Charleston History — At a Glance
Charleston, SC was founded in 1670 — making it one of the oldest cities in the American South. Originally named Charles Towne after King Charles II, it was established on the Ashley River and relocated to its current peninsula by 1680. The city is known historically for its role in the transatlantic slave trade, as the site where the first shots of the Civil War were fired at Fort Sumter (1861), and as a national leader in historic preservation — the Preservation Society of Charleston, founded in 1920, was among the first in the United States.[1]
Sources: [1] South Carolina Encyclopedia; National Park Service, Fort Sumter National Monument; Preservation Society of Charleston
Planning a Visit — or Considering a Move?
Charleston's history is one reason people visit. Its neighborhoods are why they stay.
Families and retirees relocating to Charleston consistently cite its historic character and walkable neighborhoods as primary factors. Katherine Cox can match your lifestyle priorities to the right area.
Charleston History — Key Dates and Events
| Year | Event | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| 1670 | City founded as Charles Towne | One of the oldest cities in the American South[1] |
| 1680 | Town relocated to current peninsula site | Defensible position between Ashley and Cooper Rivers |
| 1771 | Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon completed | Served as patriot meeting place and British prison |
| 1780 | Siege of Charleston — British capture | One of the largest British victories of the Revolution[1] |
| 1790s | Charleston City Market established | Still operating; home to Gullah sweetgrass basket artisans |
| 1861 | Confederate attack on Fort Sumter | First shots of the Civil War fired in Charleston Harbor[1] |
| 1865 | Avery Normal Institute founded | One of the first schools for African Americans in the South |
| 1920 | Preservation Society of Charleston founded | Among the first historic preservation organizations in the US |
| 1977 | Spoleto Festival USA established | International performing arts festival; annually draws global artists |
Sources: [1] South Carolina Encyclopedia; National Park Service; Preservation Society of Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina, was founded in 1670 — one of the oldest continuously occupied European settlements in the American South. Its 350-year history encompasses colonial trade dominance, the American Revolution, the opening of the Civil War, Reconstruction-era education reform, and a preservation movement that reshaped how American cities think about their architectural legacy. This guide covers the events, landmarks, and cultural developments that define Charleston's historical identity.
Early History and Founding
English colonists established Charles Towne in 1670 on the west bank of the Ashley River under a charter from King Charles II. The settlement relocated in 1680 to the defensible tip of the peninsula formed by the Ashley and Cooper Rivers — the location that defines downtown Charleston today. This geographic position gave the city natural harbor access and became the foundation of its commercial power.
Charleston's early economy centered on deerskins, lumber, and naval stores before shifting decisively to rice and indigo cultivation in the early 18th century. The knowledge and labor systems that made plantation agriculture viable were brought by enslaved Africans — particularly those from the rice-growing regions of West Africa — whose expertise in cultivation, irrigation, and tidal management directly created the city's colonial wealth.[1]
Colonial Charleston
By the mid-18th century, Charleston was among the wealthiest cities in British North America. Its merchant class drew settlers from England, France (Huguenots fleeing religious persecution), Scotland, Ireland, and across the Atlantic, creating a multicultural port society that left its mark on the city's architecture, language, and cuisine.
The built environment of this era survives in remarkable density. The Heyward-Washington House (1772) at 87 Church Street and the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon (1771) at 122 East Bay Street are among the most intact examples of colonial public and domestic architecture in the country. The Old Exchange served simultaneously as a customs house, trading floor, and — during the British occupation — as a prison for American patriots held in its basement dungeon. Explore more of this period's architectural landmarks in Charleston and the architectural styles that define the city.
Revolutionary War and Independence
The Siege of Charleston in May 1780 was one of the most significant British military victories of the American Revolution. After a six-week siege, Continental General Benjamin Lincoln surrendered more than 5,000 American troops — the largest American capitulation of the war. Charleston remained under British control until December 1782, nearly a full year after Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown.
