Port of Charleston Tours

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Visit Port of Charleston

Activities

Popular places to visit

Charleston City Market

4.5/5(2,995 reviews)

Purchase food, jewelry and handicrafts in the market and learn about local tradition, the Civil War and slavery at its museum.

Waterfront Park

4.5/5(2,040 reviews)

Stroll the city’s waterfront esplanades at sunset, when the afternoon sun begins to dip and the harbor is lit with soft colors.

St. Philip's Church

Attend a service with the oldest religious congregation in South Carolina, dating back to the 17th century. George Washington worshipped with this congregation.

Old Slave Mart Museum

You can browse the exhibits at Old Slave Mart Museum, a museum with a storied past, during your travels to Charleston. Discover the area's stunning cathedral, or seek out its local tours.

The Dock Street Theatre is Charleston's last surviving hotel from the antebellum period. The silhouette of its wrought iron balcony against the spire of St. Philip's church may be the single most photographed spot in the city. The main portion of the building was constructed around 1809 as Planter's Hotel. The hotel was built by Alexander Calder and his wife, who did so by renovating several pre-existing buildings at the site. The main entrance may not have been built until 1855 by J.W. Gamble.

The hotel was used extensively by planters from the midlands of South Carolina, who traveled to Charleston during horse-racing season. It was noted for its wonderful food and drinks during this era, and the South's famous Planter's Punch may have originated here. Guests to the hotel passed through the recessed porch with brownstone columns, into the lobby, and up a grand staircase that ascended to a drawing room. While much of the interior has been altered, these elements of the antebellum hotel remain and were adapted in subsequent uses of the building. A series of additions to the hotel throughout the 19th and 20th centuries can be easily identified by differences in brick coloration.

This theater is said to have been the first building built specifically for theatrical performances in America. Planter's Hotel occasionally housed one of the city's theatrical troupes, which performed at the nearby New Theatre during the mid-19th century. The most notable actor of this troupe was Junius Brutus Booth. Booth was the patriarch of an outstanding family of actors, which included John Wilkes Booth, President Lincoln's assassin. Junius Booth, who stayed at the Planter's Hotel, allegedly tried to kill his manager here in 1838. Today the Dock Street Theatre is home to the Charleston Stage Company, South Carolina's largest professional theater production company, and houses the city's Cultural Affairs office as well as The City Gallery, an exhibition space for local artists.

Dock Street Theater

Enjoy a show at Dock Street Theater, a storied theater in Charleston. Discover the area's shops, or seek out its local tours.

Pink House Gallery

You can browse the exhibits at Pink House Gallery, a museum with a storied past, during your travels to Charleston. Add the area's stunning cathedral or shops to your travel plans.

Best Lodging Options Near Port of Charleston

Check availability on hotels close to Port of Charleston

Emeline

181 Church St Charleston SC

The Ryder Hotel

237 Meeting Street Charleston SC

The Vendue

19 Vendue Range Charleston SC

Embassy Suites by Hilton Charleston Historic District

337 Meeting St Charleston SC

The Francis Marion Hotel

387 King St Charleston SC

The Palmetto Hotel

194 East Bay Street Charleston SC

Mills House Charleston, Curio Collection by Hilton

115 Meeting Street Charleston SC

Harborside at Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina

20 Patriots Point Rd Mount Pleasant SC

Andrew Pinckney Inn

40 Pinckney St Charleston SC

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