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Fort Sumter Island Photos

Recommended Reviews - Fort Sumter Island

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Museum inside the fort.
Debra V.

Lots of history in Liberty Square. The fort had been destroyed during the Civil War, but is now restored. A museum is on site. National Park rangers tell the history. We were on the first ferry over and participated in the flag ceremony. There are a lot of steps to the flag pole and to the museum. The fort is small but interesting. Returning to shore we toured the museum, which is free and interesting. You don't need to spend the money to go to the fort as the museum tells the history with lots of drawings and photos. You have the option.

View from the boat
Barret L.

Home of the Fort Sumter National Monument. Accessible only via a 30 minute ferry ride through the National Park Service, this location landmark is a neat stop when visiting Charleston. Once the boat docks, you have an hour to tour the facility. This stronghold was designed to protect the harbor from unwanted guests in the 1800s, and marks the beginning of the Civil War.

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Photo of Erick W.
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2 years ago

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2 years ago

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1 year ago

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4 years ago

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5 years ago

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3 years ago

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3 years ago

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4 years ago

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Rainbow Row - Rainbow Row, Charleston_yelp_Sanju-1

Rainbow Row

4.0(142 reviews)
1.1 mi•South of Broad

Rainbow Row is the name for a series of thirteen colorful historic houses in historic downtown…read moreCharleston, South Carolina. The houses are located north of Tradd St. and south of Elliott St. on East Bay Street, that is, 79 to 107 East Bay Street. In 1931, Dorothy Haskell Porcher Legge purchased a section of these, house numbering 99 through 101 East Bay, and began to renovate them. She chose to paint these houses pink based on a colonial Caribbean color scheme. Other owners and future owners followed suit, creating the "rainbow" of pastel colors present today. The coloring of the houses helped keep the houses cool inside as well as give the area its name. By 1945, most of the houses had been restored. The name "Rainbow Row" was later coined. It is a popular tourist attraction and is one of the most photographed parts of Charleston. My family and I visited the Rainbow Row this past summer while we were visiting family in town. We had previously visited on our last visit to the area but wanted to visit again because the houses are just breathtaking to look at. They're very photogenic! Aside from the pastel colored houses, the whole stretch of the downtown area from Waterfront Park to the Battery is a very interesting area to explore. It's loaded with historic buildings, monuments, historical plaques, and cobblestone streets. You might get lucky and even see a horse-drawn carriage riding by. We highly recommend anyone visiting Charleston to see Rainbow Row!

Rainbow Row was on the top of my list of things to see in Charleston, given the hype around this…read morehistoric spot. I have to say, I was a bit underwhelmed when finding it. Don't get me wrong, the homes are beautiful and the history behind them are rich, but it is definitely overhyped. I was also surprised how different it looked in person compared to photos online; I don't know if its the photoshop making the houses look so vibrant and colorful, but the real thing seemed a bit more dull. If you're already in the area, you should definitely see it for yourself, cause you've got nothing to lose. But don't go out of your way to come here, or you may be slightly disappointed like I was.

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Rainbow Row - Rainbow Row, Charleston_yelp_Sanju-12

Rainbow Row, Charleston_yelp_Sanju-12

Rainbow Row - Rainbow Row, Charleston_yelp_Sanju-9

Rainbow Row, Charleston_yelp_Sanju-9

Rainbow Row - Rainbow Row, Charleston_yelp_Sanju-13

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Rainbow Row, Charleston_yelp_Sanju-13

Heyward-Washington House

Heyward-Washington House

4.4(25 reviews)
1.1 mi•South of Broad

I bought a ticket for this museum as part of a combination ticket with the Charleston Museum. I…read moreactually walked from there, stopping along some spots. It's a long walk, but nice if the weather is fitting. This is worth a visit, especially if you're into American history. George Washington stayed here while visiting the area. Also, Thomas Heyward was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. While it's not a vast mansion, the house is nicely decorated and the garden in the back was a good touch. The audio tour was informative and allowed you to go at your own pace. The staff here were friendly and helpful. The house is also near a nice residential neighborhood and close to Rainbow Row and the water.

In 1791, the city of Charleston rented Heyward's home for President George Washington's weeklong…read morestay in the city. The association with America's first president has persisted ever since. Built in 1772, the Heyward-Washington House earned its moniker for two men who figured prominently in its history, Thomas Heyward Jr. and President George Washington. Heyward, a Revolutionary War officer and South Carolina delegate to the Continental Congress in 1776 is best known for contributing his signature to the Declaration of Independence. The architecture of the three-story red brick double reflects the Georgian style that spread widely through English colonies for its order and symmetry.

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Heyward-Washington House
Heyward-Washington House
Heyward-Washington House - Heyward-Washington House Charleston, SC_Yelp_Sanju-3

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Heyward-Washington House Charleston, SC_Yelp_Sanju-3

Charleston History Tours - Lunch break tour!

Charleston History Tours

4.7(12 reviews)
1.0 mi•French Quarter

The walking tour, given by Joyce Weir, was a very lovely tour…read more Joyce was very knowledgeable about the history of Charleston and was a delight to have as our tour guide. She took the time to point out how to get the best shots of the various buildings and sights. My youngest daughter is thinking about becoming a photographer and Joyce took the time during and at the end of the tour to give her pointers and encouragement. I definitely recommend anyone looking to do a walking tour of Charleston to sign up with Joyce. You will not regret it. Joyce's walking tour was one of the best tours my family and I went on and we thoroughly enjoyed it.

We signed up for this tour as an intro to Charleston as we began our first morning in the city…read more Joyce was a wonderful guide and began the tour with some photo tips at the meeting spot. Though I have been an avid amateur photographer for a while, I quickly learned some new techniques thanks to Joyce. The walk we took traversed the heart of downtown Charleston, from Meeting Street to the Battery. The pacing was good, and the mix of city history and photography tips was great. The tour ran a few minutes over 2 hours, and none of our group was in a hurry to be done. If I returned to Charleston on another visit, I'd book one of the other tours Joyce gives as my new starting point. Highly recommended.

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Charleston History Tours - Society Shadow

Society Shadow

Charleston History Tours - St. Michaels Church

St. Michaels Church

Charleston History Tours

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The Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon - Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon_Yelp_Sanju-5

The Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon

4.3(130 reviews)
0.9 mi•French Quarter

Visited: February 16, 2026…read more The Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon was the perfect blend of history and hustle. From the moment you step onto the grounds, you feel the weight of Charleston's past. Inside, the immersion begins immediately -- postcards, patches, and meaningful souvenirs that make it easy to bring a little history home for friends and family. The highlight, though, was the tour. Our guide was a jolly local with razor-sharp, dry Southern wit -- the kind of storyteller who can pivot from Revolutionary War imprisonment to a perfectly timed sarcastic aside without missing a beat. Equal parts charm and "bless your heart," she made centuries-old history feel present and personal. Down in the Provost Dungeon, those brick walls carry gravity. British occupation. Prisoners of war. Pirates passing through. It's one of those rare spaces where you instinctively lower your voice. You don't just learn history -- you feel it. History hit different here. If you appreciate immersive storytelling, preserved architecture, and a tour that balances education with personality, this is absolutely worth your time.

Barry was a fabulous tour guide --he really brought all the history alive. It's amazing all that…read morewent on in there. Easy to navigate as well. Love the military discount, too!

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The Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon - Amazing brickwork throughout dungeon

Amazing brickwork throughout dungeon

The Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon - Dungeon time

Dungeon time

The Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon - Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon_Yelp_Sanju-6

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Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon_Yelp_Sanju-6

Fort Sumter Island - landmarks - Updated May 2026

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