History & Guide

Founded in 1670, Charleston is among the oldest cities in the nation and site of some of the most pivotal events in American history. Explore the city and discover the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon where South Carolina ratified the U.S. Constitution in 1788. Visit beautiful Rainbow Row and learn the true history of this most iconic of Charleston sites. Tour the city's oldest church edifice at St. Michael's Church, which first opened for services in 1761. Join historian and author Christopher Byrd Downey for a guided tour of nearly one hundred historic Charleston sites tailor-made for the history lover.

Columbia, South Carolina, sits in a perfect position--each of the numerous treasures of the Palmetto State is less than a day's drive from the capital.

Near Charleston, 137 miles from Columbia, you can enjoy more than seventeen thousand square feet of shade from the iconic Angel Oak. In Blackville, 49 miles from Columbia, you can visit a natural spring that has been deeded to God since 1944. A 53-mile trip to Edgefield will put you in the heart of Peach Country, where you can see many of the peach orchards that make South Carolina one of the nation's leading producers of the sweet fruit. Join author and day-tripper Tom Poland as he maps the beautiful treasures of South Carolina.

Welcome to York, a city that can trace its beginnings to the origins of York County, South Carolina. Explore the thirty different styles of architecture in a compact historic district that is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Within three blocks, discover how an elephant brought Santa Claus into town. Walk the paths of Catawba and Cherokee warriors and chiefs, as well as where leaders and militia rode during the Revolutionary War. And imagine the sights and sounds as Jefferson Davis gave his last public address before the cabinet of the Confederacy dissolved. The Yorkville Historical Society offers this fascinating history and more in a guided tour through the White Rose City.

Greenville History Tours owner John Nolan leads the reader through downtown in a tourist-friendly guide to historic sites, with vintage photographs to illustrate how the city has changed and what original features remain.

Carefully researched and exceptionally written, it is a wonderful companion, both for visitors and for Greenville residents who want to see their hometown in a new light. v Enjoy the thriving, diverse and historic sites in three tours of Greenville's Main Street. v Explore the city's architectural highlights, spanning from early nineteenth-century Charleston-style buildings to a mid-twentieth-century home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. v Discover the dramatically successful downtown revitalization that serves as a model for elected officials and private investors around the country. v Experience some of the South's richest cultural resources by visiting Greenville's collection of museums and galleries.

With nearly five hundred years of history, Beaufort teems with intriguing tales from the past. In this engaging book, historian and Beaufort native Alexia Helsley brings that past to life and provides a useful guide to the city's most historic streets, buildings and neighborhoods.

Enjoy three accessible walking tours and a bonus driving tour through places relevant to the rich and varied contributions of black Charlestonians.

Author Alphonso Brown, owner and operator of Gullah Tours, Inc., guides you through the history and lore. Visit Denmark Vesey's home, Catfish Row, the Old Slave Mart and the Market; learn about the sweetgrass basket makers, the Aiken-Rhett House slave quarters, black slave owners and blacksmith Philip Simmons. Brown's distinctive narration, combined with detailed maps and vibrant descriptions in native Gullah, make this a unique and enjoyable way to experience the Holy City.

From the very beginning, Sullivan's Island has held a unique place in the history of South Carolina. As a fortress, it provided protection from enemies. As a lazaretto, it became a main corridor through which slaves entered America. Its most enduring role, however, has been as a place of escape, first for those in the nineteenth century avoiding the epidemics plaguing the city and lately for those in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries looking for a relaxing vacation. Join native Cindy Lee as she traces the island's singular past. Calling on her experience as a guide to the city of Charleston, she uses the buildings to illustrate the stories of the people who lived and worked on Sullivan's Island for over three centuries.

Edisto Island has been an integral part of the South Carolina Lowcountry for centuries. For more than three hundred years, Edisto Island was the setting for marauding pirates, sea-island cotton plantations and indigo traders. Today, as one of the jewels of the Carolina coast, Edisto and its people lead a calmer life. With a small year-round population buttressed by a dedicated seasonal crowd, Edisto remains a beloved island community with a rich tradition and history. Edisto: A Guide to Life on the Island is a charming blend of Edisto history and useful local information. Full of details that will surprise even lifelong residents, this book captures the heart and spirit of the island. Author Cantey Wright provides readers with a wealth of insight and creates a deep appreciation for Edisto's history and tradition. More than a history book, this volume also serves as a guide to Edisto's uniquely enchanting lifestyle. Wright uses humor and a warm writing style to take his readers on a tour through the tidal creeks and oak-lined roads, stopping along the way to reveal the best way to catch crabs, fish and shrimp and the tastiest ways to prepare them.

Situated along the South Carolina coast between Georgetown and Charleston, Bull Island is not just any barrier island but has been described as the "crown jewel" of the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge. Known for its matchless natural beauty, the human history of this isolated coastal isle has for the most part gone unexplored. Exploring Bull Island: Sailing and Walking Around a South Carolina Sea Island is at once a personal and informative narrative, as well as a guide to the natural wonders of this storied and often mysterious sea island. Embarking on a quest to sail the island's connecting waterways and walk the aging roads and trails accomplished sailor and nature enthusiast Bob Raynor set out to truly discover and understand the fascinating natural and cultural history of Bull Island. Armed with a keen eye for his surroundings, a natural curiosity to discover the unknown and his boat--the Kingfisher--Bob guides the reader through the natural and historical passages of this truly unique Sea Island.