Charleston

Founded by English settlers in 1670, Charleston has played a major part in American history since its founding. The peninsular city is what most people think of when they hear “Charleston,” and it is brimming with historic buildings and places to shop, dine and visit.

Charleston has had its natural disasters, including an earthquake that shook the city in 1886 and Hurricane Hugo in 1989. Through it all, the downtown district has been a symbol for the enduring strength of the city.

The Historic Downtown District has stood throughout Charleston’s history as a cultural capital of the South and the cultural heart of the city. Many consider it a “living museum.” The downtown district also boasts numerous art galleries that display the city’s impressive appreciation for the visual arts.

Settings downtown including the Battery, with views of Charleston Harbor and Mount Pleasant beyond, the neighborhoods of Wraggborough, Radcliffeborough and Ansonborough, and the cobblestone streets of the French Quarter. Quiet garden courtyards form the “back yards” of single houses whose front doors open onto porches perpendicular with the sidewalks, and many a tourist-filled horsedrawn carriage can be spotted in traffic.

The main shopping districts are along Market and King Streets, but businesses and eateries are sprinkled throughout the peninsula. These busy main arteries are surrounded by street after street of quiet, stately residences, lush with crape myrtles, wisteria and the garden landscapes that put Charleston on the map.