Gozaic of the Week: Charleston, South Carolina

Just as the dashing Rhett Butler won over Scarlett O’Hara in “Gone with the Wind,” the historic port city of Charleston has a way of working its Southern charm on visitors. Walking through sun-soaked gardens, strolling on the banks of the Ashley River or browsing boutiques on a winding side street, you’ll find it’s hard not to fall for this gem on the South Carolina coast.

History
Dating back to 1670, the city was originally called “Charles Towne” and attracted a mix of English, German, French, Scottish and Irish immigrants. Cotton became a major export, and the busy seaport was soon a bustling center of commerce. Fertile land in the nearby Low Country helped local farmers make a fortune in rice and indigo, and soon Charleston made a name for itself as one of the most prosperous colonial cities. But it was also a city that found itself swept up in the bitterness of war. South Carolina was the first state to break off from the Union, and the first shots of the Civil War were fired in Charleston Harbor at Fort Sumter. Despite Reconstruction, a devastating earthquake in 1886 and Hurricane Hugo’s wrath in 1989, Charleston today is a vibrant Southern city that hasn’t forgotten its deep roots.

Where to Visit
There are several distinct sections of Charleston. The Old and Historic District is home to 3,000 historic buildings and is listed as a National Historic Landmark, while the French Quarter includes the Gothic-Style French Huguenot Church, the Dock Street Theatre and the Pink Tavern. North Charleston hosts many of the city’s events, such as the Fourth of July Festival, and also contains museums and luxury hotels. The city is broken up into smaller neighborhoods, such as Rainbow Row, Mount Pleasant National Register Historic District and West Ashley, with each offering its own flavor.

What to Do
Charleston is known for its wealth of magnificent plantations, which visitors are welcome to tour. One of the most popular is Drayton Hall, a National Trust Historic Site, and the oldest unrestored plantation house in America open to the public. Magnolia Plantation features America’s oldest gardens, c. 1680, and Middleton Place is another meticulously landscaped estate.

There are plenty of museums in Charleston, including the Edmonston-Alston House, which offers a lovely view of Charleston Harbor, the Old Slave Mart Museum and The Charleston Museum, the first museum in America. Antique lovers and art fiends will find an array of shops to keep them occupied, and the oldest community-based preservation organization owns a book and gift shop, where proceeds go toward preservation-related activities in the city. If your stomach starts to grumble, you’re in the right place -- Charleston’s grits and fresh seafood can’t be missed, and there are numerous cafes and high-end restaurants to satisfy anyone’s appetite.

Have you visited Charleston? Write a review or share your photos on Gozaic.

Gozaic (go-ZAY-ik). Noun. 1) The name of a website, Gozaic.com. 2) The fusion of “go,” for travel and the mosaic of heritage and culture. 3) The mosaic of images to illustrate the dimensions of a featured heritage or cultural destination.