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!

The Old Mart Museum -- History, Not "His-Story"…read more When we toured the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon, we were offered the chance to double down on history -- prepay access to the Old Slave Mart Museum just a few blocks away. We took it. But first? Food. Because nothing says "processing 18th-century imprisonment" like realizing your blood sugar is tanking. After regrouping and refueling, we made our way to the Old Mart Museum. The lesson takes place upstairs -- smaller space, more intimate setting. No theatrics. No dramatics. Just truth. Our guide -- well-groomed, composed, clear-spoken -- absolutely killed it. No sensationalism. No softening. Just facts delivered with gravity. What he described was horrific. Human beings cataloged. Sold. Families separated. Lives reduced to transactions. It was hard to hear. But it was history -- not HIS-story. There's a difference. This wasn't about personal interpretation or modern spin. It was documented record. It was accountability. It was context. Charleston is beautiful. Charming. Architectural eye candy. But layered beneath that beauty is commerce that once depended on human suffering. And standing in that upstairs room, listening quietly, you feel that weight. We walked out quieter than we walked in. Some stops on this trip were fun. Some were adventurous. This one was necessary.

This is a very small museum, it's in the actual building where they sold slaves in the 1800s. They…read morehaven't remodeled it a lot so you're walking on the actual floor and you can see the actual walls as they were back in the day. It is only seven dollars a person. The displays are very good. There's a lot to read, and there are some artifacts. A very tiny bookstore at the beginning with well curated selection.

What a fun little museum! This place packs a lot of information into a moderately sized space and…read morecovers much of South Carolina's history from the early indigenous days to the Revolution and Civil War. There is also a wonderful exhibit on Natural History, full of bones, skeletons, and various fossils that all tie back to the state. While we didn't have small children with us, we did stop in to check out the special kids exhibit (Kidstory) that features multiple hands-on mini exhibits. There were a variety of activities for children to do to get them interested in and involved with the history. Staff were friendly and welcoming. Admission to the museum Is priced well, and, if you're looking to knock a few places off your list in one day, you can purchase multi-site tickets and tour other affiliated properties for an even better deal. We purchased tickets online and the process was seamless. All we had to do was give our last name at the front desk to receive our tickets. Our tickets allowed us all day access so we could come and go if necessary. If parking in the museum lot (located behind the museum), be sure to have someone at the front desk validate your parking before leaving for the day. There is also parking located across the street from the museum at the visitors center -- this is important to note as the museum lot isn't large. There is a small gift shop located next to the front desk containing a variety of items. The space is handicap accessible with entrance ramps, elevators, and ADA accessible bathrooms.

The employees are very helpful about the museum, the package tours, and the bus/trolley system…read more The museum is well organized and the lighting low. There is a lot of reading.

Wow! There's not much to say besides this experience was absolutely amazing!…read more Parking wasn't terrible, actually, and it's not too far from the aquarium. There's street parking and a few lots nearby. There's also a park across the street as well. The experience begins on the outside. From the half-statues to the imprints in the ground. Once through the security check, you go to the second floor. I learned it was elevated 13 ft off the ground to honor where grounds were like almost half of the nation's enslaved were brought to the US right in that very spot. It truly was so impactful standing in that spot reflecting on that. Once inside, the ticket counter is straight ahead, and there's a gift shop on the left and a coffee shop on the right. If you look closely or ask. They will tell you where to start. Also, they have maps as well. Every exhibit was absolutely beautiful and moving. I had chills for the majority of the experience, and to think how even though it feels like ancient history, it wasn't that long ago all of these things happened was just overwhelming. They have quiet rooms as well, which I thought was very thoughtful. On one side it's a set amount of exhibits, and on the other side it's like the American experience. It is one journey after another and truly could be broken up into a multiple-visit experience. They also have a room to explore family history and much more. The art was beautiful. I mean truly an incredible experience. My children enjoyed their time as well. They have coloring pages for the young kids, but that is all, but it's okay because I still enjoyed moving through that experience with them and introducing them to our history beyond books. I had a coffee and some chips for a snack. Everyone was so kind. The coffee was pretty good. I can't wait to go back. It is literally so much to take in, and that's in more ways than one. Some parts made me sad, but overall it made me so proud thinking and reading about the perseverance and determination, and through all the circumstances, the creativity, courage, commitment, wisdom, and culture throughout every journey. It is just so beautiful there. Connecting what they present with the stories that has been shared with me, I just cannot wait to return.

The IAAM tells the story of African American history through the lens of the coastal south. The…read morehistory is relevant and accurate, and doesn't shy away from the atrocities Black American faced over the years. You'll find moments of wonder, joy, shock, and pain. You'll find moments can tell there was intention even in the architectural design of the building. This is a must visit when in the area.

