Charleston

“Charleston County and the city of Charleston, its county seat, are the most historic locations in the state.”

“Charleston County and the city of Charleston, its county seat, are the most historic locations in the state.” Situated in the Lowcountry, the county serves as a popular vacation destination but also relies on the business that results from its port. The area in general serves as a large cultural and economic hub for the state.

Charleston County was founded as Charleston District in 1769, and the district became smaller after some of its lands were used to create Colleton and Berkeley counties. The county and its seat were named after King Charles II.

The city and county are saturated with Revolutionary War and Civil War history. Three signers of the United States Constitution and two famous abolitionists resided in Charleston County, and the Civil War began when soldiers fired shots from the county’s Fort Sumter.

Lt. George Dixon's Coin | Curiosity Trek!
Lt. George Dixon's Coin | Curiosity Trek!

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This is a close up of Lt. George Dixon's $20 gold coin which saved his life at the Battle of Shiloh. The inscription reads: "Shiloh April 6th, 1862 My Life Preserver G.E.D."
Eremotherium Giant Ground Sloth | Curiosity Trek!

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Millions of years ago, massive prehistoric creatures roamed the earth. Host Andrew travels down to the Charleston Museum to see the remains of one animal which was native to the southeast – the...
Susan Pringle Frost | Carolina Snaps

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Susan Pringle Frost, a Charleston native and suffragette, founded the Preservation Society of Charleston in 1920 to save the city's historic buildings after learning the Manigault House was to become...
Dawn Corley | Carolina Snaps

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Dawn Corley, known as the "Charleston Silver Lady," is a renowned silver expert who has lectured internationally and been featured in magazines and TV shows for her knowledge of antique jewelry. Her...
Fish and Grits | Carolina Snaps

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The combination of seafood like fish or shrimp with grits has its origins in Charleston, South Carolina. Grits, an ancient staple, predate European conquest, African enslavement, and the founding of...