Charleston Sole Walking Tours

10/30/2024

Meet the iconic Hat Man—a true Charleston treasure. painted in the late 1800s, originally advertised the Plenge Haberdashery, a former occupant of the building at 43-47 Broad Street. Located at the corner of Broad and Church Street, this intriguing artwork depicts a smiling man made up of 16 hidden hats, can you spot them all? 🎩✨ ⁣
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This captivating artwork has become a staple in the Holy City’s creative scene, embodying both the charm and mystique of Charleston’s historic streets. With its larger-than-life scale and intricate details, the Hat Man watches over King Street, inviting locals and travelers alike to pause, admire, and snap a picture.⁣
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10/03/2024

Step inside 116 Broad Street - The John Rutledge House, a Charleston gem built in 1763 by John Rutledge as his personal residence for his bride. Did you know Rutledge’s family ties are directly connected to Boone Hall Plantation - one of Charleston’s most iconic sites. ⁣
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The John Rutledge House is one in 15 homes in Charleston that belonged to a signer of the U.S. Constitution. Over the years, the house served as a law office, boarding house, and private residence before becoming a historic inn where guests can stay in one of 19 uniquely restored rooms and suites. The home retains its 18th-century charm with original architectural details, allowing visitors to experience a piece of Charleston’s rich history while enjoying modern comforts.⁣
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Iconic Visitors Include - ⁣
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🦀 President Taft: In the 1920’s, Charleston’s Mayor - Robert Goodwyn Rhett welcomed President William Howard Taft into the home. In his honor, Charleston’s iconic She Crab Soup was born. ⁣
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🫖 George Washington: In 1791 George Washington visited the home during his Presidential trip to Charleston. During this time Washington had breakfast with Mrs. Rutledge.⁣
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Over the centuries, this house has witnessed pivotal moments, from its early days as a private residence to its role as an elegant inn.⁣
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Learn more about Charleston’s rich history with a walking tour, reach out for more details. ⁣
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Photos courtesy of the John Rutledge Inn⁣

09/26/2024

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On February 12, 1736, the Dock Street Theatre opened with a performance of The Recruiting Officer. Located on Church Street and originally known as Dock Street (now Queen Street), it was the first building in America created solely for theatrical performances. The theater hosted America’s first opera, Flora.⁣
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Although the original theater was likely destroyed in the Great Fire of 1740, the site later became the Planter’s Hotel, where Charleston’s famous Planter’s Punch was first introduced. Notable figures, including Civil War hero Robert Smalls, who worked here as a waiter before his historic feat, are tied to its legacy.⁣
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The Dock Street Theatre’s history includes a colorful chapter from its time as the Planter’s Hotel. In 1838, famed actor Junius Brutus Booth—father of John Wilkes Booth—was involved in a drunken altercation at the hotel, where he attacked a friend with a fireplace andiron. The incident left Booth with a broken nose, permanently altering his voice and adding a unique “whistle” to his performances. Booth’s chaotic behavior remains a part of the storied history of this Charleston landmark.⁣
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The Theatre was resurrected in 1935 as part of a WPA project, preserving its historic charm while modernizing the space. Another grand reopening followed in 2010 after a $19 million renovation, blending state-of-the-art updates with its rich history. Today, it remains a cornerstone of Charleston’s vibrant arts scene, hosting festivals like Spoleto USA and Charleston Stage’s annual performances.⁣
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09/23/2024

Harriet Mackie’s tragic tale is said to still haunt Charleston. At just 17, she died mysteriously on June 4, 1804 - shortly before her wedding to William Rose. Rumors spread that Harriet was poisoned, as her inheritance was at stake. She was set to inherit her father’s vast estate on her marriage, though the property was to pass to the owners of a nearby plantation if she died beforehand. Dressed in her bridal gown, she was mourned by Charleston’s elite, and French miniaturist P.R. Vallée captured her lifeless beauty. Today, Harriet’s ghostly figure, still in her wedding dress, is said to wander St. Michael’s. In bridal white, she is sometimes seen walking down the aisle - a longing for what could have been for this young girl. ⁣
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Photo of Harriet Mackie - Collection of Yale University Art Gallery⁣

