Upcoming August Trip to Charleston

[Harms88]

I have decided to spend a three day weekend in Charleston. I'll be flying out there Friday August 21st and flying back on Sunday the 23rd. It's a last breath before plunging into college semester type of trip. I had originally thought of turning it into five day trip and also driving up to Wilmington, NC and seeing Fort Fisher on day 4 and then up to Raleigh on the last day and hit Bennett Place, Bentonville Battlefield and Guilford Courthouse (my favorite Southern Campaign Revolutionary battle) but that felt a bit too crammed and rushed for my liking.

I'll have one full day of exploring, and this is what I'm wanting to hit, by order of importance. I technically will have an additional half a day after I arrive in Charleston, but don't know how much energy I'll have to go do stuff Friday night after flying across country.

1. Forts Sumter and Moultrie (no reason needed, as it's pretty obvious).

2. The Hunley Museum (I've always been fascinated by the Hunley and since it's been raised, now you can actually see it).

3. The McCleod Plantation (It's a plantation).

4. The Confederacy Museum (From what I read it's not a spectacular museum, but why not).

Any ideas on anything else to go hit up?

 

[Rank and File]

If you get on the first boat in the morning out to Sumter, you can help raise the flag over the fort. Pretty cool

 

[Harms88]

If you get on the first boat in the morning out to Sumter, you can help raise the flag over the fort. Pretty cool

The earliest they are currently doing is 9:30 am, so I doubt it'll arrive prior to flag raising.

 

[bdtex]

I have decided to spend a three day weekend in Charleston. I'll be flying out there Friday August 21st and flying back on Sunday the 23rd. It's a last breath before plunging into college semester type of trip. I had originally thought of turning it into five day trip and also driving up to Wilmington, NC and seeing Fort Fisher on day 4 and then up to Raleigh on the last day and hit Bennett Place, Bentonville Battlefield and Guilford Courthouse (my favorite Southern Campaign Revolutionary battle) but that felt a bit too crammed and rushed for my liking.

I'll have one full day of exploring, and this is what I'm wanting to hit, by order of importance. I technically will have an additional half a day after I arrive in Charleston, but don't know how much energy I'll have to go do stuff Friday night after flying across country.

1. Forts Sumter and Moultrie (no reason needed, as it's pretty obvious).

2. The Hunley Museum (I've always been fascinated by the Hunley and since it's been raised, now you can actually see it).

3. The McCleod Plantation (It's a plantation).

4. The Confederacy Museum (From what I read it's not a spectacular museum, but why not).

Any ideas on anything else to go hit up?

I have never been to Charleston. Are the museums open now?

 

[Harms88]

I have never been to Charleston. Are the museums open now?

The Hunley Museum is currently open for limited hours on the weekends and Fort Moultrie itself is currently closed (the exterior grounds are open) but hopefully by the time it rolls around, things will be opening up a bit more.

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

The UDC museum in Charleston is from what I've always heard a little old fashioned but has a lot of rare items. That being said, I've read articles on some of the very unique and rare Confederate uniforms on display. It's a travesty, and hurtful for their business in my personal view that they don't allow any pictures of any kind taken of them. Even for research! (Its like they treat them as holy relics from all I've heard...)

"The Battery" or White Point Park on the south end of the Charleston peninsula, is where citizens watched the bombardment of Fort Sumter, and has some guns there, along with the capstan of the USS Maine of Spanish-American War fame.

Plus the site of Fort Johnson could be a good site to stop by and see.

 

[Harms88]

The UDC museum in Charleston is from what I've always heard a little old fashioned but has a lot of rare items. That being said, I've read articles on some of the very unique and rare Confederate uniforms on display. It's a travesty, and hurtful for their business in my personal view that they don't allow any pictures of any kind taken of them. Even for research! (Its like they treat them as holy relics from all I've heard...)

"The Battery" or White Point Park on the south end of the Charleston peninsula, is where citizens watched the bombardment of Fort Sumter, and has some guns there, along with the capstan of the USS Maine of Spanish-American War fame.

