The Boroughs - Attractions

Saint Johannes Lutheran Church

Saint Johannes Lutheran Church

Saint Johannes Lutheran Church

Saint Johannes Lutheran Church

48 Hasell Street (The Boroughs)
Charleston, SC  29401

(843) 722-8906

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Saint Johannes Lutheran Church is a Classical Tuscan design that was built in 1842. The congregation later moved to St Matthew's Lutheran Church on King Street. But, in 1878, a group of about 53 Lutherans from the St Matthew's Church decided to return to the original location on Hasell Street and organized the congregation to be known at St Johannes Lutheran Church.

William Rhett House

William Rhett House

William Rhett House

William Rhett House

54 Hasell Street (The Boroughs)
Charleston, SC  29401

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Not open to the public

William Rhett came to Charleston in 1698 where he quickly rose in the ranks as a colonial militia leader. He was a successful merchant and sea captain who is most famously known for his participation in the capture of the pirate Stede Bonnet in 1718.

The two storied stuccoed brick home on 54 Hassell Street in Charleston was built by William Rhett in 1712. The William Rhett house is considered one of the oldest houses in Charleston. Its square shape was characteristic of homes during that time. The home includes a central hall with two large rooms on both the west and east sides. In the early 19th century, an addition was built on the northwest side of the house and piazzas were added to both the west and east sides of the house which are still in use as entrances today.

Rhett's still stands in its original location at 54 Hasell St., Charleston, South Carolina. It has been restored and is now privately owned

Middleton-Pinckney House

Middleton-Pinckney House

Middleton-Pinckney House

Middleton-Pinckney House

14 George Street (The Boroughs)
Charleston, SC  29401

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The Middleton-Pinckney House is a historic three-story masonry home built on a raised basement. Construction of the house began around 1796 by Mrs. France Motte Middleton, and was completed by her and her second husband, Maj. Gen. Thomas Pinckney, whom she married in 1797.

The Middleton-Pinckney House sat on a bluff beside a large creek to the north that was later filled to accommodate Calhoun Street. The house was based on the Neoclassical style with stucco over brick. The hipped roof has a polygonal front projection which provides oval rooms on each floor and a truncated rear projection that contains a winding staircase. The main entrance is in a portal on the basement level and is framed by white marble columns and a simple marble entablature. Marble flat arches top the six-over-six light windows on the George Street facade with fan shaped voussoirs. Two marble belt courses break the vertical lines at the upper stories.

In 1880 the building was sold to the Water Works Company which later became the Charleston Commissioners of Public Works (CPW). The CPW constructed a reservoir at the rear of the site. The reservoir was later converted for use as a public swimming pool until it was closed in the 1960s. A two million-gallon capacity pump and offices occupied the main house. A water tower stood on the west side of the house.

In 1988, the house became the location of the headquarters of the Spoleto Festival USA. The City of Charleston donated the house to the festival in 2002, which then undertook a rehabilitation of the property.

Mother Emanuel A.M.E. Church

Mother Emanuel A.M.E. Church

Mother Emanuel A.M.E. Church

Mother Emanuel A.M.E. Church

110 Calhoun Street (The Boroughs)
Charleston, SC  29403

(843) 722-2561

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Hours: Open to the public
Monday - Friday: 9:00a to 1:00p | 2:00p to 4:00p

The Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church is a Gothic Revival style church built in 1891. The original alter, communion rail, pews and light fixtures in the church are one of only a few unaltered religious interiors in Charleston.

Today Emanuel is the oldest AME church in the South, and houses the oldest black congregation south of Baltimore, MD.

Citadel Square Baptist Church

Citadel Square Baptist Church

Citadel Square Baptist Church

Citadel Square Baptist Church

328 Meeting Street (The Boroughs)
Charleston, SC  29401

(843) 577-3707

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Citadel Square Baptist Church was the fourth Baptist church built in Charleston, South Carolina. The name refers to the church's location on upper Meeting Street which at the time was named the Citadel.