Francis Marion — "The Swamp Fox" — conducted guerrilla operations throughout the South Carolina interior during the occupation, disrupting British supply lines and communications from bases in the Lowcountry swamps. His tactics, which prevented the British from consolidating control over the interior, contributed materially to the eventual American victory in the Southern Campaign.[1]
Antebellum Period and the Civil War
The cotton gin, invented in 1793, transformed Charleston's already prosperous agricultural economy into one of the most productive — and most dependent on enslaved labor — in the world. By 1860, cotton accounted for nearly 60% of all American exports, a total of approximately $200 million nationally, with Charleston among the primary port cities alongside New Orleans, Savannah, and Mobile facilitating that trade. South Carolina's enslaved population exceeded its free population, and over 40% of all enslaved Africans brought to North America had arrived through Charleston Harbor over the preceding two centuries.[1]
The Civil War began in Charleston Harbor. At 4:30 a.m. on April 12, 1861, Confederate artillery opened fire on the Union garrison at Fort Sumter — the first military action of the war. The fort fell the following day. Charleston endured a 22-month siege and naval bombardment from August 1863 through February 1865, sustaining substantial damage to its built environment before Union forces entered the city on February 18, 1865.
Sources: [1] Lowcountry Digital History Initiative, College of Charleston; National Geographic; King Cotton, Wikipedia; American Battlefield Trust; South Carolina Encyclopedia
Reconstruction and the Late 19th Century
The post-war period brought physical rebuilding alongside the profound social transformation of Reconstruction. The Avery Normal Institute, founded in 1865 at 125 Bull Street, became one of the first institutions in the South dedicated to educating African Americans, producing generations of teachers, civic leaders, and civil rights advocates. The building now houses the Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture, part of the College of Charleston.
The Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist on Broad Street, completed in 1907 in Gothic Revival style, reflects the city's physical and spiritual rebuilding during this era. The late 19th century also saw the first significant documentation efforts for Charleston's historic structures — a foundation for the preservation movement that would follow.
The 20th Century: Preservation and Growth
The founding of the Preservation Society of Charleston in 1920 marked a turning point in American urban history. Charleston became the first city in the United States to adopt a historic zoning ordinance, in 1931, protecting a defined area of its built environment from demolition and incompatible development. This legal framework — later adopted by cities across the country — is the direct ancestor of every historic preservation district in America today.[1]
The Charleston Naval Shipyard, established at the mouth of the Cooper River in 1901, played a central role in both World Wars and remained an economic anchor until its closure in 1996. The post-war decades brought both modernization and tension — urban renewal pressures that threatened historic neighborhoods elsewhere in America were largely resisted in Charleston, thanks in part to the legal and organizational infrastructure built by the preservation movement.
Modern Charleston: A Blend of Past and Present
The Historic District today encompasses roughly 3,600 historic structures across 4.7 square miles of the downtown peninsula.[VERIFY: confirm current district acreage with Historic Charleston Foundation] The Charleston Museum, founded in 1773, is the oldest in the United States and houses collections spanning natural history, decorative arts, and the city's complex social history. The Nathaniel Russell House (51 Meeting Street) and the Aiken-Rhett House (48 Elizabeth Street) are both open for tours through the Historic Charleston Foundation.
Cultural life anchors the calendar. The Spoleto Festival USA, established in 1977, brings international opera, theater, dance, and chamber music to venues across the city for 17 days each spring. The MOJA Arts Festival in October celebrates African and Caribbean cultural heritage through visual arts, music, dance, and performance. See a broader guide to cultural activities in Charleston or the full list of art events and festivals worth attending.
Sources: [1] Preservation Society of Charleston; Historic Charleston Foundation; South Carolina Encyclopedia
Key Historical Landmarks
Charleston's most visited historical sites span multiple centuries and themes. The landmarks below are the most significant for understanding the city's full history.
Fort Sumter National Monument
Located in Charleston Harbor, accessible by ferry from Liberty Square (340 Concord Street, Charleston, SC 29401). Ferry tours depart daily; tickets available through the Fort Sumter Tours operator. Admission fees apply.[VERIFY: current ticket prices and schedule at nps.gov/fosu] Fort Sumter is where the Confederate bombardment opened the Civil War on April 12, 1861. The fort was under continuous siege for 587 days. The National Park Service operates the site; the museum on the island is free with ferry ticket purchase. nps.gov/fosu
The Battery and White Point Garden
Located at the southern tip of the Charleston peninsula where the Ashley and Cooper Rivers meet. The seawall promenade and garden are free and open to the public year-round. The area features Civil War-era cannons and monuments and offers direct views of Fort Sumter and the harbor. The adjacent streets — particularly East Battery — contain some of the finest antebellum mansions in the city. Walking tours of the area depart from various points in the Historic District.