Plus the site of Fort Johnson could be a good site to stop by and see.

Oh snap! I'll have to swing out by the capstan. Just finished reading A War of Frontier and Empire so the Spanish-American War is back in the forefront of my mind.

 

[UCVRelics]

I have decided to spend a three day weekend in Charleston

Charleston is a great town to hang out in for a few days. Plenty to see by day and night. The only place Ive ever been where there is a Happy hour at the church in the historic district.

 

[Stony]

Boone Plantation is a neat place.

House is not original but the slave quarters are. Also the battery, Angel Oak Tree, The Charleston museum.

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

Boone Plantation is a neat place. View attachment 366211View attachment 366212House is not original but the slave quarters are. Also the battery, Angel Oak Tree, The Charleston museum.

It's Mont Royal!!!!

(I know, I know, I just had to say it.)

 

[GMSorrel]

I go to Charleston at least once every two years. You really can't go wrong with anything you do. Be sure to stroll the streets in the historic district....I mean just street after street of the most beautiful old houses. Walk to the battery and back up to the market by the Cooper River. (Do it later in the evening...you'll have a nice breeze).

Not sure the UDC museum is open and, when it is, it is only for a few select times. If it is open GO. You have more relics packed per square foot than any where you will go. Not much on informative placards but it's well worth the admission and time. I wish they would build a museum to house the Hunley AND this great collection.

I went to McCleod for the first time about six weeks ago. The house was closed and there wasn't a ton to see.

If you get the chance to go to the Charleston Museum, do it. It has a ton of stuff. Go across the street to the Joseph Manigault house. I'd probably recommend it rather than McCleod for a short trip like this .

Aiken Rhett house is good as well.

Absolute must: Carriage tour by Palmetto Carriage. You will learn so much history of a wonderful town.

 

[GMSorrel]

I'd recommend the five day trip....but don't leave Charleston other than for a couple of the plantations.....

 

[Sbc]

Patriots Point

 

[Harms88]

I'd recommend the five day trip....but don't leave Charleston other than for a couple of the plantations.....

There's a ton of plantations that could be checked out. If I extended it a few days, I'd probably hit a few of the Revolution spots as well.

However, I'll be taking time off from work twice in two months (once for the Shiloh Muster and once for this) so probably shouldn't push my luck too much with requesting too much time.

 

[Vicksburger]

I have decided to spend a three day weekend in Charleston. I'll be flying out there Friday August 21st and flying back on Sunday the 23rd. It's a last breath before plunging into college semester type of trip. I had originally thought of turning it into five day trip and also driving up to Wilmington, NC and seeing Fort Fisher on day 4 and then up to Raleigh on the last day and hit Bennett Place, Bentonville Battlefield and Guilford Courthouse (my favorite Southern Campaign Revolutionary battle) but that felt a bit too crammed and rushed for my liking.

I'll have one full day of exploring, and this is what I'm wanting to hit, by order of importance. I technically will have an additional half a day after I arrive in Charleston, but don't know how much energy I'll have to go do stuff Friday night after flying across country.

1. Forts Sumter and Moultrie (no reason needed, as it's pretty obvious).

2. The Hunley Museum (I've always been fascinated by the Hunley and since it's been raised, now you can actually see it).

3. The McCleod Plantation (It's a plantation).

4. The Confederacy Museum (From what I read it's not a spectacular museum, but why not).

Any ideas on anything else to go hit up?

We went to Middleton Plantation and really liked it. We were there in 1998. Its probably one of my top two favorite vacations.

 

[Philip Leigh]

I go to Charleston at least once every two years. You really can't go wrong with anything you do. Be sure to stroll the streets in the historic district....I mean just street after street of the most beautiful old houses. Walk to the battery and back up to the market by the Cooper River. (Do it later in the evening...you'll have a nice breeze).