The construction of the church began in June 1855 and the new building was open on November, 1856. In 1885 a hurricane blew over the original steeple and a year later, the 1886 Charleston earthquake damaged the tower. Both the steeple and the tower were repaired and installed. The steeple was later blown off the church with Hurricane Hugo hit Charleston. When the new steeple was built it was 210 feet shorter.

A Sunday school building was added in 1891.

Citadel Square Baptist Church was the first in Charleston to televise its services for more than 40 years.

Saint Matthew's German Lutheran Church

Saint Matthew's German Lutheran Church

Saint Matthew's German Lutheran Church

Saint Matthew's German Lutheran Church

405 King Street (The Boroughs)
Charleston, SC  29401

(843) 723-1611

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Hours: Open to the public
Monday - Friday: 8:30a to 4:30p.

St. Matthew's German Lutheran Church is a Gothic Revival church that was constructed between 1867 and 1872. It was patterned after the typical German Gothic churches. Its 297-foot steeple once made it the tallest building in South Carolina; it continues to possess the tallest spire. The congregation was founded originally by German-speaking Lutherans in 1840.

In 1965, a fire destroyed much of the interior of the church and steeple. The damaged portions were carefully restored except for a finial on the steeple which was too expensive to replace. The stained glass windows in the apse and under the balcony, as well as the pulpit, are original to the building.

Marion Square Public Park

Marion Square Public Park

Marion Square Public Park

Marion Square Public Park

329 Meeting Street (The Boroughs)
Charleston, SC  29403

(843) 724-7327
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Situated in downtown Charleston, Marion Square is one of the most visited city parks. Marion Square is a 10 acre rectangular plot of land that was conveyed to the colony of South Carolina in 1758. Marion Square was previously known as the Citadel Green. The Old Citadel, or South Carolina State Arsenal, currently sits on the north side of the square where a group of buildings known as the Tobacco Inspection once stood. According to the lease agreement made with the City of Charleston, the central portion of the square is to be kept open forever as a parade ground for the Sumter Guards and the Washington Light Infantry.

Marion Square also contains a remnant from the 18th century fortifications of the city; and the Bandstand, designed by August Constantine and constructed in 1944. The Square is the home to many monuments, including a Holocaust memorial and a statue of John C. Calhoun atop a giant pillar plus a water fountain, benches and open green space for relaxation. During the summer the square is also home to the farmers market on Saturdays and various festivals such as the Food and Wine Festival and the renowned Spoleto Arts Festival.

Old Citadel, The (Embassy Suites Hotel)

Old Citadel, The (Embassy Suites Hotel)

Old Citadel, The (Embassy Suites Hotel)

Old Citadel, The (Embassy Suites Hotel)

337 Meeting Street (The Boroughs)
Charleston, SC  29401

The original site of The Citadel was built in 1829 on what is now Marion Square in downtown Charleston. It is a two story Romanesque structure, incorporated an interior courtyard with Doric columns and Roman arches. It began as a state arsenal and was first guarded by federal troops from Fort Moultrie. But in 1832 South Carolina removed the troops because of a disagreement with the federal government over imposed tariffs and removed the federal troops replacing them with the South Carolina militia.

In 1842 the Governor of Charleston proposed converting the arsenal into a military academy. The state legislature approve his idea and in March, 1843 the school's first cadets arrived at the Citadel Academy. The first class of Cadets graduated from the Citadel Academy on November 20, 1846, with 6 Cadets receiving diplomas.

On February 18, 1865, the Citadel stopped operating as a military academy when Union troops captured Charleston and occupied the Citadel building and grounds. The Citadel remained as federal government property for nearly 17 years, and was used as a garrison by federal troops.

In 1882 the Citadel was reopened for cadets. The Citadel student body continued to grow over the next few years and a larger facility was planned to accommodate more students. In 1922 the school officially opened on its new campus along the Ashley River.