A visit to the Gibbes is a great way to get a taste of low country art!…read more They feature a mix of pieces from a variety of time periods. I especially enjoyed the exhibits focused on local artists and the fascinating historical pieces like mini portraits and slave tags. The sweetgrass basketry is a sight to behold. Love that they uplift artists/art that may have historically been overlooked by other museums. The building itself is beautiful on the inside - definitely check out the grand room with the domes! I'd say to give yourself about 3 hours to be able to enjoy the museum. This is a wonderful way to break up a day in Charleston (especially if the weather isn't ideal)! We were able to gain admission for free since we're members of the Mint Museum in Charlotte, and both museums are part of the Southeastern Reciprocal Membership Program (SERM).

This museum is just the right size. Three floors, but not chock full or overflowing. The first…read morefloor is a local exhibit with works for sale. And a surprisingly good gift shop. I really was shocked at how good it was. Thoughtful, interesting books, games, and novelties that I took photos of to research and possibly buy later (I wasn't able to pick up extra cargo at the time). The second floor is a mix of classic permanent collection (think English art and furniture as well as Greek/sculpture pieces). There was also a contemporary section that I really enjoyed, a southern-focused mix that celebrated diversity. The third floor is for special rotating exhibits. This time I enjoyed learning about Harriet Tubman and the local rice fields. It really fleshed her out as a person and leader, while also educating us about the local Combahee River Raid in the rice fields. This exhibit taught me a lot, though it's inspired me to learn a lot more on my own. Cost was like 15 bucks. Close to all the Charleston attractions. Worthwhile stop with something for everyone. Plan for 1-3 hours depending on exhibit and how much you want to read (I glossed over the European stuff cus I've seen a ton).

What a great, free, experience in downtown Charleston. This is located in a CofC building on Coming…read moreand Calhoun. There is a small store and option to donate. The amount of fossils was great for the kids and adults. Don't forget to look up! There are hanging fossils! Definitely worth a stop.

I enjoyed it so much that I made a video about it:…read more https://youtu.be/0Ok_JxlhT50?si=DWTaVX2yVNEUNuVP

This is an amazing testament to Charleston architecture and wealth circa 1820. It includes two…read morewhole un restored slave dependency buildings. Immaculate collection of antiques and the Aiken family treasures.. It's one of our local landmarks and well worth a visit.

I absolutely loved this house and the three star rating has nothing to do with the preservation and…read moreI very much respect the opinion of others to leave the house as it was found but in MHO preservation also means to keep it in good repair as it was once kept in its original grandeur state or social importance. A few more years and the decay to the elements will bring this house to the ground. If you compare this house to the mansion in the Magnolia Plantation you can see what I mean, restoration doesn't necessarily mean modernizing the house with today's comforts like AC but actually preserve it so future generations can have an idea of how the house looked and functioned back in the years. It is not about the 16 dollar entrance fee but I would rather pay more to see what the house looked like in the splendor of the Chas boom rather than what it looked when the family moved out, moreover if the family was going through hard times and couldn't keep it up in good repair I am sure it was better than today and every day that goes by and for respect to the family the Charleston Museum owes some effort to make it look better not just show it as bad as it looks, just rain seeping through cracks and windows is little by little deteriorating it's appearance until some day it will be a parking lot. Our tour took almost two hours TMI

What a blast, we started from the bottom (engine room) and made our way up to the top! John was the…read morebest guide we could've ever asked for and had answers to any question :)

If you like history or planes, you will love this. And if not, you'll probably still enjoy the view…read moreof the Ravenel Bridge and downtown from the top deck. Worth a visit!

Great tour! Very knowledgeable docent. And perfect length...30-40 minutes…read more Good price...$15/person. Beautiful historic home, 80% of items/furniture are original to the home. Family descendants still occupy the third floor! Some scenes from the Outer Banks Netflix show are filmed in the house. The porches are incredibly beautiful. Great views of the ocean. I do wish we could have seen more rooms. There were a total of about 7 rooms, plus staircase/foyer and the 2nd story porch on the tour. A very cool artifact that hangs on the wall...the South Carolina secession ordinance (of 100 that were originally printed in 1860). Definitely a good way to experience one of the mansions from that period.

Interesting old house right across from the bay. Reasonably priced at $15 a person. Our tour guide…read morewas great and super knowledgeable! A lot of the furniture is original to the house, which means some really cool pieces. Lots of history! Worth it.

Excellent museum we visited on a whim after Saturday brunch on Market Street. Free admission for…read moreVeterans so I donated the cost to the museum. Not sure how many artifacts are here but it was substantial. The little information plaques are a nice touch. The staff were very pleasant. I highly recommend visiting if you are interested in the Civil War and the history of the local area.

This was so interesting. There is so much packed into this very small space Well worth spending…read moretime looking at the displays