Had a terrific experience with our guide, Bill. He was fun, knowledgeable, and professional. I learned a thing or two and had a great time doing it. Perfect for folks visiting Charleston or for residents (like me) showing friends around town. read more

Bill was our tour guide, and we lucked out because we were the only ones for the particular time. To say that this tour, especially with Bill, was fantastic is an understatement! A wealth of knowledge while still being friendly and accommodating to what places we'd be most interested in. So glad we booked this tour on our first full day in Charleston; now we'll enjoy the rest of the week with a solid understanding of the place/region. An easy but strong recommendation if you're visiting this city: Book this tour! Edited to add: My husband called Bill "a young Hemingway" read more

My girlfriend and I did the Historical tour and had a great experience. Our tour guide, Dustin, had a great mix of fun personality and deep knowledge of Charleston + history on American history. The tour itself was the right balance of walking, seeing landmarks, and hearing about the town. I also greatly appreciated the bathroom stop midway through. I recommend Oyster Point Historic Tours! read more

Our walking tour with Bill Harris was exceptional. What was scheduled to be a two hour tour became almost three hours of a tremendous transfer of knowledge about Charleston's history, architecture, culture, sites to return to, restaurants, night life, and places to get the best cocktails. Bill focused on our group's particular interests and gently added a few we hadn't thought about. I certainly agree with one of the other reviews and would give Bill six stars if I could. read more

Bill Harris is an enthusiastic, well informed host. His passion is contagious. Before the tour, Bill asks what the specific interests are among the group and proceeds to address those if possible. Charleston has much to offer and Bill helps to unlock it. read more

March 2023 Review: Despite the very chilly / windy Charleston weather day, our tour guide Dustin was super energetic and friendly. Super knowledgeable and witty, yet a good a balance of walking, stopping, and speaking about all the locations we went to. I'd highly recommend booking a walking tour here, and with Dustin! We even got a bathroom break and that was an extra A+ added to the 2 hour walking tour! Thanks and cheers! read more

We toured with Bill over two years ago and we've told all our friends and family to book with him. SO incredibly refreshing, impactful, and he tailored our tour based on what the group was interested in. This guy is a character. I'm sure he can gauge his audience though, but if you're cool, show up and don't be shy... he'll reciprocate. We were so into the tour and soaking up everything he had to say, we didn't take any photos to maximize our time, but here's a random pic. To be honest, this tour was the highlight of our trip to Charleston... the rest was pretty disappointing and whitewashed. read more

Oyster Point - Historical Tours Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

I am a weekly traveler and love to try and grab a tour of any new town I am in. This was the best and most informative walking tour that I ever went on. So informative so much in the 2 hour walking that it flew by! Palmer was the most interesting and most informing guide I have ever had before on any of these kinds of tours. read more

Oyster Point - Calhoun House and awesome Tour guide! - Historical Tours Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

We took a tour with Oyster Point led by Dustin this last weekend. Wow a gift we were given !! He is a true gem and we feel like we won the guided tour lotto with this one! Definitely book a tour with Dustin !! He is passionate, enthusiastic, funny, entertaining, and has a ton of fact- based knowledge. He kept the pace going without rushing through the details. You can definitely tell that Dustin is excited about sharing his knowledge with visitors to Charleston. 10/10 recommend booking a tour - he checked all the boxes in what you want in a tour of this amazing town! read more

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Dustin is an awesome guide!! Funny and informative. Loved his wit and corny jokes as he gave us so much information about the history of Charleston. The walk is only 2 miles and he filled it with entertainment and knowledge! A must!! read more

Oyster Point - Dustin and his sorority pose! - Historical Tours Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

.. "Charleston is the Ellis Island of Black America". That statement in and of itself deserved 5 stars. It was the most insightful, thought provoking, interactive class/tour on the intersection of economics, race and religion and how all three shaped our country, with Charleston being the foremost catalyst of our nation's history. read more

