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Old Charleston Jail

Old Charleston Jail: Our most recommended tours and activities

Charleston: African-American History Guided Walking Tour

1. Charleston: African-American History Guided Walking Tour

Discover the stories of the enslaved Africans that were brought to the Carolina colony on this guided walking tour in Charleston. Stop at some of the most well-preserved historical landmarks in Charleston with African-American ties.  Meet your guide outside of the 19th-century St. Philip's Church and begin your journey into the city's past. Hear about the culture of the Gullah-Geechee people. Liste as your guide paints a vivid picture of historic events from the early-1700s to the present day. Enjoy a walk through colorful Charleston while you visit significant sites such as the Charleston City Market, the Old Slave Market, and the Old City Jail. Dig deeper into the background of these sites with help from your guide. Uncover some of the colorful art and music produced by Charleston’s African-American community along the way.

Charleston: Self-Guided Ghost Tour

2. Charleston: Self-Guided Ghost Tour

Hear scary stories, discover spooky legends, and learn about Charleston's dark side on an eerie self-guided walking tour. Charged smartphone in hand, set out on a ghoulish tour that takes you to Charleston's most haunted sites. Listen to ghost stories like the legend of the woman in black, the haunting of the Dock Street Theater, St. Philips Church and the Ghost of the Weeping Woman, and many more. Stop outside haunted pubs, using the opportunity to refuel with a quick bite or beer before continuing your adventure. The tour is app-based and uses GPS navigation, so you can go at your own pace and take the tour at any time, even exploring the city during the witching hour if you like. 

Charleston: Self-Guided Highlights Walking Audio Tour

3. Charleston: Self-Guided Highlights Walking Audio Tour

Experience the beauty of the city of Charleston on a self-guided walking tour. See the famous places like Aiken-Rhett House Museum, Marion Square, Old Charleston Jail, and more with the magic of an audio guide. Start your tour at the Charleston Visitor Center and proceed towards the Aiken-Rhett House Museum, a beautifully-preserved antebellum home. Visit the Charleston Museum, Marion Square, and the famous Liberty Square where you will hear about how the American Revolution rocked Charleston. Up next is the Grimke Sisters’ Home, where two women risked their life and limb to fight for the cause of abolition. Make your way to the Historic Charleston City Market and learn more about the underdog abolitionist movement in the south. See the marvelous frim structure of the Old Charleston Jail.  Visit the Miles Brewton House which was used as a military headquarters during both the Revolutionary and Civil wars. Continue to see the White Point Garden, Edmondston-Alston House, and the Nathaniel Russell House. Admire the enormous Saint Michael’s Church, Washington Square Park, the Heyward-Washington House, Rainbow Row, and the Old Exchange. Finally, you’ll arrive at Joe Riley Waterfront Park, the perfect place to relax and unwind at the end of your trip.

Charleston: 2-Hour Strong Women of the South History Tour

4. Charleston: 2-Hour Strong Women of the South History Tour

The Strong Women of the South History Tour is an exploration of historical Charleston from the perspective of the founding mothers and women of every color who contributed to the Great American Dream. Along the way, learn about a city once owned and controlled by women. Rated as a top Airbnb experience by Charleston Weddings Magazine, this tour is perfect for bachelorettes, couples, locals, and tourists who are looking for something more than a generic city tour. This experience begins at the alleged execution site of America's first female serial killer. Stand in the spot where she met her fate and hear her story. Next, visit the homes and sites of the “Old Maids." Learn about these women who were activists, printers, artisans, madams, shopkeepers, and plantation owners while hearing stories about their contributions and conundrums. Go back in time and see the world from their perspective. Lastly, stand in front of the homes and shops of the women who built this city. Hear their stories in the contemporary voice of their times and smash the myth of the "Fainting Southern Belle," the "Woman behind the man," and Chattel Slavery. From each ticket sold, $1 will be donated to the Halsey Contemporary Art Foundation and the Philip Simmons Foundation.

Other Sightseeing Options in Old Charleston Jail

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What people are saying about Old Charleston Jail

Overall rating

4.0 / 5

based on 3 reviews

It was a nice walk but we would have preferred if it ended up back where we started instead of having to walk so far back to get to our car.