Charleston "the Holy City"

 

Charleston is known for its 400 churches & it's religious tolerance. In the Spring of 1670, 150 English colonists, indentured servants and slaves sailed into the Charleston (Charlestown) harbor on the ship "Albemarle. The travelers landed on a promising location they christened Albemarle Point in April 1670. The Proprietors soon flattered their king, Charles II, by insisting the settlement be named Charles Town in his honor. 

They moved to a peninsula called Oyster Point by 1672, between 2 rivers. Colonists found out early that they needed to protect the Carolina settlement from attack. Enemies of the colony included the French, the Spanish, hostile Indian tribes and pirates. 

A wall constructed out of local materials (mainly brick, palmetto logs and tabby) emerged in the late 1690s. This was the only walled city in the US.

Most of the walls were destroyed when they didn't need it but sections like this piece are being discovered.

By 1718, the coast had been cleared of most enemies but it had its share of troubles and danger as the coastal town endured a small pox epidemic, a fire which destroyed 1/3 of the colony including 300 houses and a great number of stores in just four hours, a plague among the cattle, and yellow fever and several major hurricanes. Disasters continued to ravage the city with fires in 1740, 1796, 1838 and 1861.

Many of the original buildings from the 1700's still stand today.

The Proprietor said that his is the oldest building, which would be in the 1670's.

Rainbow Row is known for its colorful row houses. Many survived the fires & were refurbished in the 1800's & 1900's.

With its many wharves along East Bay Street, Charles Town became a busy seaport. Ships carrying raw materials, deer skins, rice, indigo, and eventually cotton were exported to England.

This was a wharf building & had a fish market behind it.

Down at the water front.

Folly Island in foreground & Fort Sumpter way out there at far right.

The pineapple came to Charleston from the Caribbean as it was a big port city. The settlers loved it!!

The Old Exchange Building.

Linda found a friend

We had lunch at Poogan's Smokehouse. Great food!!

The German Steam Fire Engine Company Est 1830

I was so impressed with Charleston. It is charming & so pretty. There were not tons of tourists.  It's old city has been treasured. The streets were straight & not a lot of cars.

They had a free trolley. I didn't get more pics of churches because we were on the Trolley.

I liked it so much more than Savannah for all the above reasons.

We got back in time for a nap & visited with our neighbors at the campsite for quite awhile! We had dinner outside at the campsite & it was a very nice day & perfect weather.