Charleston & Beyond Tours

Charleston & Beyond Tours Charleston & Beyond Tours is a walking tour company based in Charleston, SC and operated by a College of Charleston history professor. 843-860-2987

11/23/2023

Who wants to go on a walking tour? $30/person. Text 843-860-2987.

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02/11/2021

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The Jenkins Orphanage was founded in 1891 by Reverend Daniel Jenkins. At that time, it was the only refuge for Black orphans in the state of South Carolina and was soon filled to capacity. Realizing the yearly stipend the City of Charleston allotted to him was not enough to cover expenses, the Reverend decided to find another avenue for raising money. Requesting old instruments from the locals and asking the Citadel for cast off uniforms, he hired musicians, P.M. Logan and Francis Mikell to instruct the youngsters on playing music. Initially playing on street corners for donations, the Jenkins Orphanage Band was soon touring the U.S. and abroad.

By the 1920s, the orphanage had not only become the place for up-and-coming musicians to go and play, it had also become the training ground for top performers. One such performer was jazz trumpeter William Alfonzo “Cat” Anderson who would go on to play in Duke Ellington’s orchestra from 1944 to 1971. This photo was taken when band revenues had begun to decline. The trips continued until the 1950s before ending altogether.

Today, the orphanage operates as the Jenkins Institute for Children and continues to provide services and activities for boys and girls in the community.

📷: The Jenkins Orphanage Band playing and marching in the Azalea Festival Parade, c. 1938. Photographed by M.B. Paine.

12/25/2020

This lady is Skandinavian so God Jul to everyone one this fine Christmas day!

11/26/2020

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

11/11/2020

Happy Veterans Day! Thank you for your service! If any locals are interested, there is a ceremony at the James Island VFW at 11am. See you there!

08/06/2020

If you have never been to the Charleston Museum, now is the time since there are hardly any tourists here. Founded in 1779, when Charles Town was still a British colony, it was really started as an offshoot of the British Museum. Not only does it have phenomenal Lowcountry history sections, it has the natural history gallery and even has stuff from ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia!
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"The Charleston Museum Natural History collection contains many specimens that are types or individuals for which a species is designated. Type specimens are used for comparisons that typically result in building and changing phylogenetic trees, known commonly as “trees of life.” It may take decades between discovery and excavation of a new fossil species to its eventual publication and acceptance. Over the past 6 years, The Charleston Museum has had several specimens designated as types or referred to newly described species. One such example was Pelagornis sandersi, which along with being a new species is also the largest bird capable of flight described to date (Ksepka, 2014).

As the Lowcountry has been submerged beneath the Atlantic at several points in the prehistoric past, many of the new species from the area are marine. Ongoing research is particularly focused on cetaceans (whales) and how their general body plan has changed as they evolved from terrestrial, or land-dwelling, ancestors. The most primitive whales recovered from the Lowcountry are very different from their modern counterparts. One such example is Tupelocetus palmeri, described in 2019 by Natural History curator Matthew Gibson and his colleagues (Gibson et al. 2019). Unlike modern whales, T. palmeri, had a nasal opening on its snout rather than a blowhole on the top of its head. Additionally, it lacked traits suggestive of echolocation and likely relied more on sight for hunting. Similarly, aged primitive whales, known as archaeocetes, also had hind limbs and other primitive characteristics held over from their land-based ancestors.” Read more from Matthew Gibson, Curator of Natural History, in our most recent blog post. https://www.charlestonmuseum.org/news-events/new-whale-on-the-block-ankylorhiza/"

CofC Natural History Museum

07/28/2020

Good thing I love spiders. This Carolina Wolf Spider just paid me a visit and now it is outside. This is the state spider of SC! 🕷🕸 One thing tour guides love to talk about is our state's flora and fauna. Who knew we had a state spider? Well, it was deemed the state spider in 2000. so it has only been our official creepy friend for 20 years.

07/17/2020

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In 1942, one of the most horrific and intense battles of World War II raged off the coast of North Carolina. It was the Battle of the Atlantic, a battlefield that encompassed the Atlantic Ocean from North America to Europe.
Did you Know? In World War II, the Old Exchange Building served as the Coastal Picket Station for the Sixth Naval District of the United States Coast Guard. Come learn about all of our eras of service, 7 days a week, 9 AM -5 PM. Visit Oldexchange.org for more information!
https://www.coastalreview.org/2020/07/when-wwii-was-on-the-outer-banks/

07/09/2020

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Hungry for some history? Let our new Historic Supper Club experience transport you to the dining rooms of Charleston’s past! In our beautiful small, private event space on State Street, our chef will cook up and serve a multi-course meal for your group, each dish representative of a singular era in Charleston’s dining history.
This unique new approach is a historic tour for the senses, as guests taste the changing landscape of the Lowcountry through the centuries. For a limited time, we’re offering $200 off a private dining experience for up to 8 people! If you’re feeling stuck in the kitchen (who isn’t?!) this private dinner is the perfect reason to dust off your Date Night duds and learn a little something while eating like Charlestonians of days gone by.

06/30/2020

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July 4th, 2020--We hold these truths to be self evident….

Almost 250 years ago these immortal words rang through the streets of Charleston when the Declaration of Independence was first publicly presented to the citizens of South Carolina.

Join us this Independence Day for "A Publik Reading of the Declaration of Independence” from the portico of the Old Exchange Building at 9:30 am. The public is encouraged to bring lawn chairs, lots of water and remember their masks! It is free to the public! Hosted by the Old Exchange and the Washington Light Infantry.

06/30/2020

Fourth of July weekend is soon upon us and an educational way to spend it is to take a history of Charleston tour! The cost is $30 for a 90 minute walking tour. Contact me (Professor Kristin Halvorson) at either [email protected] or 843-860-2987. I take cash, Venmo, Paypal, or Zelle as payment. Thanks! 🌞🌊

06/18/2020

For years I have been telling my tourists that the Calhoun Mansion should be renamed the Williams Mansion because G.W. Williams built it and lived there for approx 50 years. It was not deserving to call it the Calhoun Mansion just because Williams' daughter who inherited the property married the grandson of J.C. Calhoun. The grandson did nothing of note and they lived in Atlanta. They were in such financial trouble that they leased the mansion to the luxury Villa Margherita hotel as extra space. I am proud of the owner of the CM for finally deciding to give it its proper name. From here on, the mansion is now known as the Williams Mansion.

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Welcome to Charleston & Beyond Tours! My name is Kristin Halvorson and I am a history professor at the College of Charleston who has also been giving historical tours in Charleston for a decade. I would love to take you out and give you a fabulous tour of one of America's most historic cities. Walk the streets historically trod by signers of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, presidents and vice presidents, immigrants looking for better lives in a new world, and enslaved Africans. Learn about the wars, natural disasters, and the perseverance of those who called this city home. Admire the beauty of the foliage and architecture which abounds in all directions. It is a wonderful place and I am proud to be a part of it! 843-860-2987

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