Charleston Self-Guided Walking Tour

Welcome to the Charleston Walking Tour

Get a taste of the authentic antebellum American south with this tour of Charleston, SC. Explore historic districts packed with lovely shops and beautiful architecture as you relive the dramatic events of the leadup to (and aftermath of) the Civil War. Plus, get an inside look at what life was like not only for Charleston’s most wealthy but also for the enslaved people who generated all that wealth. This Charleston walking tour offers a comprehensive view of this fascinating city and its past.

About the Tour

Your Charleston walking tour begins at the Charleston Visitor Center. You’ll proceed to the Aiken-Rhett House Museum, a beautifully-preserved antebellum home. After that is the Charleston Museum, the oldest museum in the entire country! Then there’s the Joseph Manigault House, once owned by one of the wealthiest men in the city.

Next is Marion Square, a park named for a general from the Revolutionary War and a great place to take a break if you’re in the mood. As you continue toward Liberty Square, you’ll hear all about how the American Revolution rocked Charleston, including the underappreciated Charleston Tea Party (think Boston Tea Party, but sooner!) and the siege and British capture of the city.

Then you’ll see the Grimke Sisters’ Home, where two women risked life and limb to fight for the cause of abolition. On your way to the Historic Charleston City Market (a great place for some shopping!), you’ll learn more about the underdog abolitionist movement in the south.

Next, you’ll come to the Old Charleston Jail, a grim structure that many swear is haunted! 

You’ll come to the Miles Brewton House, which was used as a military headquarters during both the Revolutionary and Civil wars! Then there’s White Point Garden, a beautiful waterside park dotted with cannons dating back to the American Revolution. After that are another couple of beautiful antebellum homes: the Edmondston-Alston House and the Nathaniel Russell House.

You can’t miss the next stop: the enormous Saint Michael’s Church, which dates to 1752! That’s followed by the tranquil green space of Washington Square Park, then the Heyward-Washington House, home to one of America’s Founding Fathers.

After that are two examples of Charleston’s beautiful architecture: Rainbow Row and the Old Exchange, both offering distinct but equally striking examples of what makes the city so picturesque, finally, you’ll arrive at Joe Riley Waterfront Park, the perfect place to relax and unwind at the end of your Charleston walking tour.

Starting Point: Charleston Visitor Center