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Charleston’s Best Highlights: History, Culture & Architecture | 2 hours

324 Reviews | Charleston
From $25.00 per person Lowest Price Guarantee
Select Date and Travelers
You can select up to 10 travelers in total.
Adult (13-100) Minimum: 1, Maximum: 10
2
Child (6-12) Minimum: 0, Maximum: 10
0
Infant (0-5) Minimum: 0, Maximum: 10
0
Free Cancellation For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Tour Option
2 Adults x $25.00
$50.00
Approx Total
$50.00

Inclusions / Exclusions

  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English
  • Tour guide

Overview

Our walk is a journey through time starting in the historic French Quarter where we stroll down enchanting alleyways and cobblestone streets. The architecture of houses of worship and public buildings are discussed as we point out interesting features and tell unique stories about Charleston’s fabled past. We continue to the South of Broad area where beautiful 18th & 19th century houses abound. We enter the Nathaniel Russell House garden to get a glimpse of Charleston off the beaten path. The waterfront Battery is a perfect place to take in the sights of Charleston Harbor and imagining the opening volley of the American Civil War at Fort Sumter located just a few miles in the distance. This is not just another boring history lesson, but a walk back in time culminating the life of Charlestonians and visitors alike. Come see what makes Charleston such special place to visit. Whether being your first time or your twentieth, Charleston always has more to see and learn!

Meeting points

We meet on the north side of the building. There is a tree and two park benches next to a Gillon Street (cobblestone).

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

  • Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon

    Our starting point is one of the most historical buildings in South Carolina, c. 1771. The Declaration of Independence was read here in 1776, it was used a British prison for roughy two years during the American Revolution, US Constitution ratified in SC in 1788, George Washington was entertained during week-long visit in May 1791, plus many more events.

    15 minutes

  • Rainbow Row

    See the longest row of attached Georgian row houses in the country. These were mariner's stores in the 18th & 19th centuries. Restored in the 1930's during Charleston's preservation efforts to a bright Caribbean color scheme.

    5 minutes

  • Old Slave Mart Museum

    Known as Ryan's Slave Mart in the 1850's, this building was an auction site of the interstate slave trade. We will speak about Charleston's role in the slave trade. The City of Charleston operates the museum and tours are available on site. We do not enter the building.

    10 minutes

  • French Huguenot Church

    A beautiful Gothic Revival building from 1845 houses one of the only practicing Huguenot (French Protestant) in the country.

    5 minutes

  • Dock Street Theater

    Entrance depending on availabilty. Built on the site of the first theater in the British colonies, The Dock Street Theatre, c. 1937 was restored from the old Planter's Hotel, c. 1809. The Charleston Stage company operates as the largest professional theater company in South Carolina. Roughly 120 performances take place every year.

    10 minutes

  • Charleston City Hall

    This building sets on one the "Four Corners of Law", named by Robert Ripley (Ripley's Believe it or Not). Built in 1801 as a bank, City Hall has been as such since 1818 and is one of the oldest continuously run city hall's in the country. During the weekdays, visitors can enter the council chamber and see their collection, complimentary.

    2 minutes

  • St. Michael's Church

    Entrance depending on availability. Oldest house of worship in the city, c.1761. We speak about Charleston's religious history of the past and present. The building has much of the original woodwork and beautiful Tiffany stained glass windows. John Rutledge and Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, US Constitution signers, are buried in the churchyard.

    15 minutes

  • Nathaniel Russell House

    We enter the garden of this beautiful Federal style townhouse built in 1808 and owned by Nathaniel Russell. Reigning from Rhode Island, he was a wealthy merchant involved in shipping.

    10 minutes

  • Edmondston-Alston House

    We walk up on the High Battery wall to take a look at the waterfront mansions and discuss the beginning of the Civil War. Ft Sumter is in view. The Edmonston Alston House has been in the family since 1838 and was a site where Gen. Beauregard watched the bombardment of Ft. Sumter with other onlookers.

    10 minutes

Sample Menu

Additional Info

  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Free Cancellation

October 25100% refund
October 26No refund

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews

5.0

324 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
  • 5 stars
    315
  • 4 stars
    6
  • 3 stars
    2
  • 2 stars
    0
  • 1 star
    1

Reviews by TravelOne travelers

Showing 1-5 of 315 reviews with 5 stars

Carolyn

Published on Jan, 2025

Our tour guide Brian, did an excellent job and was very knowledgeable. I would highly recommend! Learned about the history of Charleston!

Couldn't be better!

Published on Jan, 2025

Finn was a fantastic guide: enthusiastic, engaging personality, and an encyclopedic knowledge of Charleston. Our two-hour tour was over much too quickly and we left knowing so much more about this beautiful city, its architecture, people, and its fascinating history, I Highly recommend Finn.

We had an amazing time....

Published on Jan, 2025

We had an amazing time. Brian is the best tour guide ever. He knows everything about everything. Ask him about tobacco smoke and corpses.

Our guide gave us an...

Published on Jan, 2025

Our guide gave us an excellent historic tour by starting with what the settlers found and then stepping us through history as Charleston developed.

The only tour of Charleston you need.

Published on Jan, 2025

Finn was a wonderful guide!! He is incredibly knowledgeable and his passion for history was very evident. My 17 year old daughter and I enjoyed it very much.

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