Oyster Point - Historical Tours Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

I would have been ecstatic if the tour had only lasted the first 10 minutes. Our guide, Palmer, was EXCELLENT, and the tour itself was exceedingly educational and entertaining. We had two hours of nearly nonstop facts, with all my questions answered thoroughly. She even gave us a dinner recommendation (Leon's Fine Poultry & Oysters) that hit all the spots. What I loved about the tour, besides the best guide in town, is that it could spawn a hundred other adventures through museums and more specific tours. Take this tour early in your trip so you have more time to explore! read more

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The most knowledgeable & interesting walking tour! Our guide was passionate about Charleston and about talking about the honest truth surrounding the city. Highly recommend this tour! read more

Excellent tour with Dustin. Lots of history told well. We enjoyed it and felt it was a good value

Ben was an excellent tour guide, very knowledgeable and delivered all the historical facts in a fun way. Very highly recommended!

Bill is an excellent tour guide and extremely engaging and knowledgeable! It's clear how much he loves the city and how ingrained it is in his blood. I've taken this tour twice across a few years, and will happily do so again the next time I'm in town. read more

Dustin was a great tour guide. Learned so much about this great city as a first time visitor. Highly recommend!

My friend and I were in Charleston for business. We stepped out for a few drinks one evening and bumped into Palmer who turned out to be one of the Oyster tour guides. She invited us on the Charleston walking tour the next afternoon. We agreed to go as we thought it would give us a good overview of the city. We followed Palmer's instructions to meet her on the steps of the Custom House. She was there waiting and smiling. She reminded us to wear sunscreen and bring water as it was very hot! A few others joined us on the tour and we stepped off. Palmer gave some introductions, explained what we would, how the tour worked, and assured us that there would be water and restroom stops along the route. As we progressed through the tour we saw dozens of historical sites while Palmer discussed the history of the city. As we were a smaller group, we were able to ask tons of questions as we went along. Palmer was always patient, friendly, and informative. The history of Charleston is vast... but Palmer seemed to touch on most of the topics and eras throughout the tour while interweaving the historic sites along the route. Not an easy task. There are tons of historic mansions along the route which Charleston is famous for... Including Rainbow Row. Very fun to see those! The tour eventually came to an end after about two hours. We paid for the tour along with a tip. Easy and fun! read more

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William was extremely knowledgeable! He went into detail on some things that most people only gloss over. I learned about things that my history classes never taught me. We enjoyed our interactive tour and we learned a ton! *tried to leave this review on trip advisor but it didn't work read more

Oyster Point - Historical Tours Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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I would give this 6 stars. Bill Harris gave a wonderful, insightful tour that somehow manages to condense Charleston's extensive history into a short period of time in a way that your high school history teacher never could. HIGHLY RECOMMEND. This guy has found his passion and is very engaging. He is not just well educated but really wants to share his city with you. So rare to find this type of tour. read more

My girlfriend and I took a trip from California to visit Savannah and Charleston. Towards the end of our week vacation, we had a tour with Bill, who was funny, smart, passionate, and enthusiastic about the history of Charleston. His attention to historical context, the time period things take place in, the social and economic implications of things all were factors of his tour. He's very clearly a brilliant minded man, and his passion and enthusiasm for historical accuracy and truth were contagious. Now let me tell you, we did our share of touring that week. The tour we had with Bill was leagues ahead of them all. Don't wait until the end of your trip to take this tour. Make it your first stop. The knowledge you'll gain will shape the rest of your stay. All the opulence of Charleston will only make sense with the history shared on this tour. Bill was not afraid to talk about the true history of Charleston--slavery. A topic that many other tours are more than happy to gloss over or mention as minimally as possible. And this is very important to talk about, as uncomfortable as it may be, because without slavery, there's no way Charleston (and our country) would have turned out the way it did. But he did so in a very tactful way. One that leaves you feeling inspired, wowed, and all the better for the history lesson. read more

