Some Fun Facts of the Building

I went to the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon on 22 E Bay Street, in Charleston, SC. It was really cool. While I was there, I learned about the wild history of the building. The tour guide talked about how the building was made to stand out and be seen by people walking around Charleston. It was built in 1771 by slave labor, as most of everything was in the South back in the day. Each brick was made by hand, one at a time, and in some of the bricks, you could still see fingerprints and handprints left behind from the people who were unfortunately forced to build it. The most defining feature, the arches, were made with tons of bricks and tons of prayers, and after numerous hurricanes and earthquakes, they are still holding up beautifully today.

For years, the building was used as storage, and interestingly enough, the Americans managed to stuff seven tons of gunpowder into a makeshift room in the building for twenty years during the American Revolution. Right after it was first hidden, the British took over the building and turned it into a dungeon. During their entire time in the building, the British did not find the room with all the gunpowder. After the war, they left, of course, and the gunpowder went back to its original American owners.

Inside the Building

When you enter, you are greeted by a small gift shop right in front of you. On either side are registers where you buy your tickets for the tour. After buying your tickets, you are told to go to the elevator, which brings you to the basement, A.K.A, the dungeon (dun, dun, dunnnn). Jokes aside, the basement was really cool. You go down there and see the arches first (and they aren’t very tall, so you may want to duck your head if you’re tall). As you walk around more, you begin to see the mannequins they have to show the types of people who were down there, and how the curators think the dungeon was set up under British control.

Me and Gus (yes, that is his actual name)

This is the fake wall of the room where the seven tons of gun powder was that was hidden from the British

Interpreting the Building

The tour guide did a fantastic job explaining how slavery was the backbone of Charleston infrastructure and development. Unfortunately, most, if not all, of the historical buildings in the downtown area were built from enslaved people (including the College of Charleston that I attend), which of course, is not okay, but that was how the South was run back then. We have talked about this numerous times in the Southern Studies course I am taking. We have read numerous articles and poems that discuss what life was like for those who were enslaved, and life was obviously not easy for them. I am very glad that the tour guide made sure to talk about the darker history behind the building, including the literal slave market that took place outside the building because hosting it inside was just “too expensive” for the plantation owners.

The site definitely reflects the historical southern stereotype of the South, with strong ties to slavery, racism, plantations, and war. The site is clearly an important part of Charleston’s identity, and you can surely tell by looking at its colonial style features, along with the fact that it was such a major part of the city. 

Overall, this historical site tells such a huge story of the city of Charleston. This building has been through a lot, just like many of the people who have been involved with it throughout Charleston’s history. I highly recommend a visit here if you are in the Charleston area and want to learn more about this beautiful city’s crazy history.

Rainbow Row is a series of historical homes on East Bay Street that have a distinct paint pattern of colorful pastels. These houses are one of Charleston’s most visited tourist attractions and one of the first things that come to mind when picturing the city. There are 13 separate houses that include colors like salmon, turquoise, purple, and yellow. Not only are they a number of beautiful pastel colors but being historic houses, have incredibly detailed wooden shutters, colonial doors, and large windows.

This location interested me for my research as it truly is one of the most visually stunning parts of Charleston while also having a story I was determined to learn more about. Being in one of the most historically rich cities in the country, Rainbow Row is bound to have a rich history itself. The first of these houses were built in 1740 as a location for British and other colonial merchants to live and work out of close to the water. The mid and late 18^th century served as an important time in South Carolina’s history and even more for Charleston. It was one of the largest ports in the colonies and home of the some of the most wealthy and influential colonists at the time. The South was prospering from trade and profit of the slave trade and Charleston was at the forefront of this economic boom. As the decades passed, Rainbow Row seemed to reflect the state of the South at whatever moment in time. Like the ruin the South was in after the Civil War, the houses on East Bay were neglected and were allowed to devolve into a state of ruin. They began to start to look the way they do today in 1931 when a Charleston couple purchased some of the homes and decided to give them a pastel paint job in an effort to revitalize the neighborhood (Magnus 2017). Their neighbors began to follow suit which resulted in what we know as Rainbow Row today.