09/16/2024

Step back in time at the Nathaniel Russell House in Charleston, SC - a stunning example of neoclassical architecture built in 1808 for wealthy merchant Nathaniel Russell. Russell, originally from Rhode Island, moved to Charleston in 1765 at a time when the city was flourishing as a major seaport. He quickly established himself as a significant figure in the local economy. His business dealt in a variety of goods, including rice, cotton, and indigo, which were exported across the Atlantic. Unfortunately, a large part of his wealth also came from participating in the transatlantic slave trade, which reflects the darker aspects of Charleston’s history at the time ⁣
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The house, which stands at 51 Meeting Street, was designed as a statement of Russell’s wealth and social prominence. With its distinctive spiral staircase, intricate plasterwork, and expansive formal gardens, it remains one of the finest examples of neoclassical domestic architecture in the United States. Today, it’s a museum operated by the Historic Charleston Foundation, offering a glimpse into the opulent lives of Charleston’s elite during the early 19th century.⁣
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Photos courtesy of & ⁣

08/30/2024

After suffering from one fire that was extinguished by an enslaved man, who was given his freedom for this act, the church completely burned in 1835. The current St. Philip’s was constructed from 1835 to 1838 by architect Joseph Hyde, while the steeple, designed by E.B. White, was added a decade later. The gates around the church were added in 1838 after the fire in 1835 and depict lanterns (which many say are pineapples), rolling waves, and sea shells.⁣
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St. Philip’s Church is the oldest Anglican congregation south of Virginia. It was founded in 1680 and had its first location where St Michael’s is today at Broad St. and Meeting St. When that structure had damage due to a storm in early 1700’s and its growing size, a larger structure was planned. The present spot was chosen on the northern most point of the town and looked to the north at Daniel’s Creek, now the City Market. It opened to services on Easter morning 1723.⁣
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Fascinating facts about some parishioners of the church….
- One of its first ministers Williamson Atkinson was accused of baptizing a baby bear while drunk.⁣
- Henrietta Johnston, a minister’s wife, became the first woman in British North America to make money as a portraitist. Her works can be seen at the Gibbes Art Museum.⁣
- Charles Theodore Pachebel was the organist in 1730’s, whose father Johann Pachebel wrote (Canon in D) played at just about every wedding⁣
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Many historical figures are buried in its churchyard…⁣
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- Former Vice president, John C. Calhoun⁣
- Col. William Rhett (Scourge of the pirates) captured Stede Bonnet⁣
- Don’t Tread on Me flag creator, Christopher Gadsden (Samuel Adams of Charleston)⁣
- Declaration signer, Edward Rutledge⁣
- Constitution signer, Charles Pinckney⁣
- American Revolutionary heroine, Rebecca Motte⁣
- Actress, Alicia Rhett (Gone With the Wind)⁣
- Porgy & Bess writers, Dubose and Dorothy Heyward⁣
- Rainbow Row owner, Dorothy Legge who had the first painted house on Rainbow Row.⁣
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⁣📸 Courtesy of

08/23/2024

Hitching posts such as this one were historically used to tie up horses in the days before automobiles, especially in the 18th and 19th centuries. In Charleston, such posts were a common sight outside homes and businesses often accompanied with a mounting block.

These horse head hitching posts, often cast in iron, served both a functional purpose and as a decorative element. They were not only used to secure horses but also to display the owner’s wealth and status. The intricate designs, such as the one in your photo, showcase the craftsmanship of the time and the importance of horses in daily life.

Usually made of stone, they were installed in key locations, usually near inns, churches, country houses, to aid mounting or dismounting a horse, carriage, stagecoach, etc. The more elaborate mounting blocks are called carriage steps — these slabs had steps carved into the stone.

Together with hitching posts and guard stones, they were important and functional elements of the horse-drawn transportation infrastructure.

Today, these hitching posts and mounting blocks remain as historical artifacts, preserving a glimpse of Charleston’s past. They are appreciated by locals and visitors alike for their charm and the story they tell about the city’s history.

📸 Courtesy of

08/12/2024

Located on Meeting St near the Federal Courthouse, opposite St. Michael’s Church you will find these beautiful handwoven, lowcountry favorite, baskets. Basket making has long since been a practice taught by generations in Africa. The sweetgrass baskets we find today in Charleston are still hand made, but slightly different than most made in the past. Many of the first baskets used here in the Lowcountry by enslaved Africans would have been “fanner baskets” used to winnow rice (commonly called fanning rice) or to use to hold or carry fruits, vegetables or other items. The baskets of the past were commonly made from needle rush (bullrush) so they were stronger because they had a utilitarian purpose. These were not baskets sold for their artistic flavor, but to use. In the early 1900’s, people started to make baskets with materials such as sweetgrass, pine needles and palmetto fronds. These sweetgrass baskets most resemble the “Shukublay” baskets made by the Temne and Mende tribes of Sierra Leone in West Africa.⁣
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📸 Courtesy of ⁣
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08/08/2024

