Black History That Shaped Charleston
- October 2, 2025
- October 15, 2025
53 Meeting St.
Charleston, SC 29401
“Explore sites central to Reconstruction…”
Discover Charleston through a new lens – one that centers the Black experience across 350 years of the city’s complex history. Visit the city’s former slave markets, antebellum homes that operated as urban plantations behind elegant facades, and the residence of a free woman of color who owned property before the Civil War.
Explore sites central to Reconstruction, including the Freedman’s Bank, and stand on the courthouse steps where a pivotal case helped desegregate American schools.
Local historian Ruth Miller will guide you on this walking tour, uncovering stories often left out of textbooks and offering a deeper, more honest understanding of how Black resilience, resistance, and achievement helped shape both Charleston and the nation.
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Tour Information:
- Location: The tour will meet at and depart from First Scots Presbyterian Church, located at 53 Meeting Street, Charleston, SC 29401
- Parking: The nearest parking garage is located at 85 Queen Street, approximately an 8-minute walk away from the meeting point. Neighborhood street parking is generally also available but limited to 1-2 hours for non-residents – please abide by all street signage and parking regulations.
- Restrooms: Public restrooms are available on the ground floor of City Hall at 80 Broad St, located 1 block (4 min. walk) from the meeting point at First Scots. There are no bathroom breaks during the tour, please plan accordingly.
- Check-In: Check-in takes place at the meeting location at the beginning of the tour. There are no physical tickets, and printed confirmations are not required. All guests will be checked in will-call style using the first and last name on the ticket order.
- Other: Tours last between 2-2.5 hours and typically require 6 or more blocks of walking, often over uneven streets and sidewalks. No interiors are included. We suggest wearing comfortable walking shoes and bringing a bottle of water.
- Weather: Tours go on rain or shine. Prepare for inclement weather, if forecasted. The Preservation Society reserves the right to cancel the tours if dangerous or threatening conditions arise. If the tour is cancelled by the PSC, all ticket holders will be contacted, and refunds will be available.
- Cancellations & Refunds: All sales are final. Refund requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis until September 1. After September 1, guests who notify the office in advance may either exchange their tickets for a comparable tour if space is available or convert their tickets to a tax-deductible charitable donation. Most tours run a waitlist once sold out – if you are no longer able to attend, please let us know so your space may be released.