Historic Charleston Region

Boone Hall Plantation - Visitors can catch a glimpse of a way of life that is only a memory of a time when the South lived by agriculture alone, and the great plantations were the back-bone of the agrarian economy. Today the plantation thrives, producing commercial crops, serving as the backdrop for major motion pictures, and sponsoring events that entertain and benefit visitors and residents of the area.

South Carolina Aquarium - From coastal saltmarshes, Piedmont rivers, and rushing mountain streams to the still depths of the Atlantic Ocean, explore South Carolina's fascinatingly diverse aquatic habitats and get to know the five thousand magical creatures--from colorful song birds to mysterious sharks; graceful rays to playful otters--that live in them.

Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum - Located on historic Charleston Harbor, Patriots Point is home to USS YORKTOWN (CV-10), the Fighting Lady. The first USS YORKTOWN (CV-5) sank at the battle of Midway on June 7, 1942. Onboard the decks of this famous World War II aircraft carrier, you can relive a momentous time in America's history.

Nathaniel Russell House - Completed in 1808, the townhouse of Nathaniel and Sarah Russell is recognized as one of America's most important neoclassical dwellings. Set amid spacious gardens, the house contains graceful interiors with elaborate plasterwork ornamentation, geometrically shaped rooms and a magnificent free-flying staircase. Furnished with period antiques and works of art.

Middleton Place - Middleton Place is a National Historic Landmark and a carefully preserved 18th-century plantation that has survived revolution, Civil War, and earthquake. It was the home of many generations of Middletons. Middleton Place encompasses the Gardens, the House Museum, and the Plantation Stableyards.

Charelston County Parks - The Charleston County Park & Recreation Commission will improve the quality of life in Charleston County by offering a diverse system of park facilities, programs, and services. The county's park system presently includes over 4,586 acres with emphasis on passive activities, the environment, and beach access.

Audubon Swamp Garden - The Audubon Swamp Garden rises from 60 acres of black water in a cypress and tupelo swamp on Magnolia Plantation. Its eerie beauty is home to scores of water-loving creatures: bird, mammal and reptile..yes, including alligators! Its natural horticultural beauty has been enhanced by hundreds of species of colorful, year-round blooming plants, both local and exotic.

Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon - The Royal Exchange and Custom House was completed in 1771 during Charles Town’s Golden Age. The building quickly became the commercial, political and social center of the most prosperous of Britain’s thirteen American colonies. The Provost Dungeon was used as a prison by the British during the Revolution.

Drayton Hall - Completed in 1742, the historic plantation house stands majestically on a 630-acre site and is one of the finest examples or Georgian-Palladian architecture in America. Through seven generations of Drayton family ownership, the plantation house has remained in nearly original condition and offers an opportunity to experience history.

Charleston Museum - America's first museum, The Charleston Museum was founded in 1773. The Museum preserves and interprets the cultural and natural history of Charleston and the South Carolina coastal region. Objects of historic, archaeological, scientific and ethnological interest illustrate the importance of this area.

Avery Research Center - The Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture is located on the site of the former Avery Normal Institute. Founded in 1865, the Avery Normal Institute was a nationally-recognized African-American educational institution that trained young adults in professional careers and leaderships roles for nearly 100 years.

Charleston IMAX® Theatre - The 422-seat Charleston IMAX Theatre features films that entertain, enlighten and inspire with images of unsurpassed size, enhanced by a superb specially designed 12,000 watt sound system projected onto a five-story high and 77 feet-wide screen.

Carolina Ice Palace - South Carolina's Ultimate Family Entertainment Complex, the Carolina Ice Palace was designed to be a year-round family playground for recreational skating, league hockey, figure skating, extreme sports, virtual reality and video games. Inside you will find 100,000 square feet of excitement packed into every inch of the state-of-the-art facility!

Gibbes Museum of Art - Built in 1905, the Gibbes Museum of Art represents a long and impressive tradition of cultural leadership in historic Charleston, providing residents and visitors access to a distinguished collection and an active, year-round schedule of exciting exhibitions, programs and events.