We were delighted with our walking tour with Bill. We had just 1.5 hours before having to head to the airport. We were able to book a 9am tour and lucked out as we were the only 2 on the tour. Given our time constraints, Bill asked us what we were interested in and our tour focused on the local history as well as the beautiful homes along the bay. Bill was extremely knowledgeable and the tour was very interesting. Highly recommend this tour company. read more

What an awesome experience and absolutely worth the price of admission. For me, this was one of the highlights of my trip. It might have been a bit of an unconventional activity for a bachelorette weekend, but everyone in our group raved about it afterwards. Our guide was so knowledgeable and interactive. It reminded me of being back in history class, which I loved! He wasn't afraid to bring up the uncomfortable facts about the city which can so often be glossed over in the South or on plantation tours. Pace was relaxed and we didn't feel rushed at any point. Totally loved this tour and would highly recommend. read more

Note that this is an historic tour. Most people are aprehensive toward history and talks thereof. Don't be. Do not hesitate to embrace this entertaining tour. Book it! Bill Harrison first inquires and learns quickly how the group will best enjoy his tellings; and then, he makes it wonderfully engaging as well as laughingly entertaining. He's articulate, quick-witted, astute to adjust his style to the group, impressively knowledgable, and his delivery second-to-none. And the ladies told me he was easy on the eyes. Don't waste your time and money on a carriage tour; do this fantastic walking tour. Our group had a couple people who are not enthusiastic hikers; fret not, this is not an arduous walk at all. Plenty of places to rest along the way, and Bill works in opportunities for potty breaks. Mentally prepare yourself to tip him handsomely, for his price a bargain. Don't miss this marvelous tour. Do it as your first activity in Charleston. read more

Don't miss this tour with Bill! A wealth of knowledge about Charleston and very entertaining. Hands down the best walking tour we've taken. read more

Oyster Point - Historical Tours Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

So awesome! We had Palmer and she had a ton of energy and really knew her stuff. We saw all the key highlights and learned so much along the way. Can't recommend this tour enough. read more

Oyster Point - Small group - Historical Tours Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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My guide was Palmer. She was divine. She is well educated, moving effortless between history, economics, geography, geology, architecture, culture and cuisine. She crammed in a lot of information and kept my attention with energy and articulation. What I appreciated the most was her ability to string facts together into some story or theme. I don't like the guide who bursts with isolated facts, pointing out some building and telling you how old it is or who built it and then leaving it, letting it go like a piece of garbage out a car window. I want a story, a beginning, middle, end with a some connecting theme. Have questions about your stay in Charleston, she'll help. She's on top of the food scene. She has opinions to offer if you want to tour houses (which to see and why). It was a great two hours and got me to appreciate the city. Who wouldn't want Palmer? She talks quickly and gestures. I like that, but if you want a very slow paced speaker with low energy, you will not like Palmer. read more

This was such an interesting and entertaining tour! We learned so much about Charleston and Dustin is a master at holding the attention of the group. He brought history to life through great story telling and pointing out little details along the way that we never would have noticed on our own. read more

I took the historic walking tour in the late afternoon. The guide (Bill) was perhaps one of the fastest talking tour guides I have ever experienced, yet his knowledge of the area and enthusiasm for history was unparalleled. I learned more in this less than two hour your than I could have possibly imagined. Bill kept everyone engaged and on their toes with facts on everything from types of magnolia and other plant life to the history of slavery in the city. I would definitely recommend this tour company for a great introduction to Charleston. read more

A tour is only as good as the guide giving it, and the Highlights of Charleston Tour that we took with Bill Harris was informative and quite a bit of fun. Be prepared to answer questions, as Bill keeps folks engaged and focused by employing the Socratic method to stimulate discussion. Charleston holds a singular place in American history, and you will get the unvarnished and sometimes brutal truth with this absorbing, sometimes irreverent historian as your guide. read more

