Charleston History

During this scenic and relaxing 90 minute tour you will experience Charleston Harbor on the unique 80-foot Carolina Belle. Your professional licensed captain will narrate history, sights, and facts about the Charleston Harbor as you pass locations critical to United States history. Enjoy the beauty of the Charleston Harbor and learn its rich history while you are in town.

Embark on a captivating 1-Hour Daytime Palmetto Carriage Horse-Drawn Carriage Tour through Charleston's historic downtown district. Explore the streets of this historic city with a licensed tour guide who will gladly answer questions and offer insight into what makes Charleston so unique. Discover the city's stunning houses, lush gardens, grand mansions, charming churches, and picturesque parks while learning about its rich history, unique architecture, and vibrant flora. As the oldest carriage tour company in Charleston, Palmetto Carriage Works has crafted an exceptional experience that combines knowledge, wit, and humor. This tour offers an exciting and dynamic exploration, seamlessly blending 19th-century conveyance with the charm of a 21st-century city. Don’t miss your chance to explore the “Holy City” in this unforgettable way!

This Downtown Culinary Tour is provided by CHARLESTON CULINARY TOURS, the longest-running food tour company in Charleston. Visit four food establishments on this 2.5-hour tour that combines elements of a historical tour with a culinary adventure! Learn about Charleston's history as you enjoy tastings of traditional favorites and contemporary innovations, all of which highlight the cuisine of locally-owned restaurants. Insight into Lowcountry cuisine accompanies the broad range of samples on your food tour. This is our original tour around the French Quarter and City Market and focuses on the traditional flavors of the region.

Tour in comfort and safety as we show you the beauty of the Holy City. Let us do the driving as you relax and watch as 300 years of history pass by your window. Our guide will escort you and your group through the historic streets of Charleston. You will see the beautiful buildings and churches of the queen city of the south in air conditioned comfort.

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!

Come live the Local Life with Captain Bryan or Guide Adam Moore! This experience is for guests who enjoy sipping their way through a new city full of history. This is not a classic "sit there and shut up tour" but an opportunity to engage with a local. The licensed guide will meet guests at the initial bar establishment and receive a small complimentary snack and the opportunity to purchase some of the areas finest beers/ mixed drinks while the guide goes over the historical roots of the city. From there guests will walk the historical alley ways and cobblestone streets of Charleston to several cultural sites included a dungeon, the original city theater, and 300 year old homes. A second bar will be the site of another drink opportunity where the guide will relate stories specifically regarding the Prohibition era in Charleston and its affect on the populace. Towards the end of the experience guests will find themselves in a local park along the waterfront. Come live the local life!

Our two hour Highlights of Charleston walking tour guides guests through the historic French Quarter and South of Broad neighborhoods of downtown Charleston. Along the way, your guide will describe the long history, unique culture, architecture, and geography of Charleston and the greater lowcountry area, painting a detailed picture of how Charleston's tumultuous past formed the city now beloved by travelers the world over. You'll view some of the city's oldest houses of worship, burial sites, theaters, the forts of Charleston harbor, and the antebellum mansions that look out across the waters of the Cooper and Ashley rivers, among many other historic and picturesque sites. Our guides also offer their expert advice on other activities, restaurants, and bars for guests to explore once they've finished their tour.

Unlike many tour companies in town that allow up to 20 people in each group, my Charleston tour is guaranteed to have no more than 12. The most unique aspect of my tour is the high level of historical professionalism that I deliver to my guests. Earning a Ph.D. in history meant spending thousands of hours reading and researching primary sources in the South Carolina archives. I use the knowledge that I have obtained from that hard work and pass it off to you on the tour. Because I limit the number of guests to 12 and offer a tour that is 45 minutes longer than most in town, you will receive a degree of exclusivity and historical depth that is far greater than what is offered by the larger tour companies in Charleston.

I offer great stories and good times! What makes this tour unique is that I can promise that you will be getting me, Adam Moore, as your tour guide. With some of the other larger tour companies you never know who your guide could be. When you book this tour you can be reassured that I will be your guide. This makes sure that you will be getting a licensed and engaging tour guide here in Charleston. In addition to that, most tours in Charleston will take out 20 people on a tour. I keep my tours smaller and max out at 14-15 people. By having smaller groups it allows my guests to have a more personalized and unique experience.

This 2-hour, walking tour explores Charleston's Historic District by visiting the streets of the French Quarter and the residential area "South of Broad". Hear the stories of Charleston's founding, see historic homes and churches and view the city architecture. Learn the story of this beautiful city—from its first settlers to today.

Listen to the lost stories of black Charleston on this 2-hour walking tour. Hear forgotten folktales and learn about the heroes and heroines who were left out of the history books. Gain more understanding about Charleston's role in the nation's history on this enthralling walking tour.

On this historical Charleston tour, journey back in time as your guide reveals the beauty and charm of one of America's most historic cities. Learn about the history of Charleston and discover its pivotal role in American history with visits to more than 100 points of interest including Rainbow Row, Colonial Lake, the Old Exchange Building and Whitepoint Gardens.  Bonus: Included with your City Tour is admission to America's first museum, The Charleston Museum located in downtown Charleston. Make your way there for a self-guided tour of this popular attraction.