The focus on the site today remains its pleasing aesthetics and beautiful colors and the depiction of the homes and the way they are marketed match this. Being the homes of wealthy merchants during the colonial period does open up the possibility of them being home to colonists profiting off the trade of human lives. Also the likelihood that these homes were constructed using slave labor is very high. The slave trade to this day still presents itself in many ways in Charleston with another popular tourist site being “the Old Slave Market”. I do not believe that the people who run the website of Rainbow Row or any other form of advertisement of the attraction attempt to hide this part of Charleston’s history and the Row’s possible tie to it but also do not seem to make an effort to make it aware or acknowledge it.

The city of Charleston is a good representation of the history of the South and Rainbow Row is an extension of the representation. While the color choice of some of the homes perhaps does not match with its colonial history, much of the homes still look very similar to how they would have looked centuries ago. I believe this a reinforcement of the Southern stereotype of being stuck in the past which can either be a positive or negative thing. While a large portion of this nostalgia is tainted by the South’s racist and violent past, Rainbow Row is an example, in my opinion, of a good return to the past and celebrating Southern architectural beauty.

When conducting research and taking notes on the site, I was brought back to many facts and details we had discussed in class previously. An example of this was when I considered that these homes were certainly either home to slaves or the place many had worked during ante-bellum Charleston. I thought back to the “Public History in the South” unit where one NPR article, “Looking ‘Beyond the Big House’ And Into The Lives Of Slaves”, discusses this very topic of remembering the role of enslaved people in these historic colonial homes. Earlier when I discussed the absence of any mention of slave labor or credit, the main topic of this article, an effort to recognize the hidden sacrifices slaves made to much of colonial Charleston through tours, would have been a perfect solution to this issue (McCammon 2017).

Works Cited

Magnus, Traci. “The Captivating History of Rainbow Row.” The Captivating History of Rainbow Row | Charleston.com, 28 Sept. 2017, https://charleston.com/charleston-insider/lowcountry-lifestyles/the-captivating-history-of-rainbow-row.

McCammon, Sarah. “Looking ‘beyond the Big House’ and into the Lives of Slaves.” NPR, NPR, 13 Sept. 2017, https://www.npr.org/2017/09/13/550736172/looking-beyond-the-big-house-and-into-the-lives-of-slaves.

The site that I chose to go visit is Charles Towne Landing. This site is made to commemorate the place where the Europeans first landed in South Carolina in 1670. Being there felt like a peaceful retreat away from the bustle of city life. When one reaches the far side of the property, the downtown area, West Ashley, I-26, and the Ravenel bridge are clearly visible over the water. Despite being in a widely populated area and only about ten minutes from downtown Charleston, the site makes one feel like they stepped back in time. The entrance is lined with flowering trees and open ponds that are home to much wildlife. Within the site is found a great many different structures, animals, and historical artifacts aimed at teaching visitors about life back when people first arrived in Charleston, the system of slavery and the effects it had on the area, the relevance of the Native American peoples, and war and fighting techniques. At Charles town landing I was able to experience the old time-y feel of being on a plantation and walking up under the oaks towards the main house. Also I got to see where the slave graveyard was located and really acknowledge that much of the structural work of the location is thanks to the hard work of formerly enslaved African Americans who helped build, maintain, and uphold the place.

The owners of the plantation nowadays make a conscious effort to recognize the peoples that once lived there, and not just the relevance of the oversees settlers. Before moving to the Downtown Charleston area, formerly known as Oyster Point, the English settlers resided on Charles Town Landing. When they arrived though, they were not alone, a Native American tribe already lived there, and they offered a peace agreement to the settlers. There is a large pole that is about 20 feet tall, now located on Charles Town Landing called, “The Landing Brave”, that not only only represents the Natives, but also their culture. Carved into the pole itself is the image of a former Native American Chief. This pole is placed at the entrance to the mini zoo/ animal exhibition, and because the animals are a popular stop, the pole is assured its deserved recognition as people take a moment to take it in and appreciate its beauty.

The vast beauty of the site, and the fact that there is importance placed not just on one aspect of early southern life, but many different parts of it, make this site worthy enough to visit. It really is a great representation of the south considering it was the first stop for old world travelers to this state, and there is so much to learn about trading routes, African Americans, and the economy here from that time as well.

