Charleston offers an encounter with America’s history that few coastal cities rival, from the military and geo-political significance of Fort Sumter and the Civil War’s inception, to the weight and sobering realities of its various plantations, the Old Slave Mart and Museum, and the historic Emanuel AME Church. We’ll challenge you to learn from both the city’s triumphs and its failures and to apply what you learn to your circle of influence.
A Few Must-See Sites:
Middleton Place (restored plantation home and gardens)
Drayton Hall (preserved plantation home and grounds)
Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site
Patriot’s Point
H. L. Hunley Museum (Confederate sub, the first ever to sink an enemy vessel)
Fort Sumter (first shots of the Civil War fired)
Charleston Holocaust Memorial
Mother Emanuel AME Church
The Powder Magazine
Old Slave Mart Museum
Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon
Heyward-Washington House
Greater Charleston Naval Base Memorial
The Charleston Museum (Lowcountry artifacts, Revolution, natural history, silver collection, and rotating exhibits)
Iconic Charleston Carriage Ride
Fort Moultrie (Revolutionary War fort active until WWI)
“Our tour guide Michael Hamilton encouraged us to think critically about the sites we visited…. Our history as a nation isn’t perfect, but I’m glad I was able to see it from a unique perspective in Charleston. This trip encouraged me to continue my pursuit of Absolute Truth and examine problems from a variety of perspectives. Only through learning history can we avoid the mistakes of the past.”
Thematic Elements and Ideas:
Early Settlement
American Revolution
Slavery and Emancipation
Civil War
Human Rights and Civil Rights
Confronting history's darkest moments by exploring leaders who are contradictions
“Why do we go to places like this? What should be my takeaway from the weekend? It is to remind me why I must fight my battles back home. Battles to protect my values and faith for my community, for my work, for my life and the legacy I want to leave behind”