 Today the Old Citadel is owned by Embassy Suites and operates as a hotel.

Second Presbyterian Church

Second Presbyterian Church

Second Presbyterian Church

Second Presbyterian Church

342 Meeting Street (The Boroughs)
Charleston, SC  29403

(843) 723-9237

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In 1809 fifteen men began planning for the Second Presbyterian Church. The new church was built in 1811 at the cost of $100,00. The Second Presbyterian Church was built in the Jeffersonian style and is the fourth oldest church structure in the city.

The Classic Revival sanctuary is stucco brick with two tiers of windows, a square tower with an octagonal belfry, and a tetra Tuscan portico. Because of the size of the sanctuary the ministers had to strain their voices to be heard. Therefore, in 1833 the floor was raised three feet, the ceiling lowered sixteen feet, and the rear wall of the nave was moved to enlarge the vestibule. The north and south doors were closed and additional pews were added. The pews used today were installed 1849.

In 1862 the church bell was given to the Confederacy for use as cannon metal.

Joseph Manigault House Museum

Joseph Manigault House Museum

Joseph Manigault House Museum

Joseph Manigault House Museum

350 Meeting Street (The Boroughs)
Charleston, SC  29403

(843) 723-2926

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Hours:
Monday - Saturday: 10:00a - 5:00p 
Sunday: 12:00p - 5:00p 
Note: Last tour at 4:30p

The Joseph Manigault House was built in 1803 and is one of Charleston's most exquisite antebellum structures. The house reflects the urban lifestyle of a wealthy, rice-planting family and the enslaved African Americans who lived there. The house was designed by Joseph Manigault's brother Gabriel. It is an exceptional example of the Federal period architecture. The house is a three-story building made from brick and set upon a raised brick fountaion. It is an imposing structure with a two-story porch across the center three bays.

A striking spiral staircase accents the impressive central hall, and many of the rooms are restored to their original color schemes. The historic pieces from the Museum's collections include American, English and French furniture dating to the early 19th century. Outside you can see the locations of other historical outbuildings such as the kitchen, slave quarters, stable and privy.

Some of the exhibits at the museum include The Armory, a section that is home to several historic weapons from the mid 18th to the 20th century, which were used for military purposes as well as hunting and dueling. The Lowcountry History Hall is where you will find artifacts and other material related to the Native Americans who were among the first to inhabit the Lowcountry region in addition to colonists and enslaved African-Americans.
This section features interesting artifacts that include slave badges, pottery produced by the slaves, and a variety of tools used for cultivation and plantation.

Charleston Museum

Charleston Museum

Charleston Museum

Charleston Museum

360 Meeting Street (The Boroughs)
Charleston, SC  29403

(843) 722-2996

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Hours:
Monday - Saturday: 9:00a - 5:00p
Sunday: 1:00p - 5:00p

The Charleston Museum, founded in 1773, is one of the oldest museum in the United States. First opened to the public in 1824, the Museum developed prominent collections, which Harvard scientist Louis Aggasiz declared in 1852 to be among the finest in America. Due to the Civil War, operations of the museum were temporarily suspended, but reopened after the war.

The Museum's collections include historic artifacts, decorative and artistic items in silver, and objects relating to natural history. The museum also houses the only known fossil of the now-extinct largest flying bird ever discovered, called Pelagornis Sandersi.

Focusing on the South Carolina Lowcountry, modern collecting emphases include natural history, historical material culture and both documentary and photographic resources. Enjoy the rich variety of exhibited objects ranging from ancient fossils and an enormous whale skeleton to Civil War artifacts and historic Charleston silver. Other collections include Charleston furniture, country textiles in the form on quilts and costumes, Egyptian artifacts, ceramics, paleontology collections of vertebrates and invertebrates, skeletal reconstructions, firearms, archived resources like documents and photographs, local plants and animal species, and rocks and minerals from around the globe.

