8 of the Oldest Places in Historic Charleston, SC that you should add to your travel bucket list

By Mark A. Leon

Charleston, South Carolina is a city rich in history and architecture. Here are some of the oldest buildings in Charleston:

1. Pink House (c. 1694 – 1712) – 17 Chalmers Street, Charleston, SC 29401 – Also known as the “Sergeant Jasper House,” this small pink building on Church Street is one of the oldest buildings in Charleston. It is a private residence and not open to the public.
2. The Powder Magazine (c. 1713) – 79 Cumberland St, Charleston, SC 29401 – The Powder Magazine was used as a storage facility for gunpowder during the colonial period. It is now a museum that is open to the public.
3. St. Michael’s Episcopal Church (The cornerstone for the existing building was laid in 1752 and the building opened in 1761) – 71 Broad St, Charleston, SC 29401 – This beautiful church on Broad Street was completed in 1761 and is one of the oldest surviving churches in the city. It is still an active parish and open to the public.
4. Heyward-Washington House (1772) – 87 Church St, Charleston, SC 29403 – This Georgian-style mansion on Meeting Street was built in 1772 and was the residence of Thomas Heyward Jr., a signer of the Declaration of Independence. It is now a museum that is open to the public.
5. Nathaniel Russell House (1808) – 51 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401 – This Federal-style mansion on Meeting Street was built in 1808 by Nathaniel Russell, a wealthy merchant. It is now a museum that is open to the public.
6. Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon Building (c. 1771) – 122 E Bay St, Charleston, SC 29401 – Located on East Bay Street, this building was originally a custom house and was used as a prisoner-of-war facility during the Revolutionary War. It is now a museum that is open to the public.
7. Dock Street Theatre (c. 1809) – 135 Church St, Charleston, SC 29401 – This building on Church Street was originally a hotel but was converted into a theater in 1937. It is now the home of the Charleston Stage Company and is open to the public for performances and tours.
8. Old Charleston Jail (c. 1802) – 21 Magazine St, Charleston, SC 29401 – Commonly referred to as the “Old City Jail”, this former prison is a site of historical and architectural significance in Charleston, SC. Operational between 1802 and 1939, it held many notable figures, among them Denmark Vesey, Union officers during the Civil War, high-seas pirates, and Lavinia Fisher.

Please note that there are many other historic buildings in Charleston, and this list is not exhaustive.

We hope this list helped solidify your next itinerary!

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Heyward-Washington House

St. Michael’s Church