Rainbow Row
A stretch of 13 connected Georgian-style row houses at 79–107 East Bay Street, built between the 1740s and 1760s. The distinctive pastel paint scheme was introduced during restoration in the 1930s. Rainbow Row is privately owned and not open for interior tours, but its exterior is freely visible and among the most photographed streetscapes in the American South. The buildings represent one of the longest stretches of original colonial merchant houses remaining in the country.
Drayton Hall
Located at 3380 Ashley River Road, Charleston, SC 29414, approximately 9 miles from downtown. Built in 1738, it is one of the oldest preserved plantation houses in America and the only Ashley River plantation house that survived both the Revolutionary War and the Civil War intact. Unlike many preserved plantations, Drayton Hall presents the structure without period furnishings, allowing visitors to focus on the architecture and the site's full history — including the lives of the enslaved people who built and maintained it. Operated by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Admission fees apply.[VERIFY: current admission rates at draytonhall.org]
Charleston City Market
188 Meeting Street, Charleston, SC 29401. Open daily; individual vendor hours vary. Established in the 1790s, the market spans four city blocks between Meeting and East Bay Streets. It is best known as a working venue for Gullah artisans who create and sell sweetgrass baskets — a craft with roots in West African traditions brought to the Lowcountry by enslaved people. The market also contains restaurants, galleries, and retail vendors. Admission to the market sheds is free.
Living in Charleston's Historic Neighborhoods
The same streets and structures that define Charleston's historical identity are also home to some of the most sought-after real estate in the Southeast. Historic District properties — particularly those on the downtown peninsula — offer a living relationship with the city's past that no new construction can replicate. If you're considering a move to Charleston, the 8 best neighborhoods to live in Charleston is a good starting point for understanding the range of options.
Explore Charleston NeighborhoodsRelated Reading
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Charleston, SC founded?
Charleston was founded in 1670 as Charles Towne by English colonists under a charter from King Charles II. The original settlement was established on the west bank of the Ashley River and relocated in 1680 to the current peninsula site between the Ashley and Cooper Rivers. This makes Charleston one of the oldest continuously occupied European settlements in the American South, and the oldest city in South Carolina.
What is Charleston, SC known for historically?
Charleston is historically significant for several distinct reasons: it was a major hub of the transatlantic slave trade (more than 40% of enslaved Africans brought to North America arrived through Charleston Harbor); it was the site of the first shots of the Civil War at Fort Sumter in 1861; and it pioneered American historic preservation, passing the country's first historic zoning ordinance in 1931. The city also has a significant Gullah Geechee cultural heritage, with traditions in language, cuisine, and crafts — particularly sweetgrass basket weaving — that trace directly to West African origins.[1]
What are the best historical sites to visit in Charleston?
The most historically significant sites in Charleston are Fort Sumter National Monument (accessible by ferry, managed by the National Park Service), the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon (122 East Bay Street), Drayton Hall plantation (3380 Ashley River Road, circa 1738), the Aiken-Rhett House (48 Elizabeth Street), and the Charleston City Market (188 Meeting Street). The Historic District itself — particularly the streets around Rainbow Row, The Battery, and White Point Garden — functions as an open-air architectural museum covering more than 300 years of building history.
What role did Charleston play in the Civil War?
Charleston was the location where the Civil War began. Confederate forces opened fire on the Union garrison at Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor on April 12, 1861 — the first military engagement of the war. The city subsequently endured one of the longest sieges in American military history, lasting from August 1863 to February 1865. Charleston fell to Union forces on February 18, 1865, and was one of the last major Confederate cities to surrender. Fort Sumter National Monument, managed by the National Park Service, preserves the fort and provides detailed interpretation of these events.[1]
Find a Home in Charleston's Historic Neighborhoods
Interested in living where the history is?
The downtown peninsula, the Harleston Village neighborhood, and the streets surrounding the Historic District offer access to Charleston's living architectural heritage — and to a real estate market that has appreciated consistently over the past decade. Katherine Cox specializes in historic and luxury properties across the Charleston metro and can guide you through the specific considerations of buying in a preservation district.
Contact(843) 568-3193 · Email Katherine
1127 Queensborough Blvd, Ste. 103, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 · Mon–Fri 9am–5pm
