What You Will Do
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 tour offers a comprehensive view of this fascinating city and its past.
Here's how it works: Within 30 min, we'll send you two things: a unique password and the Action Tour Guide app. Download the Action Tour Guide onto your phone and enter the password. Then download the tour inside. When you arrive, go to the Visitor Center to start the tour. Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
No expiration — The tour comes with lifetime validity!
This isn't an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Itinerary
Meeting Point
After booking the tour, please make sure that you have downloaded the app and the tour in advance. For the best experience, we advise doing this while you have a strong internet connection.
NOTE: This 2-mile-long tour covers the essentials of Charleston in 2 hours.
1
99 Mary St
5 minutes
Take in the view for a moment.
All around you are restaurants and shops, beautiful palm trees, and dazzling sunlight brightening every surface. How did today’s Charleston come to be?
As we walk, we’ll follow Charleston’s journey from Native land to its brief separation from the nation and to the city’s rebirth as one of the nation’s most beautiful cities.
2
King Street Extension
5 minutes
Continue straight.
Have you ever thought about why the United States stretches from sea to shining sea?
3
Marion Square
5 minutes
Turn left onto Calhoun Street.
On your left is Marion Square, named after the Revolutionary War general Francis Marion.
4
292 Meeting St
5 minutes
Turn left onto George Street.
Boston isn’t the only American city that had a tea party!
5
Liberty Square
10 minutes
Turn right onto Concord Street.
This very wharf is where the British evacuated in 1782. But while that day meant independence for some, not everyone got to enjoy that new freedom.
6
Charleston City Market
10 minutes
Turn right onto North Market Street.
The brick buildings you’ll soon see on your left are the Historic Charleston City Market.
7
21 Magazine St
10 minutes
Turn right onto Franklin Street.
The castle-like building ahead is the Old Charleston Jail, which once held America’s first known female serial killer: Lavinia Fisher.
8
Robert Brewton House
10 minutes
The brick house with white columns on your right is the Miles Brewton House.
During the Revolutionary War, this beautiful Georgian style home impressed British General Henry Clinton and fellow officers so much they decided to take it as their own.
9
Patrick O'Donnell House
10 minutes
The ornate home two houses down from the Miles Brewton House is the Patrick O’Donnell House. Rumor has it that O’Donnell wanted this house to be perfect for his fiancee. So perfect, in fact, that it took 12 years to build this house.
10
St. Michael's Church
10 minutes
The building with the white steeple on your right is St. Michael’s Church. Built back in 1752, this church has seen some serious history.
11
The Powder Magazine
10 minutes
Turn right onto Cumberland Street.
The building with the Mediterranean tile roof on the right is Charleston’s first public building: the Powder Magazine
12
Heyward-Washington House
10 minutes
Up ahead, turn left onto Tradd Street.
The brick house with the white door on your right is the Heyward-Washington House, home of one of the nation’s Founding Fathers - Thomas Heyward Jr.
13
Rainbow Row
10 minutes
Turn left onto East Bay Street.
This colorful row of houses on your left is Rainbow Row. These pretty houses used to be drab, until Dorothy Legge bought three of them in the early 1900s.
14
Joe Riley Waterfront Park
10 minutes
Turn right at the intersection onto Vendue Range. Coming up is Joe Riley Waterfront Park - our final stop.
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