MIDDLETON PLACE is a National Historic Landmark and a carefully preserved 18th-century plantation that has survived revolution, Civil War, and earthquake. It was the home of four important generations of Middletons, beginning with Henry Middleton, President of the First Continental Congress; Arthur, a signer of the Declaration of Independence; Henry, Governor of South Carolina and an American Minister to Russia; and Williams, a signer of the Ordinance of Secession. [Text taken from their web site].
Middleton Place is about a 30-40 minute drive from downtown Charleston on I-61 North.
This is a very enjoyable and relaxing estate to visit. The grounds are perfectly landscaped. One will see a very large reflective pond upon entering the grounds. Travel to the house museum area by foot or by horse-drawn carriage (for a fee).
There is a fine restaurant on site. Make sure you save room for the huguenot torte dessert. Also save time for a walk through the stableyards, the House museum, the outdoor program, and the gift shop.
The original estate was built by Henry Middleton starting in 1741 when he married Mary Williams. There were originally 200 acres as part of the estate.
The main house was originally three stories and then two flanker houses were added to either side of the main house in the 1750’s. Middleton Place was burned by Federal troops in February 1865 and the only structure remaining that was restorable was the south flanker structure, which is what one can see and visit today.
When touring the House Museum one will see many items from the personal family collection covering the years of 1740s to the 1880s, including, china, paintings, documentsm Civil War memorabilia, books, furniture and silver.
The North flanker had a library with 10,000 volumes in it. Many were destroyed by the fire in 1865 as well as untold numbers were thrown into a heap outside the home and simply rotted instead of being rescued.
Learn more
Categories: Dining · Gardens · Historic homes · Middleton Place · Plantations
The Civil War Gazette highly recommends a visit to the South Carolina Historical Society in downtown Charleston.
Their web site states:
“In 1855 some of South Carolina’s most distinguished citizens came together to record and preserve the past-for the sake of the future. Motivating them was the fear that if they did not act, South Carolina’s rich historical legacy would be lost to future generations. They founded the South Carolina Historical Society, which today is the state’s oldest and largest private repository of books, letters, journals, maps, drawings, and photographs about South Carolina history. The mandate of our founders remains our mission today: “to collect information respecting every portion of our state, to preserve it, and when deemed advisable, to publish it.” The Society’s holdings, located in the historic Robert Mills Fireproof Building in Charleston, S.C., are vast and grow constantly with the addition of materials from 200 years ago and from two weeks ago. It is especially rich on South Carolina’s colonial and antebellum eras and the American Civil War. The Society is a private, non-profit organization depending entirely on the generosity of its members to preserve and extend awareness of South Carolina history. We receive no local, state, or federal funding for our operations.”
Don’t expect to take pictures. The staff are very helpful.
We did some research in there recently and found that one visit gathered more information than several years of research done by distance.
Categories: Historical societies · History · Library · South Carolina
When walking around the streets of downtown Charleston you’re likely to pass the Market Hall (home of the Confederate Museum) several times. It’s on the corner of Meeting and Market Streets.
This museum is run by the Chapter #4 United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC) since 1899. Market Hall was built in 1841 and is a copy of the Temple of the Wingless Victory in Athens, Greece.
You won’t find anything about Zeus or Apollo in Market Hall but you will find some real gems of memorabilia related to the Confederacy. The collection is quite impressive and diverse. The display and exhibit standards could be improved however.
Most of the collection was received when a call went out to former soldiers to donate personal items for the museum’s collection.
Check out the 1861 red secession flag on display.
Categories: Confederate · Museum · UDC
A visit to Charleston would not be complete without at least one cruise of the harbor.
Civil War Gazette recommends a dinner cruise aboard one of the SpiritLine boats. They offer trips to Ft. Sumter and a relaxing dinner cruise aboard the Spirit of Carolina.
You don’t have to dress up. Reservations are recommended. The views are awesome. The music on board is also very nice.
To learn more, visit their web site.
Categories: Cruise · Harbor
One attraction you definately don’t want to miss when you visit Charleston is the Confederate submarine, the H.L. Hunley.
It is on display, in a tank, at the Warren Lasch Conservation Center just a few miles outside of Charleston.