One of the parts of the site that I enjoyed the most was where there was a boat located that is intended to replicate the vessels used for trade and transportation in the Charleston area at that time. When I arrived to that part, there was even a guide waiting there for us ready and able to offer any information that we wanted to inquire about along with a sign that details trading in the area and its importance.

I believe that because the site makes a great attempt to acknowledge and represent all the peoples and aspects that were present there, that it is complete and truthful. Unlike other historic sites in the area, this place did not attempt to hide ugly truths behind beautiful scenery, instead they looked to appreciate and give recognition to all the various aspects and people that contributed to what the place is today. The site, in my opinion, challenged common stereotypes about the south and how we have always chosen to more greatly honor the white population and push the minority communities to the side.  This adds to my understanding of the 21st century south because it proves that we are making moves to be more accepting and beginning the much needed attempt to make amends for all the wrongdoings of the past.

Turning onto Charlestowne Landing from South Carolina 171, you almost feel like you are stepping into a different world, far away from a bustling city. The Charles Towne Landing Historic Site holds several pieces of unique history while also educating visitors about the lives of the first settlers to land in Charleston, South Carolina. The first stop is the visitors center, where a museum is set up to give visitors an insight into the people who came from Britain, the people who were already here, and the animals and vegetation they encounter. The first settlers from Britain would land on the edge of Albemarle Point, which would become old Charles Towne in 1670. Also, in the visitors center, you can find a model of the ship that brought them from England to Barbados to the new settlement that they would call Carolina. After leaving the visitors center, you walk along a two-mile trail with several offshoots where recreations of original artifacts and foundations remain.

The first stop along the trail is a Native American ceremonial site that more than likely belonged to the tribe that became known as the Kiawah. Near that sight is an offshoot that leads to the Animal Forest, where visitors can encounter many animals that those early settlers found, such as bison and elk, while also learning about animals like the carrier pigeon that these settlers drove to extinction. Continuing along the trail, visitors can see the ruins of the Horry-Lucas house where the Plantation system in the American plantation system symbolically was born and died when the house burned in 1865. Following the trail towards the Ashley River, visitors pass through the Palisade walls meant to protect the early settlement from animals, native Americans, and Spaniards. Inside the wall is a replica of a common house where slaves or indentured servants would have lived and where today, many programs about daily life in those early years happen. Directly across from the common house is where 12 were placed cannons to help protect the early settlement from Spanish ships due to Charles Towne’s proximity to the Spanish port of Santa Elena. At the furthest point of the trail, visitors can see a replica of a 17th-century cargo ship known as the Adventure and Oyster Point, where, in 1670, those early settlers would create the city known today as Charleston.

Walking along the trails and looking out towards the peninsula, I could see the marshes’ safety and security provided the first English settlement in South Carolina. The historic sight pulls the visitor into several moments in the past, from the early settlers to the plantations that thrived there until the Civil War. I believe that by including the common house and Kiawah ceremonial site, the whole story of the site is given to the visitors, not just that of the early white settlers. Some Southern stereotypes are reinforced on the site, such as the gardens of the Legare-Waring House, which would have shown off the wealth of the plantation owners.  In the film “If These Walls Could Talk,” the reminder is that the houses and palisades that were prominent in Charles Towne were built on the back of slave labor and indentured servitude. Walking through the site, I could see how many different decades defined the history of Charleston before the settlement at Oyster Point and before the Kiawah used the area as a ceremonial site and after large plantations used the area for farming. Staring across the Ashley River towards Charleston, I felt as though I could see the hope and plans of those early settlers finally complete.

When offered the opportunity to go visit a historical site in Charleston, I was immediately faced with a large selection. As I thought of places to visit and write about, I realized that I have already visited a historic site multiple times. St. Patrick Catholic Church is located at the corner of St. Philips street and Radcliffe street. I attend mass at St. Patrick every Sunday at five o’clock in the evening, and it’s my family’s rule that we don’t take our phones out when we are in church and the other times I went to visit for pictures, the doors were unfortunately closed. However, while the doors may physically have been closed, the history of the church is an extraordinarily open and welcoming one. From attending mass, I know that the church itself does not care what religion or race you are, if you want to attend mass, you are always welcome. Even if you want to just gotry it out, the doors are open to everyone for mass.