The Charleston Haunted Pub Crawl delivers a haunted pub tour experience focused on the ghosts of Charleston's colonists, pirates, bootleggers, and brothels. This tour will showcase the not-so-holy history of the Holy City, emphasizing Charleston's place in the Civil War, Prohibition, and Piracy. PLEASE NOTE: Tour stops on the itinerary may vary due to crowding of local bars and our ability to get you served on time. We do this to make your tour more enjoyable and to stay on time for your convenience. If you have any special requests from the itinerary please let the guide know upon arrival.

You will explore Charleston's seedier history. From the city's brothels to gritty true crime stories, We will open the door to the darker side of human nature. Combining aspects of the truly horrific, the scandalously sensual, and the just-plan-weird, this ghost tour is a unique look at a city that largely ignores its dark past. Brothels, murders, suicides, demonic entities – just some of what you'll hear about on this tour. The Death and Depravity Ghost Tour contains mature themes and language.

I promise you're going to learn more about history on this tour than on any other tour in this town. I will teach you things you did not know, and challenge things you think you know. But… we start by discussing what's important to you about history. What you like, and what you hope to learn. This allows me to focus the conversation where you want. I use a story format and I ask you a lot of questions to spur discussion. I'll walk you down the path of Charleston in a funny, interesting, sometimes irreverent way. We'll start at Waterfront Park and head south to the famous Charleston battery. We'll see some amazing sights and have some fascinating discussions about the very colorful history of the early fort of Charles Towne. When we’re finished we’ll end up very close to where we started, the proud new owners of the most valuable souvenir you can take home from your trip – knowledge. So come on ya'll, this tour ain't gonna book itself! 🙂

Come join Charleston's premier ghost tour company on a 60 minute haunted history adventure. On this small group tour, you will be guided by a history expert familiar with the darker side of Charleston. See why leading publications tout Charleston as one of the most haunted cities in America. Come join us on a journey were memories haunt visions lurk and the impossible and unexplained could be around the next corner. This tour company was featured in "Formers" as one of the best ghost company's in the nation. We also only used licensed tour guides. Other company's hire college students who do not meet the same standards set forth by Charleston tour guide guild.

Embark on a unique hands-on cooking adventure in the heart of Charleston’s historic French Quarter, as you join a seasoned Lowcountry culinary expert in our charming 19th-century headquarters. Through expert guidance and experimentation, immerse yourself in the essence of Southern cuisine while learning to prepare authentic regional dishes. Our personalized cooking class offers a delightful journey through the region’s rich culinary history, surrounded by the ambiance of a bygone era. Discover the secrets of traditional Lowcountry cooking in this immersive experience, blending history, culture, and the vibrant flavors that define Charleston’s gastronomic legacy. Book your spot now for an unforgettable and educational culinary escape in one of the South’s most iconic destinations.

Most Tours in Charleston will take out 20 people on a tour. I keep my tours smaller and max out at 10 people. By having smaller groups it allows my guests to have a more personalized and unique experience. You get me, an experienced tour guide (Adam Moore) as your tour guide. I do every tour so you can be assured you will be getting the real deal 🙂 So grab a coffee and get your day started off right with a morning history tour of beautiful Charleston, South Carolina. I will provide Intricate and detailed history, plus great storytelling and personality on our tour. Again, I like to keep these tours smaller in size to encourage conversations and questions.

Charleston's past is alive and vibrant, waiting to be discovered around every corner. Go at your own pace, anytime, 24/7/365 on this smartphone guided (app/gps) walking tour. On this tour you’ll see Charleston’s historic downtown, including the famous Rainbow Row, The battery, multiple alley ways, hidden gems, a hidden entranceway to a famous graveyard, 2 parks, statues and so much more! Along the way you’ll learn the stories of the holy city, the people, the civil war, the battery, GW, Edgar Allan Poe, the history of the buildings, the streets, the fences and the city’s soul. If you like to wonder the streets and wonder what’s the history of this tour, then this tour is for you. Charlestonians are known for taking it slow, and so should you. This tour is designed to go at your own pace. Stop anytime to explore more and continue when you are ready. The tour never expires, and you can take it as many times as you want!

Charleston's only chef led historic walking tour, cooking demonstration and lunch! Our experience begins with a 90 minute food history walking tour in the historic district, followed by a cooking demonstration, lunch & paired wine tasting at the popular local's spot Bistro a Vin. It's led by Charleston's only South Carolina Chef Ambassador & Palmetto Guild Certified tour guide, Forrest Parker. Leading the teams at some of Charleston's most iconic restaurants, Parker has been called a "visionary who calls upon the culture, history & flavor traditions of South Carolina to create heritage-infused experiences." Parker was recognized by then Governor Nikki Haley as a S.C. Chef Ambassador in 2016, a capstone for a culinary career that began in 1995. Chef Forrest invites you to take the path less traveled; to see, touch, sip and taste the Undiscovered Charleston!