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Charleston has more Revolutionary War-era historical sites than any other South Carolina city. Remarkably preserved and open for tours, these sites tell the story of America’s struggle for independence.
Learn how to spend a weekend exploring these historic sites, shopping and dining in between, and see a few tips on making the most of your time exploring the Revolutionary War in Charleston.
3 p.m. – The Powder Magazine
The Powder Magazine was a vital component of Charleston’s defense. Completed in 1713, the 27-square-foot building was the primary storage facility for gunpowder. It was a typical British design with 36-inch-thick brick walls and several tons of sand in the vaulted ceilings. By the mid-1700s, additional magazines built further from the sprawling city ended the original magazine’s use until the Revolutionary War. When the British shifted their attention to South Carolina in 1780, the Charleston Committee of Safety ordered the magazine reopened and fully stocked.
In 1902, the deteriorating building was purchased by The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America and renovated into a public museum. Visitors can explore the one-room magazine and learn about early colonial life in Charleston’s gunpowder magazine. Do a scavenger hunt to find all the correct answers buried in the information spread throughout the building.
79 Cumberland St, Charleston, SC | 843-722-9350
4 p.m. – Go Shopping at the Charleston City Market
In 1788, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney donated land in the heart of Charleston for use as the city’s public market. During the Revolutionary War, Pinckney served as commander of the 1st South Carolina Regiment at the Battle of Sullivan’s Island and later as aide-de-camp to General George Washington at the Battle of Brandywine and Battle of Germantown.
In the early 1800s, the first sheds were built along the street where vendors sold meat, fish and vegetables. In the 1970s, the vendors evolved into local artisans selling jewelry, clothing, photography and home decor.
After a $5.5 million renovation was completed in 2011, the Great Hall between Meeting and Church Streets was enclosed and air-conditioned. The other three buildings remain open-air markets with a wide aisle through the middle of each building. The Charleston City Market is open every day of the year except Christmas.
188 Meeting St, Charleston, SC | 843-937-0920
5 p.m. – Dinner and Dessert on Market Street
Port of Call Food & Brew Hall is a cafeteria inside one of Charleston’s first ice houses that opened in the 1800s. The Brew Hall features dozens of craft beers on tap from the Charleston area, throughout the Carolinas, and across the country.
Try South Carolina-style whole hog barbecue at Palmira BBQ, or check out the unique culinary experience at Empire Oyster and Raw Lab. The Brew Hall features dozens of craft beers on tap from the Charleston area, throughout the Carolinas, and across the country.
Charleston Crab House, Oyster House Seafood and Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls offer a more traditional restaurant experience with freshly caught local seafood. Church & Union is one of the most gorgeous restaurants in Charleston, located inside a Gothic church built in 1916.
Finish the evening with treats at Byrd’s Famous Cookies, a scoop of ice cream from Kilwin’s or enjoy a sit-down experience at Kaminski’s Dessert Café.
8 a.m. – Breakfast at Vicious Biscuit
Arrive early to avoid waiting in line at the Vicious Biscuit—by 9 a.m., the locals descend on this favorite breakfast spot in Mount Pleasant. Their menu features over a dozen delectable buttermilk biscuit sandwiches—but you’ll only be able to eat these with a fork and knife. Orders are placed at the counter and brought to your table in this semi-full-service restaurant.
409 W Coleman Blvd, Mt Pleasant, SC | 843-388-7362
10 a.m. – Fort Moultrie and the Battle of Sullivan’s Island
In early 1776, the South Carolina Council of Safety—the de facto government at the time—ordered Colonel William Moultrie to build a fort on Sullivan’s Island to protect the city from British invasion. When General Henry Clinton and Commodore Peter Parker arrived on June 28, they found a partially completed fort built from palmetto logs on the island. With nine men-of-war mounting 300 guns, the British opened fire on the beleaguered American position.
Despite the incomplete fortification, Moultrie’s men survived the encounter with only forty losses. The spongy palmetto logs perfectly protected the men, absorbing the impacts of the cannonballs. Ten hours later, the British ceased fire, and by dawn the next day, they sailed away toward New York.
Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park was established to tell the stories of two coastal fortifications—Fort Moultrie from the Revolutionary War and Fort Sumter from the Civil War. The visitor center on Sullivan’s Island features a museum filled with artifacts and exhibits expanding on Fort Moultrie’s role in multiple wars and conflicts. Self-guided tours of Fort Moultrie explore the powder magazine, spotting tower and earthen walls of the fort.
1214 Middle St, Sullivan's Island, SC | 843-883-3123
12 p.m. – Thomson Park
Before dropping anchor in front of Fort Sullivan, Commodore Sir Peter Parker dispatched General Henry Clinton with an amphibious assault on North Island—present-day Isle of Palms. He planned to cross the “shallow” inlet between the two islands and assault the fort from the rear.
But two obstacles prevented Clinton from achieving his goal. The first was poor intelligence—the inlet was much deeper than reported, and Clinton’s men could not ford across. The second was Colonel William Thomson. Suspecting such a maneuver, Thomson built a small redoubt near the inlet and successfully prevented Clinton from crossing the inlet in makeshift boats.
Today, Thomson Park features a recreation of the redoubt near the bridge crossing Breach Inlet to Isle of Palms. A few parking spaces offer a chance to get out, read the interpretive signs and enjoy a walk on the beach.