When you first approach St. Patrick Catholic Church, it looks like a church out of an old scary movie. This is because the church is very old and that time shows through the style of the building as well as the interior. The church is surrounded by a large metal fence that has three sets of swinging gates that you can enter through. As you walk down the concrete path up to the church stairs, there is a faint smell of herbs and incense that gets more intense the smell gets. When you open the doors the smell gets much more intense as you walk onto the old wooden stairs that lead into the main area. The walls are painted a very comforting white color which is contrasted by the dark wooden arches that support the ceiling. On the ceiling, the paint is much more worn and peeling off. This shows the age of the church a little more than the outside does. If you are facing the church, the right side has a little graveyard beside it. These graves show the age of the church very well because the stone, yes STONE gravestones are mostly broken down and crumbling and most of the names can not even be deciphered. 

St. Patrick challenges many racial stereotypes of the South because the church was originally founded by a majority of people of color. St. Peter was a catholic church that was joined with St. Patrick and that church was originally for the Catholic African-American community in Charleston. This refutes the stereotype that everywhere was discriminatory of people of color in the South and that in the Catholic church, they were accepted regardless of race. In “If These Walls Could Talk,” it was discussed that a majority if not all of Charleston was built by the hands of enslaved African-Americans. The beautiful thing about St. Patrick is that it was mostly built by the African-American community and so they technically built up the Catholic community in downtown Charleston. The front lives up to the motto on their welcome sign “A Welcoming Family” and I personally think everyone needs to go check out St. Patrick Catholic Church.

Magnolia Plantation

Last Saturday morning I drove 25 minutes to Magnolia Plantation. When we arrived at the site we were surprised to see a small festival taking place that brought many to the area. All ages came to see the historic landmark and enjoyed various activities such as face painting, dancing to music, and shopping from the local businesses. We enjoyed walking around the booths and then the petting zoo, but our favorite thing to see was the beautiful landscape past the entrance. I will now recommend everyone in the area to see the gardens at Magnolia Plantation. There are multiple white bridges extending over several small lakes and ponds, and an outlook to see the marshland and moss hanging off of the trees. The house itself is also extremely beautiful, and its size demonstrates the vast wealth that the family carried.

This site is not only aesthetically beautiful, but it is also is one of the oldest plantations, as the Drayton family first established the site in 1676. The Magnolia Plantation is a perfect representation of the themes from Southern history, from the enslavement of many contrasting the wealth of the owners obtained from growing Rice. In addition to history from acting as a Plantation, the area also served as the setting for the final attack on Charleston in the American Revolutionary War from the British troops in 1780. This was not the only time that the Magnolia Plantation saw war, as the house was caught on fire by Union troops during the time of the Civil War. This caused the family to be in desperate need of financial stability, which led to them opening the gardens to the public in the 1870.

Four of the five enslaved homes available to tour are built during the time before slavery was abolished. The conditions of the home show the horrible reality that Magnolia Plantation slaves were forced to endure throughout the South. The tour guide made the audience very aware of slavery’s history on Magnolia Plantation, and stressed how brutally they were treated. He brought our group through what their regular day working on the plantation was like, and the transition that they experienced following the abolition of slavery. He explained that while the slaves were freed following the end of the Civil War, many slaves did not have the funds necessary to move away from Magnolia Plantation. This meant that many slaves stayed on the grounds after being freed and worked for a very low cost in conditions that were similar to when they were enslaved. 

The tour guides approach was similar to the argument made in If These Walls Could Talk. Both approaches accomplished not only acknowledging the history of slavery in the South, but also appealing to the emotions of the viewers. Seeing the conditions that the enslaved people were forced to live in and imaging the enslaved children working to build the city we love is undoubtedly hard to hear. That being said, the emotions that arise from these experiences show that as a society we must do better. Throughout the many years that have passed since those enslaved people at Magnolia Plantation worked on the fields growing rice, and the enslaved people worked long hours to build the city of Charleston, we have changed to be acknowledge our history and hopefully never let it repeat. Magnolia Plantation serves as a symbol of Southern culture. That includes the good (the beautiful gardens, vast wealth of plantation owners, and cultural traditions) and the bad (the many years of enslaved suffering and systematic racism). 

