What to See & Do

"This is the home and workshop of the master blacksmith, Philip Simmons (1912-2009). He was born on Daniel Island; came to Charleston in 1920 to attend Buist Elementary School (now Academy), On his route to school he was attracted to the sounds that flowed from the blacksmith shop of Peter Simmons (no relation) who was a former slave. Peter invited him into his shop at age 13, taught him the basics of the craft, and the rest is history. His home is available for tours and his legacy is being preserved by the Philip Simmons Foundation, Inc. The workshop is operated by his nephew, Carlton Simmons. "

A combination of original buildings and compelling stories, this-preserved-as found antebellum mansion and landscape showcases Charleston history. Connect with the lives of the enslaved on the property, as well as the Aiken family, through the surviving work yard, furnishings and archaeology.

Join us as we begin celebrating 160 years at 125 Bull Street. The Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture is an archive, library and museum that lives inside of the former Avery Normal Institute. The Center offers self-guided tours, hosts workshops, and spotlights creative expressions from the African Diaspora. For more information: avery.cofc.edu/visit.

The Black History in America Exhibit at Boone Hall Plantation features nine original brick cabins that once housed the enslaved. These cabins have been adapted to present different aspects and specific timeframes throughout black history. Live Gullah presentations also featured.

Enslaved men and women of African descent were among the first settlers of Charleston in 1670. Visitors can learn more about their important contributions at Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site through a variety of exhibits and park programs.

Drayton Hall is a historic site located in the Ashley River Historic District of Charleston, South Carolina. Drayton Hall was established in 1738. In addition to the main house Drayton Hall is an active archaeological site that includes a caretaker’s house, exhibit galleries, and the African American Cemetery.

The Gibbes Museum of Art features a comprehensive and diverse collection of American art that touches Charleston including works by African American artists such as Dave Drake, Mary Jackson, Kara Walker, Jonathan Green, David Driskell, Charles White and Sam Doyle.

Hampton Plantation State Historic Site is a former rice plantation in the Santee Delta. Visitors can learn about the lives and impact of multiple generations of men and women of African descent through a variety of exhibits and park programs.

The IAAM tells the unvarnished stories of the African American experience across generations, the trauma and triumph that gave rise to a resilient people.

Magnolia’s From Slavery to Freedom tour focuses on the generations of men, women, and children, both enslaved and free, who've lived and labored here since the beginning. Four restored slave cabins serve as backdrop and context for storytelling and discussion.

Established in 1851, McLeod Plantation has borne witness to many significant periods of our nation’s history. Today McLeod Plantation Historic Site is an important Gullah/Geechee heritage site that has been carefully preserved in recognition of its cultural and historical significance.

More than a museum, library, or archives: a treasury of knowledge to be discovered. As the state's oldest historical society, our mission is to expand, preserve, and make accessible our invaluable collection, and to encourage interest in the rich history of our state.

The Charleston Museum provides an overview of the cultural and natural history of the South Carolina Lowcountry through its diverse collections. Its historic houses, meanwhile, tell the stories of their residents, including the enslaved people who lived and worked there.

Explore the Lowcountry’s African American history via the Black Businesses of Charleston Oral History Project, The Charleston Justice Journey, and the Mapping Charleston’s Black Burial Grounds project at preservationsociety.org. Shop local makers and books at The Preservation Society retail store at 147 King Street. The Preservation Society of Charleston is a non-profit advocacy organization founded in 1920 as the nation’s first grassroots historic preservation group.