Charleston, South Carolina

[rpcrowe]

I love history and I love visiting historical places. I was able to spend a day in Charleston, South Carolina which was established in 1670 and thrived from the Colonial Period through the American Civil War (1861-1865). The basis of Charleston's wealth was the shipping of the three main products of South Carolina agriculture, rice, indigo (used for blue dye) and cotton. The dark side of this agriculture was that it was slave based.

You are immersed in history throughout Charleston. From its colonial town houses...





to the opulent plantation homes just outside the city...



In an area seeped with this much history, it is only natural that churches have historic importance. St. Michael's Episcopal Church is the oldest religious edifice in the City of Charleston, standing on the site of the first Anglican Church built south of Virginia. In the 1680's...



However, even the palmetto tree, seen everywhere including in this image of St. Michael's, has a significant historical importance.



During the first British attack on the Patriot held city of Charleston during the American Revolution, the fortifications were made from palmetto logs backed by earth and sand. The soft palmetto wood did not splinter from the British cannon balls and enabled the Patriots to beat off that attack. South Carolina adopted the palmetto as their state tree and it is shown on the South Carolina State Flag. Charleston was captured by the British a few years later.

But the Revolutionary War pales in in comparison to monuments to our Civil War, in which more American soldiers were killed than in all of our other wars combined. The Southern soldier is celebrated in heroic fashion throughout the city.



In Charleston, you can even see history beneath your feet. This street was paved with cobble stones up to a point and with ballast stones imported from England from there on. The ballast stones were brought to Charleston to stabilize the, otherwise empty, holds of cargo ships, destined to transport the rice, cotton and indigo back to the Mother Country.



Charleston has survived the devastation of the Civil War along with the economic doldrums of the post Civil War period through the mid-Twentieth Century and is now a thriving economic, cultural and tourist center.

[Mike Buckley]

A very nice series, Richard, especially considering that you were there only for one day.

[LePetomane]

Richard, thanks for the post and history lesson.

[Shadowman]

Nice series.

[Rainforest]

Loved it, thanks!

[IzzieK]

I love the scenes and the architectures.

[Wavelength]

Excellent images; all.....