Historic Downtown Charleston Community Culture

Historic Downtown Charleston Real Estate Owners Live Life Abound In History

To own Historic Downtown Charleston real estate is to walk in the footsteps of Revolutionary War heroes, signers of the Declaration of Independence and authors of the United States Constitution. Many of the buildings still bear their names; their descendents still live and work here.

Charleston real estate owners are quick to point out that while other “Colonial towns” may be replicas, Charleston, South Carolina, is the real thing, a city whose people and architecture have survived the ages and prevailed through the best and worst of times.

Charles Towne was founded in 1670 along the banks of the Ashley River as the first European settlement in the Carolinas. Ten years later, the community relocated to its current site on the peninsula overlooking the Charleston Harbor.

By the early 1700s, the port city of Charlestown was a thriving trading center, which enticed a diverse population with its promise of freedom of religion. Planters, tourists, and traders came to Charleston for business and pleasure. Wealthy merchants constructed impressive homes along the city’s narrow streets, their fortunes made in cash crops like rice, indigo, and later cotton. By the end of the 18th century, Charleston was well on its way to becoming one of the wealthiest cities in the colonies.

Even as Charleston, South Carolina, continued to thrive into the 18th century, the question of whether or not to remain loyal to their King of England split families apart. Charleston, torn between its past allegiance and an uncertain future, eventually faced a siege of British troops, which occupied the city for much of the Revolutionary War era. But when the Red Coats finally left, Charleston regained its footing and resumed its role as a leader in the formation of a new nation.

One hundred years later, another war would leave Charleston in shambles. On April 12, 1861, locals gathered on rooftops near the tip of the great antebellum city to watch and cheer their heroes in the first battle of the “War Between the States.” For 34 hours, the Confederate troops at Fort Johnson bombarded the federally-held Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, driving Lincoln’s army from the South’s most precious shipping channel. But the tide would turn all too soon.

Charleston endured 567 consecutive days of bombardment, the longest in history. The opulence that once distinguished the most beautiful city in the South was tattered or destroyed, leaving the treasures of Charleston on the ash heap of history. Charleston was down, but it was not out, as plans for restoration were never far from the minds of true Charlestonians.

After the turn of the 20th century, an arduous process of re-birth began as many worked to restore Charleston to its former glory. The result of this passion to reclaim the past hailed the dawning of the “urban resort” that is Charleston today.

With the glorious resurrection of the past half-decade, Charleston has claimed the hearts and souls of many, as city officials clamor to preserve the best of the past, while taking its citizens into the future. Charleston is historic and modern, European and American, bold in its planning and cautious in its execution. To its devoted citizens, it is all these things and more.

The “urban resort” sections of this antebellum city offers an interesting mix of old Southerners whose families have lived in the city for generations, and those from across the nation and around the world who were lucky enough to discover Charleston real estate and choose to make it their home.

For the last 30 year, Charleston, South Carolina, has served as the backdrop for Spoleto Festival U.S.A., the largest festival of its kind in the nation. Spoleto hosts dance, music, theater, and visual arts events that explode all over the city to rave reviews from locals and visitors from all over the world. Spoleto is just one of the many festivals and events that people from all walks of life enjoy each year.

Piccolo Spoleto showcases the talented young artists and performers from South Carolina and across the Southeast against the backdrop of the internationally acclaimed Spoleto Festival USA.

For the past quarter century, the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition has also grown to be the largest event of its kind in the nation, attracting over 500 artists and exhibitors from around the globe who present their offerings to over 40,000 attendees. A three-day celebration of nature that has earned a reputation for excellence, SEWE also hosts the world’s foremost experts in wildlife and nature art, as well as conservation research and environmental education.

Inspired by the rich historical, architectural and cultural heritage of Charleston SC, the Charleston International Antiques Show has established itself as a premier destination for antique collectors and admirers alike. This annual show features many of the world’s most prominent antique dealers.

A newcomer to the Charleston festival scene is the BB&T Charleston Food + Wine Festival. Designed to celebrate Charleston’s local color, flavor and widely recognized culinary savoir-faire, the world-class food and wine festival showcases Southern chefs and Lowcountry specialties with an emphasis on everything that is uniquely Charleston.  //