Historic Downtown Charleston SC Living Essentials

Historic Downtown Charleston Real Estate Owners Enjoy Cornerstones Of Charleston Living

Towering church steeples dot Charleston’s unique landscape earning the city the moniker of “The Holy City.” The more than 60 historic churches on the peninsula stand as a testament to the city’s attitude of religious freedom and tolerance that dates back to the Colonial period. Today, that centuries-long tradition continues, with people of many faiths calling Charleston home.

Education
The pursuit of higher education also pervades the city’s rich culture. The historic downtown area alone is home to six institutions of higher learning: the College of Charleston, The Citadel, the downtown campus of Trident Technical College, the Charleston School of Law, the Medical University of South Carolina; and the Art Institute of Charleston.

Founded in 1770, the College of Charleston is the oldest institution of higher education in South Carolina and the thirteenth oldest in the nation. The founders of the college included three signers of the Declaration of Independence and three fathers of the United States Constitution. Two principles have guided the college since its inception: a commitment to the liberal arts and a responsibility to the citizens of the region. Today, the College of Charleston touts one of the most beautiful urban campuses in the U.S., attracting students from across the country, as well as extending open arms to local adults looking to expand their horizons.

The Citadel was established in 1842 by an act of the South Carolina General Assembly and was originally located on Marion Square in downtown Charleston. Today the picturesque campus, which moved to the banks of the Ashley River in 1922, is home to 24 major buildings and 1,900 young men and women enrolled in 19 degree programs. U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks The Citadel among the best colleges in the region in their annual surveys of “America’s Best Colleges.” Adults can take advantage of The Citadel’s College of Graduate and Professional Studies, which offers evening and summer, coeducational undergraduate and graduate degree programs.

Trident Technical College maintains a branch campus in downtown Charleston. This four-year institution provides lifelong learning opportunities for traditional and non-traditional students. Taking many forms, from one-day programs to multi-year apprenticeship training, Trident’s continuing education opportunities allow local residents to keep up-to-date in their fields, embark on new career tracks or learn for the joy of personal enrichment.

The Charleston School of Law offers graduate students the opportunity to study the time-honored practice of law amid the beauty and grace of one of the South’s oldest and most prestigious cities. Tracing its origins to the 1825 formation of The Forensic Club, the Charleston School of Law is reinvigorating the study of law in Charleston by offering a rich, comprehensive three-year program rooted in excellence.

Founded in 1824, the Medical University of South Carolina expanded from a small private college for training physicians to a state university with a medical center and six colleges for the education of a broad range of health professionals, biomedical scientists and other health-related personnel. Today, MUSC sits in the center of a medical complex that lies at the heart of the Charleston peninsula, providing the finest medical care available in the Southeast.

The Art Institute of Charleston is the newest location of The Art Institute’s system of 35 schools across North America. Kicking off its inaugural year in the fall of 2007, the Art Institute of Charleston is expected to become a leader in the creative education for South Carolina, offering programs in culinary arts, graphic design, interactive media design and interior design.

Healthcare
The diverse medical needs of adults are met by the staff of the Medical University Hospital. Specialists from more than 35 different fields, including neurology, cardiology, infectious diseases, pulmonary and critical care medicine, radiology, urology and nine surgical specialties, provide the highly specialized care medical problems require. The hospital continually undergoes renovation to offer the most technologically advanced diagnostic capabilities and care.

The MUSC Children’s Hospital is a 128-bed state-of-the-art facility planned, designed equipped and staffed with children in mind. The hospital provides comprehensive services for children from birth to 18 years of age. Pediatric specialists in nearly every discipline ensure that every child receives the most effective care.

Located adjacent to MUSC is Roper Hospital. Founded in 1850 as the first community hospital in the Carolinas, Roper Hospital enjoys a reputation for providing the most modern surgical care and treatment. Part of the Roper St. Francis Healthcare system, Roper Hospital is also home to an all-new Heart & Vascular Tower, which houses an outpatient surgery center and offers first-rate heart patient and guest amenities.

Also part of the historic Charleston’s medical complex is the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, which offers state-of-the-art care to our nation’s veterans; and Charleston County Hospital, which has earned a reputation for outstanding emergency care.  //