Charleston History
While American Indians had long inhabited the Charleston area, the first immigrants arrived in 1670. Settlers from England sailed up the Ashley River, stopping at Albemarle Point, but just a few years later moved back down the river to White Point Garden, which was easier to defend against their French, Spanish and Indian enemies. On each tour, you’ll get to explore White Point Garden, which sits along Charleston’s Battery, for yourself and see what enchanted these first settlers.
This beautiful spot was also the place where one of Charleston’s most infamous characters was hanged. While Charleston was a beautiful and popular spot during early 1700s, it was also home to a number of pirates. In 1718, alone, nearly 50 pirates were hanged in Charleston. While Blackbeard, who arrived in Charleston harbor that same year taking ships and hostages for ransom, may be the best known, it was Stede Bonnet, known as the Gentleman Pirate, who met his fate in the gallows at White Point Garden. Bonnet, who came from a good family and who had become a major in the Barbados army, was captured after a fierce battle with Colonel William Rhett.
From Pirates to the Revolutionary War…
In 1774, many Charlestonians were named delegates to the First Continental Congress, which eventually led to the start of the Revolutionary War. Fort Moultrie on Sullivan’s Island served as the site of first major naval battle of the war. Soldiers at Fort Moultrie used palmetto logs to construct the fort, and it was their strength which helped to successfully block the British assault. As a result, you’ll find the palmetto tree on both the state seal and the South Carolina flag.
Victory did not last, however, and in 1780, British troops began a siege on Charleston lasting one month and eventually resulting in control of the city, which they held for the remainder of the Revolutionary War.
After the war in 1783, the city was incorporated and officially named “Charleston.” The College of Charleston, the state institution you will see on the Charleston History Tour, was granted its charter in 1785. In the years to follow, 18th century Charleston was marked by wealth from the “Carolina Gold” rice produced from area plantations by slaves workers.
From Wealth to Turmoil…
But the good days for plantation owners ended in 1860 when Abraham Lincoln was elected President of the United States. As a result, South Carolina created the Ordinance of Secession, declaring itself an independent commonwealth and seceding from the Union.
In 1861, the first shots of the Civil War rang out when confederate forces opened fire on Fort Sumter, eventually taking control. Over the course of the next four years, union troops continued to fire on the fort with no success. Finally in 1865, the threat of General Sherman coming north from Savannah and a lack of supplies forced the confederates to evacuate.
Another famous moment in Charleston’s Civil War history is the sinking of the confederate 
submarine, the H.L. Hunley. In 1864, the submarine sank the federal ship, Housatonic, in less than two minutes, but disappeared shortly after, never returning to port. In 1995, divers found the submarine underwater off Sullivan’s Island, and it was eventually raised for restoration with the help of author Clive Cussler. You will see a full size replica of the submarine outside the Charleston Museum located on Meeting Street, and the actual ship is being restored at a site in North Charleston.
War to Natural Disaster…
Shortly after the Civil War, with the Confederate states defeated and their land war-torn, Charleston suffered much greater devastation. In 1885, a cyclone struck the city, damaging the Battery wall and causing flooding in parts of downtown. A year later, the city experienced a 7.2 earthquake, killing 60 people and resulting in millions of dollars in damage. One more catastrophe still awaited with the Great Hurricane of 1893, covering the city in five to 10 feet of water. Much of the late 19th and early 20th centuries were spent rebuilding the city’s economy and infrastructure that were destroyed during the war and these natural disasters.
The city was rebuilt with modifications to prevent such destruction from occurring again. For example, many of the buildings downtown have earthquake rods, which help date the 
construction of the building. On your tour, your guide will point out these features and explain the significance of these natural disasters in depth.
This is only a brief summary of Charleston’s rich, but tumultuous past—the city is truly a living museum. Charleston is now thriving and making even more history as home to some of the best cuisine and festivals the country has to offer, including the famed Spoleto Festival. The only way to fully enjoy its charm is to visit and see the sites for yourself. We hope to show you on a Gray Line tour soon!