I must say in advance, this article in no way will be able to sum up all things Charleston, but I will do my best to paint a picture of what I had the pleasure of experiencing in a short amount of time in my recent visit. Never in my life have I been to a city quite like Charleston, South Carolina.
Being the first city founded in South Carolina in 1670, it is safe to say that wherever you turn there is a whole lot of history.
I took a horse drawn carriage ride where I was able to learn a bit about the rich history of this wonderful town. The ride started by stopping at a lottery on the side of a road. The numbers pulled determined where we were going to explore for the following hour. Our fate was Zone One, the Historic District.
While I was walking through the town one day prior to the carriage ride, I had a lot of questions about what I was exploring and remained particularly confused as to why all of the houses had porches on their sides rather than at the front of their homes.
As it turns out, the front of these houses is where the porches are. The houses are turned sideways to keep cool from the sun and to preserve space. If they were turned frontward, some of these houses would take up an entire block, so this setup is more practical.
Additionally, we were able to see the famous Rainbow Row.
This area is all residential homes and are pricey to live in. Each home is worth well over a million dollars and is one of the biggest tourist destinations of Charleston. While these homes are worth a substantial amount of money, it was not always this way. This area was considered a slum after the Civil War, and it wasn't until the 20th century when a group of women renovated these houses over time.
Speaking of the Civil War, Charleston is where the war began. On April 12, 1861, the Confederates attacked the Union soldiers at Fort Sumter, a sea fort in Charleston Harbor, which you can get to by ferry.
This Lowcountry town is a reminder of a much different time. Growing up, you learn about America's history, including slavery and what it meant, but standing in a place where these events took place is such a surreal feeling. Seeing the Old Exchange Building and knowing that human beings were sold there was a feeling I could not quite shake off.
We passed by the house in which George Washington stayed when he would visit, and the building where he attended parties which he would later write journal entries about.
Learning about all of these pieces of information led me to try and comprehend all that has happened before us, all things which have led up to where we are now, but the weight of the concept is still so hard for me to grasp and in some regards feels out of reach.
Another part of Charleston that stood out to me was the people. Southern Hospitality is a very real thing. The people of Charleston are passionate about their city and sharing it with others. Wherever you go, you're asked how you are, where you're from and how they can help you. It isn't out of the ordinary to be called dear, sugar, babydoll and honey. While it takes a bit of getting used too, it is all a part of the experience. The people are so courteous and passionate about what they do. They always use their manners and overall make Charleston such a fun environment to be in; not to mention, the food there is pretty spectacular.
In the heart of the Historic District sits the College of Charleston, the 13th oldest college. After having a conversation with an alum, she told me about the high retention rate of people staying in Charleston once they graduate. I experienced this place for only a day and a half and from the cobblestone roads, buildings that are centuries old and the wonderful people, I was able to gain an understanding as to why.
This is just a snapshot of all I got to see in this wonderful place, and in no way could I do it justice. If you haven't been before, jump at the chance to go as soon as the opportunity arises. Charleston, South Carolina, is a place that is impossible to forget.