Tours are for 20 minutes (where the Hunley is actually displayed) but you can take as much time as you want outside the Hunley exhibit area. Tours are available only on Saturdays and Sundays. Check the Friends of the Hunley web site for up-to-date information.
You can NOT take pictures of the actual submarine in the holding tank. There is a part of a replica in the common exhibit area where you can take pictures though.
This is a MUST SEE stop if you’re an enthusiast of the Civil War or of Southern maritime history.
Categories: Confederate · Hunley · Maritime
There are many choices for Civil War walking tours while in Charleston. How do you know which one is best for you?
You will probably enjoy any walking tour you take. Your guide could be a student from the College of Charleston, someone who rotates from leading walking tours to hosting carriage rides, and everything in between.
Civil War Gazette would suggest you start with Jack Thomson and The Civil War Walking Tour of Charleston. If you have time, try some other tour companies.
We recommend Jack Thomson for several reasons:
His knowledge of old Charleston and the Civil War is incomparable to the other tour companies.
His tour book is filled with authentic pictures he has compiled since 1986.
He is quite a Southern gentleman.
He knows how to lead a group. You won’t have trouble hearing him. His discussion is lively. Ask lots of questions.
He guides you by placing you in the Civil War period by helping you see the experience in Charleston through the eyes of a real former Confederate soldier named Gus Smythe.Make sure you get a copy of his excellent resource, “Charleston at War“, before your tour. Teh pictures (old and modern) in this book are incredible.Jack Thomson gets the Civil War Gazette Award for the best Civil War walking tour in Charleston.
Learn more
Categories: Walking tours
There are several fully-restored homes in the Battery area one can visit and even take inside tours. The Edmondston-Alston House is on 21 East Battery row.
It was originally built in 1825. Confederate General P.G.T. Beauregard is said to have stood on the second story piazza on April 12th 1861 to watch the bombing of Ft. Sumter.
One of our favorite items about this house is a painting displayed that pictures a street scene of East Battery street around 1825.
Their web site states:
The stately Edmondston-Alston House was built in 1825 on Charleston’s High Battery and is one of the city’s most splendid dwellings. A witness to many dramatic events in Charleston’s history, the Edmondston-Alston House is a classic example of the city’s changing and sophisticated taste in architecture and decorative arts.
The Edmondston-Alston House is a repository of family treasures, including Alston family silver, furniture, books and paintings that remain in place much as they have been for over a century and a half. There is an exquisite collection of prints and other artifacts collected on Alston family trips abroad. Guided tours of the house give visitors an insight into the lifestyle of merchant Charles Edmondston, who first built the house in 1825, and Georgetown County rice planter Charles Alston, who later bought the house in 1838.
Categories: Battery · Beauregard · Edmondston-Alston House · Ft. Sumter · Harbor · Historic homes
If you’re looking for a nice cozy yet practical place to stay in Charleston, something beyond the typical chain hotel stay, checkout the Andrew Pinckney Inn. It is located in the heart of downtown old Charleston at the intersection of Pinckney and Church Streets.
They have many different room plans, including a townhouse model that is spacious and relaxing.
Their web site says: “Charleston hotel accommodations located in the center of a living museum; Charleston, SC�s famous historic district. The Andrew Pinckney Inn is a boutique inn coupling old world charm with sophisticated amenities of today’s Charleston hotels. Meticulously restored, the Andrew Pinckney Inn features a three story plant filled atrium, a Charleston courtyard and rooftop terrace overlooking historic homes, church steeples and the Charleston harbor. Hotel guests of the Andrew Pinckney Inn find horse drawn carriage tours, museums, art galleries, antique and boutique shops along with world-renowned dining just outside the front door in Charleston, South Carolina.”
Categories: Inns
1851
A chime of eleven bells was contributed to the Confederate military cause. They were replaced in 1976 by a group of church women who raised the money to install them in the steeple.
1861
A great fire swept from the Cooper to the Ashley River. Many members of the congregation were forced to leave their homes and seek refuge in other parts of the state.
1860-65
St. Philip’s steeple was targeted for shelling by the invading Union Army. One shell exploded in the churchyard during a Sunday service. The service was completed, but worship was moved to St. Paul’s Church on Coming Street.
More on the history of the church
Dusk at St. Philip’s
Churchyard cemetery across from main building
Categories: Churches · St. Philip's