Not sure the UDC museum is open and, when it is, it is only for a few select times. If it is open GO. You have more relics packed per square foot than any where you will go. Not much on informative placards but it's well worth the admission and time. I wish they would build a museum to house the Hunley AND this great collection.

I went to McCleod for the first time about six weeks ago. The house was closed and there wasn't a ton to see.

If you get the chance to go to the Charleston Museum, do it. It has a ton of stuff. Go across the street to the Joseph Manigault house. I'd probably recommend it rather than McCleod for a short trip like this .

Aiken Rhett house is good as well.

Absolute must: Carriage tour by Palmetto Carriage. You will learn so much history of a wonderful town.

Well, the one thing that might be considered "wrong" is to go in August.

 

[Philip Leigh]

I have decided to spend a three day weekend in Charleston. I'll be flying out there Friday August 21st and flying back on Sunday the 23rd. It's a last breath before plunging into college semester type of trip. I had originally thought of turning it into five day trip and also driving up to Wilmington, NC and seeing Fort Fisher on day 4 and then up to Raleigh on the last day and hit Bennett Place, Bentonville Battlefield and Guilford Courthouse (my favorite Southern Campaign Revolutionary battle) but that felt a bit too crammed and rushed for my liking.

I'll have one full day of exploring, and this is what I'm wanting to hit, by order of importance. I technically will have an additional half a day after I arrive in Charleston, but don't know how much energy I'll have to go do stuff Friday night after flying across country.

1. Forts Sumter and Moultrie (no reason needed, as it's pretty obvious).

2. The Hunley Museum (I've always been fascinated by the Hunley and since it's been raised, now you can actually see it).

3. The McCleod Plantation (It's a plantation).

4. The Confederacy Museum (From what I read it's not a spectacular museum, but why not).

Any ideas on anything else to go hit up?

Soak in the atmosphere with early morning walks south of Broad Street. It will be too hot and humid later in the day. If you like the experience, pick up copies of Pat Conroy's South of Broad or Lords of Discipline to make your flight home seem shorter.

 

[NDR5thNY]

I have decided to spend a three day weekend in Charleston. I'll be flying out there Friday August 21st and flying back on Sunday the 23rd. It's a last breath before plunging into college semester type of trip. I had originally thought of turning it into five day trip and also driving up to Wilmington, NC and seeing Fort Fisher on day 4 and then up to Raleigh on the last day and hit Bennett Place, Bentonville Battlefield and Guilford Courthouse (my favorite Southern Campaign Revolutionary battle) but that felt a bit too crammed and rushed for my liking.

I'll have one full day of exploring, and this is what I'm wanting to hit, by order of importance. I technically will have an additional half a day after I arrive in Charleston, but don't know how much energy I'll have to go do stuff Friday night after flying across country.

1. Forts Sumter and Moultrie (no reason needed, as it's pretty obvious).

2. The Hunley Museum (I've always been fascinated by the Hunley and since it's been raised, now you can actually see it).

3. The McCleod Plantation (It's a plantation).

4. The Confederacy Museum (From what I read it's not a spectacular museum, but why not).

Any ideas on anything else to go hit up?

Magnolia Cemetery has Confederate burials that were shipped to Charleston from Gettysburg. Take a picture of Elijah Adams' grave if it's not too much trouble. My wife has advanced cancer and all my planned trips are on hold until she recovers. Enjoy your trip! Charleston has fantastic food.
My daughter was married at Lowndes Grove Plantation. The same architect who designed the home did The White House. A couple in Charleston bought the remaining 14 acres of the Plantation to preserve the home and have done a marvelous restoration. They also restored the Aiken home on King Street.
Enjoy your trip!

 

[reading48]

Magnolia Cemetery also has the 3 crews of the Hunley, buried in a plot all together....

 

[Harms88]

Soak in the atmosphere with early morning walks south of Broad Street. It will be too hot and humid later in the day.

Actually, I didn't actually take into account that it might be humid there. lol