Sydney Long

Located at 122 E. Bay Street, Charleston, SC, stands the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon. The building is one of the oldest National Historic Landmarks in Charleston, built in 1971. The building was designed by William Rigby Naylor and constructed by Peter and John Horbleck. Purposefully placed at the end of Broad Street in the commercial center of the city, the building allowed people easy access to trade goods. The appearance of the building makes it stick out from the rest. It has lots of large windows, three huge arched doorways, and multiple flags placed at the entrance. Entering the building, I was greeted by a woman dressed in colonial clothing and surrounded by artifacts. The way the building is decorated combined with all of the workers dressed up like they were from the 1700’s offers visitors a sense of what it was like to be from that time period during the Revolutionary War. On the brochure, there’s a quote that says “History comes alive as Colonial dressed guides talk about extraordinary events of old Charles Town.” After experiencing it for myself, I would agree with that statement. This site holds great historical significance in the U.S. for many reasons. It was originally built as a customs house but ended up serving as a city hall, post office, and a place where slaves were auctioned off. Inside the building, the Declaration of Independence was presented to the people of South Carolina in 1776 and there is a copy in there today. In addition, the United States constitution was ratified here in 1772, further increasing the building significance in the history of the U.S. As I walked through the building, I came across a room on the second floor and one of the workers said that George Washington himself danced in that room for hours. George Washington visited the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon several times during his Southern tour he went on after being elected the United States first president. Standing in the room, I felt super connected to our country’s history and visualized what it would actually be like to see George Washington dancing in front of me. The site itself sticks out to me so much because I’m sure when the building was built, no one envisioned some of the country’s most important historical events to happen there. One building was able to serve as storage for British tea that was seized, a military prison for British soldiers, slave trade and much more. I am very impressed with the way the museum was able to preserve these artifacts even after suffering earthquake damages. I do not think the building’s interpretation shy’s away from the dark side of the United States history at all. I felt like I was given a very transparent view of both the positive and negative historical occurrences at the building. I feel like I was provided a very unbiased idea of history because while things like the declaration of independence are put on display, so are slaves’ badges, representing the ugly sides of our history as well. When I came across the slave badges, I remembered the ones we held at the Gibbes Museum and it reinforced how prevalent slavery was in Charleston. In my opinion, I do not think the site reinforces stereotypes of the South, but I do see how that could be seen. For example, there is a confederate flag hung in the first room, which is heavily associated with the stereotype of the South being racists. However, I think it is more meant to remind visitors of our history rather than reinforcing those stereotypes. After this visit, I felt a lot more aware of my surroundings and was able to grasp that I live in a city that holds such an important place in history.

The Nathaniel Russell house is a beautiful house. The house has lots of small details that show wealth. When I looked at this house online it was already beautiful, but in person it was absolutely stunning. The outside of the house is a beautiful brick house and my eyes were drawn to the second floor of the house by the white gated balcony. I later discovered in the middle of the gate Nathaniel Russels monogram was in it. Not only was the house itself beautiful but also the gardens surrounding the house. You are led through the gardens before you enter around the back of the house and this was absolutely beautiful. All of the houses within the house show the wealth this family had. Many of the rooms had bright wallpaper and beautiful molding around the ceiling which contained real gold. Not only did the molding in the ceiling have real gold but also the china on the dining room table. Something that I thought was interesting was the bright floral carpet in one of the rooms of the house. There was a beautiful spiral staircase that we were not able to go up on but it added a nice touch to the house. A unique aspect of the house was that it had a curve to it and Mr Russel curved the doors to fit the curve of the house. Something that I thought was interesting in the house was the bed frame in the master bedroom. This bed is known as a rice bed because on the post of the beds are rice. I thought it was cool that throughout different rooms in the house there were portraits of each family member. (Dinning Room)(molding with gold as well as bright carpet)

This house is aesthetically beautiful as were many of the historic Charleston homes. I think these homes show the importance of showing off your wealth in the south. Mr Russell showed his wealth not only in the house but through little aspects of the house. Through the gold molding, mahogany doors, tea box, and many other little things that tied the house all together. The family was able to have all of this money because Nathaniel Russell did own slaves and was a prominet figure in the slave trade. 

