Fort Sumter National Monument
Fort Sumter is a sea fort built on an artificial island protecting Charleston, South Carolina from naval invasion. Its origin dates to the War of 1812 when the British invaded Washington by sea. It was still incomplete in 1861 when the Battle of Fort Sumter began the American Civil War.
The fort was severely damaged during the war and left in ruins. Although there was some rebuilding, the fort as conceived was never completed. Since mid 20th century, Fort Sumter has been open to the public as part of the Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park, operated by the National Park Service.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens is a historic house with gardens located on the Ashley River. It is one of the oldest plantations in the South and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The plantation dates to 1676 when Thomas and Ann Drayton built a house and small formal garden on the site. Magnolia was originally a rice plantation. It features extensive earthworks of dams and dikes built in fields along the river for irrigating land for rice cultivation.
Historic Charleston City Market
The City Market is a historic market complex in downtown Charleston, South Carolina. Established in the 1790s, the market stretches four city blocks from the architecturally-significant Market Hall. It’s been described as a building of the highest architectural design quality.
Initially known as the Centre Market, Charleston’s City Market was developed as a replacement for the city’s Beef Market building which burned in 1796. Market Hall was added in the early 1840s. Throughout the 19th century, the market provided a convenient place for area farms and plantations to sell beef and produce. It also acted as a place for locals to gather and socialize.
South Carolina Aquarium
The South Carolina Aquarium opened May 19, 2000 on the historic Charleston Harbor. It’s home to more than 10,000 plants and animals including North American river otters, loggerhead sea turtles, alligators, great blue herons, owls, lined seahorses, jellyfish, pufferfish, green moray eels, horseshoe crabs, sea stars, pythons, and sharks.
The largest exhibit in the zoo is the Great Ocean Tank which extends from the first to the third floor of the Aquarium and is the deepest tank in North America. It holds more than 385,000 gallons of water and contains more than 700 animals. The Aquarium also features a Touch Tank where patrons may touch horseshoe crabs, Atlantic stingrays and other marine animals.
Rainbow Row
Rainbow Row is the name for a series of thirteen colorful historic houses in Charleston. Each house was restored and painted in pastel colors in the 1930s-40s, hence the name. It’s a popular tourist attraction and is one of the most photographed parts of Charleston.
Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum
Patriots Point Development Authority established in the 1970s and created as a naval and maritime museum. Located on Charleston Harbor with the World War II aircraft carrier, USS YORKTOWN as its centerpiece. It’s also home to the Patriots Point Museum and a fleet of National Historic Landmark ships.
Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum serves as a national destination of excellence for the preservation and education of current and future generations about America’s history, traditions and values.
Joe Riley Waterfront Park
Waterfront Park is an 8 acre park along approximately one-half mile of the Cooper River in Charleston. The park received the 2007 Landmark Award from the American Society of Landscape Architects and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
This award “recognizes a distinguished landscape architecture project completed between 15 and 50 years ago that retains its original design integrity and contributes significantly to the public realm of the community in which it is located.”
Middleton Place
Middleton Place National Historic Landmark is a plantation in Dorchester County. Built in several phases during the 18th and 19th centuries. The plantation was the primary residence of several generations of the Middleton family, many of whom played prominent roles in the colonial and antebellum history of South Carolina.
John Williams an early South Carolina planter probably began building Middleton Place in the late 1730s. His son-in-law Henry Middleton, who later served as President of the First Continental Congress, completed the house’s main section and its north and south flankers. Middleton’s son Arthur Middleton, a signer of Declaration of Independence, was born at Middleton Place and lived at the plantation in the last years of his life.
The Battery
The Battery is a landmark defensive seawall and promenade in Charleston. Named for a civil-war coastal defense artillery battery at the site, it stretches along the lower shores of the Charleston peninsula. It borders the Ashley and Cooper Rivers which meet to form Charleston harbor.
Splash Zone Waterpark
Located within James Island County Park is the Splash Zone Waterpark. It features a 200-foot tube and open slide, 500-foot lazy river, waterfalls and leisure pool. Great fun for all ages.
For more ACA Summer Program details, CLICK HERE. Follow along @acasummer on the ‘gram!