Charleston, SC

Gibbes Museum of Art
DESCRIPTION: presents a vast interpretation of the arts and culture of Charleston and the Lowcountry as the region's only visual arts museum, it generates critical conversation on art and culture in many genres of both a resident and changing nature; works by African American artists and lifestyles are depicted in a permanent collection of the Charleston Renaissance Gallery; many photographs pertinent to African American heritage can be found in the museum archives; Docent-led tours offered every Friday at 2:30p; photography is not allowed in the museum

ADMISSION: $9 Adults, $7 Seniors, Students and Military, $5 Ages 6–12; free for Age 5 and under

DAYS & HOURS: Tue-Sat 10a-5p, Sun 1p-5p

ADDRESS: 135 Meeting Street  MAP

PARKING: on street and two garages nearby

PHONE: 843-722-2706

WEBSITE: http://www.gibbes.com

Calhoun Mansion
DESCRIPTION: built in 1876 by George W. Williams for $200,000, a wealthy merchant and banker, this Baronial 24,000 square-foot Manor House is the largest residence in Charleston; it has 14-foot ceilings, ornate wood moldings, elaborate chandeliers, a stairwell that reaches to a 75-foot domed ceiling, as well as a ballroom with a 45-foot glass skylight; after Mr. Williams's death in 1903, the house went through a succession of occupants, gradually deteriorating until in 1972, it was condemned; saved from the wrecking ball by a Charleston native who spent the next 25 years and 5 million dollars restoring it as it first appeared; this grand mansion was featured on A&E channel's "American Castles"; guided tours from 45 minutes to 2 hours

ADMISSION: Adults: $15, age 5-10 $7, under age 5 Ffree

DAYS & HOURS: Wed-Sun 10a-4p

ADDRESS: 16 Meeting Street  MAP

PARKING: on street

PHONE: 843-722-8205

WEBSITE: http://www.calhounmansion.net

Old City Market
DESCRIPTION: Built 1841, it features small shops and restaurants selling everything from produce to antiques; a favorite merchandising place for Gullah ladies who weave and sell sweetgrass baskets

ADMISSION: Free

DAYS & HOURS: daily

ADDRESS: Market Street at East Bay Street  MAP

PARKING: on street and paid lots nearby

PHONE: 800-868-8118

WEBSITE: http://thecharlestoncitymarket.com

Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon
DESCRIPTION: Built by the British as the Exchange and Customs House in 1771, American Patriots were held prisoner in the Provost during the Revolutionary War; see the Half-Moon Battery portion of the Charles Towne Sea Wall built to defend the colony from pirates in the late 1600's; some say its one of the three most significant buildings of colonial America; the kids will enjoy Pirate and George Washington Scavenger Hunts

ADMISSION: Adults $8, Age 7-12 $4

DAYS & HOURS: daily 9a-5p

ADDRESS: 122 East Bay Street  MAP

PARKING: on street and paid lots nearby

PHONE: 843-727-2165

WEBSITE: http://www.oldexchange.com

Dock Street Theatre
DESCRIPTION: Built on the location of one of America's first playhouses, its a combination reconstruction of a Georgian playhouse and old Planters Hotel (1809); the New Theatre in Dock Street opened in 1936; today, Charleston Stage, founded by Playwright Julian Wiles in 1978, is South Carolina’s largest professional theatre company at the Historic Dock Street Theatre, which has undergone a $19 million renovation; it has presented over 150 productions, including Gershwin at Folly, which told the story of the genesis of Porgy and Bess and The Seat of Justice, which explored South Carolina's pivotal role in the landmark Brown v Board of Education Supreme Court decision

BOX OFFICES: before performances on Mon-Fri Noon-6p

ADDRESS: 135 Church Street  MAP

PARKING: on street and paid lots nearby

PHONE: 843-720-3968

WEBSITE: http://charlestonstage.com

Charleston Cooks! Maverick Kitchen Store
DESCRIPTION: Low country culinary classes & demos with food products, cookware, cookbooks; culinary teachers include African American chefs like South Carolina native, Marvin Woods, and Black brewmaster, Garette Oliver; tourists can watch them cooking from the picture window facing East Bay Street, but the view and aroma are always better inside

ADMISSION: Free to enter

DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Sat 10a-9p

ADDRESS: 194 East Bay Street  MAP

PARKING: on street and paid lots nearby

PHONE: 843-722-1212

WEBSITE: http://www.charlestoncooks.com

Wells Gallery
DESCRIPTION: Nirvana for collectors of fine portraiture, the Wells hosts a magnificent, large collection from many artists; it also eatures a permanent exhibit by local African American artist, Gary Grier, who also did a portrait of P. Diddy Combs

ADMISSION: Free to enter

DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Sat 10a-5p

ADDRESS: 103 Broad Street  MAP

PARKING: on street and paid lots nearby

PHONE: 843-853-3233

WEBSITE: http://www.wellsgallery.com/charleston

Fort Sumter, SC

Fort Sumter National Monument
DESCRIPTION: Union forces first occupied the fort on this man-made island in December 1960; on April 12, 1861 Confederate forces at Fort Johnson fired the first shot of the Civil War at Union-occupied Fort Sumter; after a 34-hour bombardment, Major Robert Anderson surrendered and Confederate troops occupied Fort Sumter despite bombardment until 1865; it took so much pounding that by February 17, 1865, when the Confederates evacuated, it was little more than rubble; Mon-Sun 9a-5p; ask for a tour by National Park Service Education Director, Michael Allen -- Gullah native with a wealth of knowledge about Black military and civilian history of South Carolina

ADMISSION: Adults $3 and Seniors $2 for Ferry ride, no addtional fee to enter

DAYS & HOURS: daily 10a-4p except major holidays, check their website

ADDRESS: board Fort Sumter Ferry at 1214 Middle Street MAP

PARKING: paid lots nearby the dock

PHONE: 843-883-3123

WEBSITE: http://www.nps.gov/fosu

Sullivan's Island, SC

Fort Moultrie
DESCRIPTION: Current structure was completed in 1809 and is the third fort on this site; original palmetto log fort was attacked by a British fleet on June 28, 1776 during the Revolutionary War; Colonel William Moultrie's forces repelled British in one of the first decisive American victories of the Revolution; the National Park Service administers and has restored the interior of the fort; the visitor center features a film with important segments about the Massachusetts 54th Colored Regiment (portrayed in the movie “Glory” and Robert Smalls, a slave who captured a Confederate warship; 20 minute film runs on every 1/2 hour; Admission fees: Adults $2, children under 16 $1,  family $5; ask for a tour by National Park Service Education Director, Michael Allen -- a Gullah native with a wealth of knowledge about Black military and civilian history of South Carolina

ADMISSION: Adults $3 and Seniors $1

DAYS & HOURS: daily 9a-5p

ADDRESS: 1214 Middle Street  MAP

PARKING: paid lots nearby the dock

PHONE: 843-883-3123

WEBSITE: http://www.nps.gov/fosu/historyculture/fort_moultrie.htm