I went on a guided tour of the house and one of the first things the tour guide told us about was about slaves. There were parts of the house that showed the slave quarters and the tour guide also showed us a room which looked out over the gardens and where the slaves would be working. Throughout the house however I would not say the site is trying to minimize the exposure to negative aspects, but it just was not there to be shown in different parts of the house. If I had not gone on a guided tour I would not have known that in certain rooms you would be greeted by slaves and lead to the room you needed to go to. The house does a good job of showing the presence of slaves by showing where the slave quarters were as well as a plaque explaining it.

I did not realize there were specific rooms for specific tasks in older homes. I thought that it was really interesting that if you were there for business you would be led to the study, while if you were there for entertainment you were led directly upstairs. Basically the bottom floor was the business floor and the second story was for entertainment and socialization purposes. This site reinforces the aspect of slavery in the south and that slave owners were very wealthy. This site also reinforces the stereotype that money was made off of slaves and that southern culture heavily relied on agriculture.

 While it  was not really discussed on the tour you can assume that the slaves sang spirituals while working on the plantation and throughout the house. Not having money was definitely not something the Russels were worried about because Mr Russel built this house because his other house was too small and did not show off his wealth enough. He would have not had this wealth if he did not have slaves. The aspects of portraits can be related back to the Gibbes. The portraits showed wealth and there were multiple portraits throughout the house. This house can also be related to the film “If These Walls could Talk” because the house was built off of slave labor.

Mary Hughes Lawrence

I had the opportunity to visit The Old Slave Mart Museum located on Chalmers Street. As I walked down Chalmers Street, I was amazed by the cobblestone road and historic looking buildings. The museum was easy to spot with big metal letters spelling “MART’’ above the entrance. The building itself looked to be made out of a concrete like material. After walking in and paying the entrance fee, I journeyed into the first room. I had the chance to read some of the walls covered in facts before a museum worker came into the room. He gave us background information on domestic and international slave trading and informed us that the port of Charleston was the biggest slave port in the United States, having brought in more slaves than any other port. The worker explained to us that international slave trading was outlawed in 1808 before the Old Slave Mart was created, so only domestic slaves (slaves born i

Selfie at The Old Slave Mart Museum

n America) were sold at the Mart. While in operation, the Old Slave Mart was called Ryan’s Mart. Ryan’s Mart was a well-known slave market and was open from 1856 to 1863. After the Civil War, locals decided to call the site “The Old Slave Mart”. The museum worker also informed us that we were standing in what was once the showroom of the Old Slave Mart. I felt emotional standing in a place where human beings were bought and sold. The dark past of this beautiful looking museum reminded me of the documentary, “If These Walls Could Talk”, where they explained how slaves were responsible for the construction of some of the iconic buildings on the College of Charleston campus.

Displayed in the next room were first-hand accounts, artifacts, descriptions, and facts of how the slave auctions worked. The Old Slave Mart Museum does not sugarcoat the ugly truth of slavery and its prominence in South Carolina. One of the walls discussed how slaves would purposely mutilate themselves so that they would be less valuable to buyers. It was interesting to learn how slaves resisted in any way they could. We learn about prominent abolitionists in school but never think about all of the enslaved people that rebelled in little ways. I was shocked to see the tiny shackles that children were forced to wear. I learned from “If These Walls Could Talk” that children were put to work at a young age and it is horrifying to imagine a child wearing shackles. The museum has speakers set up that play the voice of a slave auctioneer, buyers, and horse clopping. This background noise helps visitors glimpse into the past. The second floor provides a broader view of slavery. Facts about slavery in different countries and enslaved people are featured on the walls. One of the display cases houses a branding iron and a Runaway Ad that provided the information that the runaway slave had a brand on their cheek. It was disturbing to see shackles and whips that were used on enslaved people.

This site challenges the stereotypes about the South. There is a stereotype that the South brushes its history of slavery under the rug. The Old Slave Mart Museum bares the ugly truth of its past and brings attention to the enslaved people that were sold there. Similarly, “If These Walls Could Talk” unveils the College of Charleston’s ties to slavery. This museum was created to share the stories of the enslaved blacks and the actions of traders and owners. The Old Slave Mart Museum displays its importance to visitors by explaining its long history and antiquity. The Old Slave Mart Museum helped me grasp a better understanding of slave auctions and the history of slavery in the South. I will definitely be recommending this museum to my friends and family.

-Abby Elmore