3217 Middle St, Sullivan's Island, SC
1 p.m. – Charles Pinckney National Historic Site
Charles Pinckney was not quite 18 years old when the Revolutionary War began at the Battle of Lexington and Concord. Aside from the Battle of Sullivan’s Island, the war remained out of South Carolina for nearly five years. During that time, Pinckney was admitted to the bar and operated a successful law office.
Pinckney was appointed a lieutenant in the Charleston militia when the war finally came south. He served in a unit with his father, protecting Charleston during the siege in 1780. Pinckney was arrested when the British captured Charleston and paroled to his family plantation.
In 1787, Pinckney was one of five South Carolinians elected to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. The articulate lawyer wasted no time—by the third day of the convention, he submitted “The Pinckney Draft,” a document historians believe contributed to 28 clauses of the United States Constitution.
Charles Pinckney National Historic Site is located on what remains of Pinckney’s Snee Farm plantation in Mount Pleasant. A recreation of a farmhouse on the original foundation contains a multi-room museum with exhibits about The Pinckney Draft, life on the plantation for enslaved and the history of the Pinckney family.
1254 Long Point Rd, Mt Pleasant, SC | 84-3577-0242
2 p.m. – Lunch at Shem Creek
Shem Creek is a bastion of outdoor recreation, scenic views and food in Mount Pleasant. The creek meanders between residential neighborhoods, passes beneath a bridge on Coleman Boulevard and eventually dumps into the Cooper River.
Tavern & Table, Red’s Ice House and Saltwater Cowboys offer a mix of fresh catch seafood, steaks and burgers with outdoor seating overlooking the water. On the other side, Water’s Edge and Vickery’s Bar & Grill straddle the Shem Creek Inn. After lunch, go for a walk on the 1-mile Shem Creek Boardwalk to a covered shelter at the end with views of the nearby Ravenel Bridge and occasional dolphin sightings.
4 p.m. – Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon
The Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon is one of the most historic buildings in Charleston. Completed in 1771 as a customs office, the building was quickly absconded by the revolutionary provincial government and used for meetings. After the Fall of Charleston in 1780, the British converted the basement into a dungeon for holding nefarious prisoners during their brutal occupation. In 1788, South Carolina delegates ratified the United States Constitution in the second-floor Great Hall, and three years later, President George Washington was entertained at a glamorous ball.
Today, visitors can tour the exhibits on the first floor of the building, explore the Great Hall where Washington was entertained, and take a guided tour of the provost dungeon.
122 E Bay St, Charleston, SC | 843-727-2165
6 p.m. – Dinner on East Bay Street
Nearly a dozen restaurants await your reservation along three blocks of East Bay Street between Broad and Market. Brasserie la Banque is a relatively new addition to the food scene, opening inside a former bank at the corner of East Bay and Broad. Pearlz Oyster Bar, Galpao Gaucho Brazilian Steakhouse and Poogan’s Smokehouse offer niche foods and comfortable indoor seating.
Revival, Magnolias and Slightly North of Broad offer an upscale atmosphere with white tablecloths, plated entrees and fantastic menus. But if you’re looking for something low-key, Mac’s Place Pub & Grub is a “not so traditional” Irish pub with over 50 beers on tap.
8 p.m. – Treats at Carmella’s Café and Dessert Bar
After dinner, treat yourself to a visit to Carmella’s Cafe and Dessert Bar. Order one of their interesting single-serve cakes about the size of a large coffee mug. Speaking of coffee, you can order that, too, or opt for a glass of wine to go with your treat.
198 E Bay St #100, Charleston, SC | 843-722-5893
9 a.m. – Breakfast at Early Bird Diner
Featured on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, the Early Bird Diner is a staple for Sunday morning brunch. Located in Charleston’s West Ashley neighborhood, it’s only a ten-minute drive from downtown and the perfect place to begin an adventure to the plantations on Ashley River Road.
Their brunch menu features large servings of chicken and waffles, buttermilk pancakes and a fancy grilled cheese served with sourdough bread. But be sure to ask your server about the daily specials—something new is always cooking in their kitchen.
1644 Savannah Hwy, Charleston, SC | 843-277-2353
10 a.m. – Drayton Hall
Ashley River Road is a ten-mile journey along a shady two-lane road past historic plantations. The first is Drayton Hall. Completed in the mid-1700s, the plantation home is considered one of America's finest examples of Georgian Palladian architecture.
In late March 1780, the British were preparing to lay siege to Charleston. General Lord Cornwallis moved his forces upriver to Drayton Hall, where they crossed undetected in the middle of the night. After the Fall of Charleston in May, Cornwallis returned to use the plantation as a field headquarters.
Visitors to Drayton Hall can take a guided tour of the historic building, including the basement and first floor. Then, explore the grounds at your leisure and browse the gift shop.
3380 Ashley River Rd, Charleston, SC | 843-769-2600
12 p.m. – Middleton Place
When Henry Middleton married Mary Williams in 1741, he inherited a plantation along the Ashley River about ten miles from Charleston. The next year, Arthur Middleton was born at the plantation now bearing his surname.
Middleton was a firebrand politician advocating harsh penalties for loyalists and confiscating their property during the revolution. When his father declined a third term in the Continental Congress, the younger Middleton was elected in his stead. In 1776, he was one of four South Carolinians to sign the Declaration of Independence.
Visitors can choose from several guided tours of Middleton Place. The Garden Tour features a walk through the oldest landscaped gardens in the country. Beyond the Fields explores the history of slavery on the rice plantation. The House Museum is a self-guided opportunity to explore a restored flanker of the original plantation house.
4300 Ashley River Rd, Charleston, SC | 843-556-6020
