“The Holy City”Charleston, South Carolina

Charleston is known as The Holy City due in part to the abundance of churches throughout the city, particularly the numerous steeples which dot Charleston’s striking skyline.

Another reason Charleston is known by this name is due to the fact that it was one of the few cities in the original thirteen colonies to provide religious tolerance, albeit restricted to non-Catholics.

Why is Charleston known as “The Holy City”?

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St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Charleston, SC

Charleston History: Pre-Civil War

On December 20, 1860, the South

Carolina General Assembly made the

state the first to ever secede from

the Union.

The first shots of the American

Civil War were fired on January 9, 1861 at Fort

Sumter.

The community of Charles Town was established by English settlers in 1670 on the west bank of the Ashley River, a few miles northwest of present day Charleston. It was named after Charles II of England.

Charles II of England, circa 1675

Charleston History: Post-Civil War

An earthquake that measured 7.5 on the Richter scale rocked

Charleston on August 31, 1886. The quake was felt as far north as Boston, as

far northwest as Milwaukee, as far west as New Orleans, as far south

as Cuba, and as far east as Bermuda. It took many

lives, made thousands homeless, and cost

millions in damages.

Charleston suffered partial destruction during the Civil War, but did not fall until February of 1865.

A view from Circular Church, Charleston, 1865.

The U.S. Navy established a large Navy shipyard and submarine base at North

Charleston in 1901.

Charleston History: Modern DayEven with the large military presence , Charleston still struggled for much of the 20th century with a sluggish economy.

Hurricane Hugo made landfall in Charleston in 1989. The worst of Hugo’s damage was felt in McClellanville, SC, however three-quarters of the homes in Charleston's historic district suffered damage varying from minimal to total devastation.

Hurricane Hugo caused over $2.8 billion in damage. Charleston did not let Hugo slow down its preservation and conservation efforts; the city was able to recover and has since increased population.

It wasn’t until the last 30 years of the 20th century that Charleston showed a revitalization of its economy and efforts

were made toward conservation of preservation of Charleston’s historical sites and buildings.

Charleston is home to the fourth oldest Jewish congregation in the continental United States, founded in 1749.

Charleston & Religion

The city is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston, the seventh oldest diocese in the United States.

The First Baptist Church of Charleston, founded in 1682, is the oldest Baptist church in the South and is also the first Southern Baptist Church in existence.

The First Baptist Church of Charleston, 1682

Magnolia Plantation was founded by the Drayton

family in 1676. It is the oldest public tourist site in the

Lowcountry, and the oldest public gardens in America.

Charleston’s Historical Sites

16 Meeting Street is home to the largest single family residence in Charleston, Calhoun Mansion. It was originally built in 1876 by George W. Williams for $200,000. The mansion was recently featured on the Arts & Entertainment Channel's “America’s Castles”.

The Armed Forces in Charleston

Charleston Harbor is home to the USS Yorktown, a Naval aircraft carrier which was built during World War II, and is named after the Battle of Yorktown. It was decommissioned in 1970 and in 1975 was made a museum ship at Patriot’s Point, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.

Until 1996, the 6th U.S. naval district and the U.S. air force defense command called Charleston, South Carolina home. The expansive facilities included a submarine base and a massive navy yard in North Charleston, which still houses a large naval electronics facility.

Charleston is also home to the Coast Guard Sector Charleston, the South Carolina Army National Guard, as well as the South Carolina State Guard 5th/6th BN.

The Architecture of Charleston

Charleston’s architecture is historic, and has been labeled as “classic Georgia, Federal, Adamesque, Greek Revival, Italianate, and Victorian”.

The most famed of Charleston’s architecture appears in homes on Charleston's lower peninsula, just south of Broad Street along Charleston’s cobblestone streets. Along East Bay Street, Rainbow Row is a great example of 18th-century Georgian townhouse construction from a time long past.

The Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge that spans the Cooper River and connects downtown Charleston and Mount Pleasant.

Things To Do in Charleston

Check out Charleston’s fine shopping establishments along historic downtown

King Street .

When in Charleston, a Guided Walking Tour allows you to take in the beautiful homes and gardens while learning about Charleston’s

history and landmarks.

.Walking Tours.

Make a day trip at Drayton Hall Plantation, the only plantation house on the Ashley River to survive the American Revolution and Civil War.

Around Town

The Old Exchange & Provost Building, also known as the Old Exchange & Provost

Dungeon, and Custom House and Half-Moon Battery, was built in 1767. It is

considered to be one of the three most historically significant Colonial buildings in

the United States.

Battery Park and White Point Gardens is a public park that

was once used for artillery during the American Civil war. It is

bordered by both the Ashley and Cooper Rivers and is also home to a beautiful gazebo which has seen many outdoor weddings.

A look towards downtown from High Battery

Did you know? <<< Hover over me, volume up!

Charleston is the oldest city in the state of South Carolina?

Charleston is home to the largest cable-stayed bridge in both North and South America?

Two popular movie adaptations of Nicholas Sparks novels, “The Notebook” and “Dear John” were filmed in Charleston?

It was stated that during Hurricane Hugo enough timber was lost within South Carolina to build a home for every family in West Virginia?

Charleston is home to Fort Sumter, best known as the site upon which the shots initiating the American Civil War were fired?

Rainbow Row home Number 95 was once owned by Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, signer of the U.S. Constitution?

Charleston Trivia