin' and rollin' most of the day.  Dan spent the majority of the day doing trip planning since site-seeing was not an option.
  
  Sunday was a beautiful hot and sunny day, perfect for walking around Charleston and taking in the sites.  Charleston was founded by the British in 1670 on what is now Charles Towne Landing on the western bank of the Ashley River.  Ten years later, they relocated to the site of current downtown Charleston, which locals call "the Peninsula".  In the 1690's, they set forth a plan to enclose the 62 acre settlement within a brick and earthen fortification wall to protect the residents from the French, Spanish, and hostile Indians.  This was the only British walled city built in North America. By the 1730's, most of the earthen walls were destroyed to accommodate the growing town.  Charleston has tried to maintain its rich history with many, many blocks full of old buildings and homes that have been restored and well maintained.  Some have been converted into shops and restaurants, and others still remain as private residences.  Others have become museums that can be toured.
  
  First, we took the free trolley to the southern part of the city and then walked the rest of the way to the southernmost point of Charleston called The Battery.  The Battery is a landmark defensive seawall and promenade.  This location is where the Ashley and Cooper Rivers meet to form Charleston Harbor.  White Point Garden, a public park, is also located at this location.

White Point Garden

Monument to the Confederate Defenders of Charleston (located in White Point Garden)

  After leaving The Battery, we meandered along downtown Charleston's streets.  Each street was lined with historic homes and buildings, many with a plaque providing its name and a brief history.  Some are private residences, some public buildings, and some churches.  Charleston has been called the "Holy City" due to its number of churches (12 in the historic downtown alone). 

home along East Battery Street

riverfront home along East Battery Street

The Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon
building complete in 1771
has been used as a customhouse, mercantile exchange, and military prison and barracks

U.S. Custom House - building completed in 1879

St. Philips Episcopal Church
built in 1836
home to the oldest religious congregation in S.C. which was established in  1681

  We continued our journey further north toward Market Street, the location of the historic Charleston City Market.  Established in the 1790's, this market stretches for 4 city blocks through a continuous series of one-story market sheds.  Vendors sell all sorts of goods, from souvenirs to Gullah sweetgrass baskets, jewelry to baked goods, and art to clothing.

one of the market sheds

people shopping inside one of the market sheds

  There is so much to see and do in Charleston, SC, and we were only able to scratch the surface on our short stay.  To learn more about visiting Charleston, SC go to: 
http://www.charlestoncvb.com/visitors/tripplanner/what_to_see_do~3/attractions~31/



  On our return back to the Charleston Maritime Marina, we spotted a new ship docked at the fuel dock.  It was a sailing ship flying the flag of a foreign country and was named "Gunilla".  After some online research, we discovered that her home port is in Sweden.  She is a 50 meter-long three-mast barque sailing vessel which is crewed by students from Ockero Gymnasieskola school.  This municipal school, financed by the Swedish state, prepares 16-19 year old students for work on different sea vessels.  The "Gunilla" has a crew of 11 professionals and 44 students.

T/S Gunilla
(T/S denotes her as a training ship)