Charleston Chapters

Scuba may seem more at home in Aruba, but some good thinking in doing some sinking has South Carolina's ocean bottom burgeoning with life. What was mostly sandy bottom has been greatly enhanced by the creation of artificial reefs, made up of everything from old U.S. Army tanks to former New York City subway cars. And altogether, the sunk junk has paid off in attracting formerly unfathomable finds in fins and flippers.

The Swamp Fox, the Fighting Gamecock, the Wizard Owl, and Old Danger were militia leaders who essentially won the Revolutionary War in the South. Few realize how important South Carolina was in the Revolution and that more than 200 battles and skirmishes occured here. The key to patriot victory was the corps of clever militia leaders such as Francis Marion, Thomas Sumter, Andrew Pickens, and William Thomson, who saved the day for the American side.

Off-the-wall, odd balls, odd halls, odd calls have all given Charleston a full tank of cranks, pranks and eccentricities. Charleston is historically unique, with a distinctive culture affected by its diverse melting pot and its significant role America's colonial, antebellum and modern history. There's no place like Charleston, and here are some reasons why.

Fights against boozing were always a recipe for losing in the Charleston area, despite some inventive efforts to make this waterfront city high and dry. Charleston has been through several eras of prohibition, and was the last state to use the mini-bottle. But no matter what methods were made to curb imbibing, spirits in Charleston were always thriving.

  Shaping Charleston's character has largely been by design that durable and curable, in the form of clay beds turned to brick, lime and sand mixed as stucco, and a panorama of pastels that is the most photographed in town. Rainbow Row is one of the historic city's most acclaimed names, and in its multi-colored majesty, tells how its famous facades have become a major must for visitors.

  The origins of our curious collection of coastal cognomens come from a diversity of backgrounds and cultures, and often offer and energetic exercise in elocution. The diversity of backgrounds in Charleston and surrounding coastal South Carolina since its colonial beginnings has produced some very unusual names that often are as confusing as they are amusing.

With street names such as Ropermakers Lane, Charleston's weaving wonders have a common thread in the talents of fingers nimble with shuttle and thimble. The origins of our curious collection of coastal cognomens come from a diversity of backgrounds and cultures, and often offer and energetic exercise in elocution. The diversity of backgrounds in Charleston and surrounding coastal South Carolina since its colonial beginnings has produced some very unusual names that often are as confusing as they are amusing 

Charleston is historically picturesque, with a collage of captivating colors in its streetscape and landscape. Enhancing the eye appeal has come in various forms and methods that manipulated light to magnify the delight of the site. Methods in beautifying through paint, photography and glass involved some of the most famous names in American history, such as Samuel F. B. Morse and Louis Comfort Tiffany, all of whom had a hand in making the city so grand.

Discover Charleston in edifying, entertaining video tour with 9th-generation South Carolinian and Charleston native Michael Trouche.

Charleston is virtually surrounded by ocean, rivers and creeks, all of which have played important roles in the city's history. Among the water wonders was the world's first successul submarine, The Hunley, as well as monuments to marine manipulation in the form of harbor jetties, colonial canals, and hydro-electric dams and locks.

Charleston has a diversity of dialects whose memorable melting pot has been simmering for centuries into a way of speech unlike what most who visit expect. The influence of the Scottish brogue, the English lilt, and the colorful West African words of Gullah is unlike anywhere in America. And along with the vocal, a famous dance came from locals, known of course as The Charleston

Charleston has long been known for interesting architecture, including some unique construction techniques that catch bad guys, falling walls and breezes as well as the eye. The famed Single House design, the spiked iron Chevaux-de-Frise, and the particularly unusual Earthquake Plates add to the visible varities of the city's fabric.

With its grand harbor overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, Charleston has always been a seafaring city. Since the days of wooden ships, through the ironclads of the Civil War, and into the modern era of steel and stealthy vessels, Charleston boat builders have made significant contributions in both commerical and mililtary ships.

Charleston was the first successful British colony in America's Deep South, whose established success was aided greatly by the contributions of certain individuals largely unrecognized in history.

Charleston dates back to 1670, and is a city built on a narrow peninsula filled with graveyards and creaking historic houses. So ghosts stories are many in a place hallowed for its haunts.

Near Charleston on the South Carolina Coast is the Cape Romain National Wildife Refuge, where  windswept uninhabitated marsh island and seashore comes alive with hatching creatures. These include such threatened species as the Loggerhead Sea Turtle, as well as new waves of pelicans, herons, and terns. 

Charleston's early history was largely shaped from colonial technology driven by its wealth of wind and water. And the skyline around the historic city was once silhouetted with windmills.

Charleston history is a turbulent, truculent tale of many battles on land and sea. Besides the famous Fort Sumter, the remnants of city defenses still stand in fortress form as a reminder of centuries of battle.

Rails for trains and trolleys had Charleston on a roll beginning in the 1830's, and changed the area forever with surprises and enterprises that still shape the city today. Tales of Charleston rails in varying scales that had the city on a centuries-old roll. The longest section of passenger rail line in the world once began in Charleston, and since those early locomotives, the city has chugged its way into the future along tracks that brought fortune and opened up the city and the South Carolina coast to a new era in transportation infatuation.

The historic South Carolina coast near Charleston has had an amazing light show since colonial times, with a myriad of mesmerizing towers that guided ships in from the sea. Some of the oldest are still standing, helped by old and new technologies and the determination of a new age of lighthouse keepers. What has shone light for so many nights in Charleston history has a singular history that is doubly delightful. The landmark lighthouses and channel markers that guided seafarers for generations have a host of intriguing details, including one ingenious concept that kept one sentinel intact in two different locations. 

The majesty of Mepkin Abbey, the wondrous water of Healing Springs, and the towering treasures sprouting from pristine cypress swamps are all part of the spiritual awakening in Chalreston

 Scouring mud banks, creeks and ocean bottoms for incredible aquatic edibles that make Charleston area seafood the best in America. What has shone light for so many nights in Charleston history has a singular history that is doubly delightful. The landmark lighthouses and channel markers that guided seafarers for generations have a host of intriguing details, including one ingenious concept that kept one sentinel intact in two different locations. 

The heights and depths of ingenuity that doused the damnable flammable dilemma that plagued historic Charleston for so many years.

Among Charleston's long line of famous physicians, there were a few who distinguished themselves without doing much doctoring at all.

Charleston was built on a peninsula originally criss-crossed by creeks, marshes and mudflats, and building the beautiful city we see today took a remarkable transformation.

Because of its origins as a colony in which all religious groups were tolerated, the famous Holy City offers a highway to heaven in its historically steepled and peopled houses of worship 

Spring brings creepy creatures crawling around Charleston whose bightin' is frightening. But even the most intimidating animals can be cleverly neutralized by hand as well as by marshmallows.

Mystifying marvels in Charleston that are clearly visible but not often understood include architectural details such as the tapering of portico columns known as "entasis", and the puzzling point of a famous cannon barrel used to fight by both sides during the Civil War.

Charleston is a bountiful garden throughout the year, with a pleasing palate of petals and some astonishing surprises and tongue-twisting names. For example our famed Spanish Moss is neither Spanish nor moss, but a native plant called Tillandsia Usneoides. Charleston's breath-taking gardens and gates are some of the most inspiring and artful aspects of the city.