Aiken-Rhett House Museum

Aiken-Rhett House Museum

Aiken-Rhett House Museum

Aiken-Rhett House Museum

48 Elizabeth Street (The Boroughs)
Charleston, SC  29403

(843) 723-1159

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Tours:
Monday - Saturday: 10:00a - 5:00p 
Sunday: 2:00p - 5:00p
Note: Last tour begins at 4:15p

The Aiken-Rhett House was built in 1820 by John Robinson and was a typical Charleston double house with a central hallway and two rooms on each side. When Robinson lost five ships at sea in 1825, he was forced to sell the house to meet his financial obligations. Subsequently, it became the property of William Aiken Sr. in 1827.

Aiken was an Irish immigrant who accumulated a large fortune as one of the city's leading merchants. Mr. Aiken used the house as a rental property. When he died suddenly in a carriage accident, his vast holdings were divided between his wife, Henrietta Wyatt Aiken, and his only son, William Aiken Jr.

In 1833,  William Aiken, Jr. and his new bride, Harriet Lowndes, decided to make the house their primary residence. There were extensive renovations to the property. The main changes were: The front entrance was moved, the first floor was reconfigured and a large addition was built onto the house. After the renovations were complete the house was considered to be one of the most impressive residences in Charleston.

Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry

Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry

Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry

Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry

25 Ann Street (The Boroughs)
Charleston, SC  29403

(843) 853-8962

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Hours:
Tuesday - Saturday: 9:00a - 5:00p
Sunday: 1:00p - 5:00p

Charleston's Children's Museum can keep little ones, from toddlers to age 10, occupied for hours. Infants and toddlers even have their own special play space with mini-slides and padded mats. Incite your creativity in the Art Room, with materials from recycled egg cartons to plastic yogurt lids. Be a buccaneer aboard the Pirate Ship, and dress up as a prince or princess at the Medieval Creativity Castle. The laws of physics make for busy hands at Raceways, as you send golf balls racing down ramps and spiraling through chutes.

Cathedral of Saint Luke and Saint Paul

Cathedral of Saint Luke and Saint Paul

Cathedral of Saint Luke and Saint Paul

Cathedral of Saint Luke and Saint Paul

126 Coming Street (The Boroughs)
Charleston, SC  29403

(843) 722-7345

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Construction of the Cathedral began in 1810 and was originally known as St. Paul's Radcliffeboro. The style of architecture is typical of the period, the interior being almost devoid of ornamentation with the exception of the chancel. The chancel is ornamented with Corinthian pilasters have gilt capitals.

The building was in continuous use during the War Between the States, harboring congregations from churches nearer the strongholds of the Union forces. The church’s bell was dismantled and sent to Columbia to be melted down in support of the Confederate cause.

The interior appears much as it did in 1815, except adding stained-glass windows to the church In addition, the box pews were replaced in 1872 and the pulpit was moved from the middle aisle to its present location.

The building is known for its acoustical properties and is often sought by performing artists, particularly during the Spoleto Festival.

Karpeles Manuscript Museum

Karpeles Manuscript Museum

Karpeles Manuscript Museum

Karpeles Manuscript Museum

68 Spring Street (The Boroughs)
Charleston, SC  29403

(843) 853-4651

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Hours: Tuesday - Friday: 11:00a - 4:00p
Closed Holidays

The Charleston Karpeles Manuscript Library is one of ten Karpeles Museums in the United States. The Karpeles Manuscript Library is dedicated to the preservation of the original handwritten documents of great men and women of the past who have helped shape out history.

Karpeles Manuscript Museum in Charleston library is housed in a former Methodist church named St. James Chapel which was built in 1856. It is a bold Greek Revival structure of the Corinthian order after the Temple of Jupiter in Rome.

During the Civil War the Confederate forces in Charleston used the building as a medical storehouse and hospital until the Union Army attacked and Charleston was evacuated. The building was one of the first attacked in an effort to capture the water supply held in the large cisterns on the ground floor.