31 Meeting Street, located in the heart of Charleston, South Carolina, is one of the Holy City’s most iconic historic homes - with a ornate garden that can be admired through it’s detailed iron gate. ⁣
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In 1792 Lt. Governor James Ladson, an officer in the American Revolution, erected this two-story single house on a large lot facing a small court in which was named Ladson Court. The Poppenheim family purchased the property in 1877, adding the third story. Mrs. Mary Poppenheim expanded the garden overtime and added a Victorian Garden House as well as this fountain. It is a copy of a fountain in Bad Nauheim, Germany near Frankfurt. It has a cherub with a torch and swans below. Her daughters Mary and & Louisa became heavily involved in the women’s suffrage movement and started women’s organizations here in Charleston. ⁣
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⁣📸 courtesy of and The Historic Charleston Foundation

08/07/2024

August 7th is National Lighthouse Day. The Morris Island Lighthouse is SC’s tallest at 161 ft. It is the third lighthouse at this location. It was completed in 1876 and was used until Sullivan’s Island Lighthouse was completed in 1962. The first light in the area was as early as 1673, just 3 years after the founding of Charlestowne. The erosion around Morris Island progressed because of the jetties built after the Civil War.

07/31/2024

Francis Salvador died on July 31, 1776. He was the first Jewish person in British North America to be elected to public office. He is also the first Jew to die in the American Revolution for his new country. This memorial plaque is in Washington Square Park behind City Hall.

07/30/2024

Rev Daniel Jenkins died on July 30, 1937. He was born to parents once enslaved in Barnwell. He was a successful businessman, clergyman and community leader. His greatest achievement was founding the Jenkins Orphanage located in the Old Marine Hospital on Franklin Street. The boys band he created traveled the US and even in parts of Europe. Some say while in Harlem, NY, the boys were seen playing and dancing in the street. This dance became known as “The Charleston”. Check out Mark Jones’ book “Doin the Charleston”.

07/15/2024

The Williams Mansion, formerly known as the Calhoun Mansion, is perhaps the grandest single family home ever built in Charleston. It is the style of Baronial Italianate and is part of Charleston’s Gilded Age. George Williams was a grocery merchant and became the largest supplier in Charleston. Even after the Civil War he made his largest fortune. He built the home in 1867 and is a tribute to the lavish style he saw in Europe and the Middle East on his Grand Tours. The house was featured in the movie “The Notebook” and was a center piece in the 1980’s series “North and South”.
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07/04/2024

Fourth of July: A Charleston Tradition 🇺🇸⁣
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Did you know the first vote for Independence was delayed because delegates from some colonies, including SC, needed further guidance from their assemblies? On July 1st, NY, NJ, PA, and SC voted no. By July 2nd, all but NY voted yes, passing the motion. John Adams envisioned July 2nd as our celebration day with “pomp and parade.”⁣
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However, it’s July 4th that we honor since that’s when Congress finalized the document’s wording. The original copy signed by John Hancock is lost. The version at the National Archives was engrossed on July 19th, and most signers added their names on August 2nd, with the last signing five years later.⁣
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South Carolina’s signers were Edward Rutledge (the youngest at 26), Arthur Middleton, Thomas Heyward Jr., and Thomas Lynch Jr. A space was left for Thomas Lynch Sr., who had a stroke and passed away before he could sign. His space remains blank.⁣
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On August 5, 1776, the Declaration was read to the people of Charleston at the Old Exchange Building. Every July 4th, we continue this tradition at the same historic location. 🇺🇸 ⁣
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06/28/2024

June 28, 1776 Soldiers on Sullivan’s Island defeated a group of British ships commanded by Sir Peter Parker. The palmetto log fort the Americans built helped absorb the shock of the cannonball and became a symbol of strength now seen in our state flag. During the battle, Sir Peter Parker’s pants were partially torn off by American fire! This was the first decisive victory for the Americans in the Revolutionary War and it happened only six days before the Declaration of Independence was adopted.

04/13/2024

April 13, 1832 The first passenger train wreck occurred outside Charleston. The front axle broke and the force flung passengers in the air and fortunately into a “low swampy place filled with mud and water.” Five passengers were injured, but recovered.

03/13/2024

At first glance, these steeples look the same. First, is St. Michaels here in Charleston. Second, is Bride’s Chapel in London, England. They are similar because architect, Samuel Cardy, referenced this octagonal design from many of the Englich Renaissance steeples. St. Michael’s was built in 1761 and is our oldest church building in town! Come out and take a look at all our great architecture in Charleston.

12/02/2023

Thinking about a small gift you could give your history lover for Christmas?! Click here to purchase a gift card for Charleston Sole Walking Tours!

Explore the Holy City’s history with Charleston Walking Tours.