My adult son and nephew and I took the Civil War Walking Tour while in Charleston and in ended up being the highlight of out trip. The other people that signed up for the tour did not show so there were only three of us on the tour and it was fantastic. Bill was extremely knowledgeable and passionate and got "into the weeds" concerning all facets of the conflict and it was thoroughly enjoyable two and half hours. We learned and saw so much- what a great time! If the Civil War is your thing, you will LOVE this tour. read more

Bill Harris is a passionate and knowledgeable tour guide. His enthusiasm is infectious and he made a lasting impression on me. In particular, his views on the slave trade brought me new insights. An emotional trip through Charleston history. read more

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I arranged a 2-hr private walking tour thru the concierge at our hotel, Zero George, for 4-two couples who are new to the city & its rich history. Bill Harris, the proprietor of OP, met us at our hotel & as we headed out we had a dialogue on what our interests were & how he approaches the backstory, the lens that we view all the beautiful homes, places of worship, battles and even the bricks beneath your feet. We were all a bit concerned that Bill might not "land" his meandering threads of history--the early colonies, what varied peoples made up the colonists, how they were marketed to abroad...our indigenous peoples, the slave trade, vast economic engines made possible by the enslavement of others...so much to take in! Bill landed it, repeatedly, to appreciative nods all around. We enjoyed our time with him so much that we extended the tour by an hour. Money well spent! read more

The Highlights of Charleston Tour was great! Since we were only planning on staying in Charleston for a few days we wanted to be sure to check out a tour in order to see and learn as much about the history of the city as we could. Our tour guide, Palmer, was great! She was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic. She ensured that everyone's questions were answered and offered suggestions on other tours, restaurants, etc. I would highly recommend Oyster Point Tours! read more

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Fantastic tour! Dustin was an animated tour guide who kept you intrigued with interesting bits of Charleston's rich history. The tour covered major points of interest that we may have missed if it were not for the tour. read more

I wish I could give more stars... My girlfriend and I took the Civil War and the Highlights of Charleston tours. We had Bill for the Civil War Tour and Palmer for Highlights of Charleston tour. I can sum up the experience very easily... I just created a YELP account solely to give these guys 5 stars as well as my CANADIAN girlfriend who did not know anything about the American Civil War was absolutely blown away by the history and the stories Bill told us. He was energetic, beyond intelligent, realistic, dramatic, and very easy to listen to while also making it interactive. Palmer did a great job giving us new information and new Charleston knowledge after we had taken the other tour. She was very personable, funny, charming, and beyond intelligent as well (she does a great Mary Chestnut impression too). Really glad we got to experience her tour as well! The tours are very customizable and customer friendly. I wish we had taken these two out for a few beers and then had shut up and just listen to their stories. I am actually considering sending my mother to Charleston for these two tours as a present (and we live in Chicago) because she is a big fan of history. read more

William Harris was awesome! Crazy passionate about the city's history...I liked how he framed his tour in terms of cause and effect. Would recommend if you're interested in getting a REAL history tour, like the one where you leave feeling like you actually learned something. Thumbs up! read more

Great walking historic tour,led by people that are passionate about the history and culture of Charleston. This was our second time taking one of their tours and we enjoyed them both. Each guide had their unique presentation and stories so we learned new things on our second tour. Highly recommend if you want to truly appreciate the city. read more

Fantastic tour! If you're looking for an accurate account of Charleston history, which includes the economic and social impact of slavery, this is your tour! Bill was ever informed, ensuring that his guests understood the history behind the development of Charleston rather than the pointing out of pretty buildings. I highly recommend this tour! And, at $20, it's well worth the money! read more

Highly Recommend! So glad we chose a walking tour vs carriage tour. We were able to walk down the ballast stone streets and learn more history of Charleston. Palmer was an excellent, knowledgeable tour guide. She is super energetic and made the tour even more enjoyable. This was a solid 2 hours, we moved, we learned, we had trivia! Thanks Palmer for a great morning :) read more