Category: History

Reminder: SINHG Evening Program: Indigo and the Lowcountry Sep 14

The Seabrook Island Natural History Group (SINHG) launches its fall series of Evening Programs with an exploration of indigo’s history and cultivation on Johns Island and the revival of interest in growing and processing the plant for contemporary uses. The program will be offered on Thursday evening, September 14 at 7:00 pm and will be presented by Lee Ann Bain, a well-known Charleston tour guide and historian of Lowcountry culture.

As a member of the Daniel Island Historical Society, Bain has uncovered and documented indigo processing sites on what were once two contiguous colonial era plantations on the island. Last year, Smithsonian Magazine detailed the renewed interest in the plant on Johns Island, where several indigo farms are now in operation, providing the deep blue dye for use in clothing and accessories.

SINHG Evening Programs at The Lake House will continue later in the fall with the examination of Charleston architecture in October and the exploration of the history of Seabrook Island in November. Evening Programs are open to all Seabrook Island residents and guests, with a $5 admission charge for non-SINHG members. To register, visit SINHG Events.

-Submitted by Norm Powers for SINHG

(Image credit: SINHG)

September at the Charleston Museum


The calendar of special events in September at the Charleston Museum includes the following:

September 8 – Fossil Friday with the Natural History Department

September 9* – In Defense of Charleston: A Tour of Battery Pringle with Chief of Collections Jennifer McCormick

September 9* – STEAM Saturday: Nature Protectors

September 10* –Indigo Dyeing Workshop with Local Artist Kristy Bishop

September 15 – Fossil Friday with the Natural History Department

September 17* – Children’s Painting Workshop with Local Artist and Museum Educator Maggie Roof

September 21* – Homeschool History Day: Day at the Dill

September 21 – Special 250th Early Days Gallery Tour with Curator of Archaeology Martha Zierden

September 22* – Owl Pellet Workshop

September 22 – Fossil Friday with the Natural History Department

September 28 – Exploring Pottery-making to Learn about Indigenous and African Communities during Charleston’s Colonial Period (ca. 1670-1750) with Dr. Jon Marcoux

September 29 – Fossil Friday with the Natural History Department

October 7 – Community Day at the Dill Sanctuary

*Reservations Required

-Submitted by The Charleston Museum

(Image credit: charlestonmuseum.org)

SINHG Evening Program: Indigo and the Lowcountry Sep 14

The Seabrook Island Natural History Group (SINHG) launches its fall series of Evening Programs with an exploration of indigo’s history and cultivation on Johns Island and the revival of interest in growing and processing the plant for contemporary uses. The program will be offered on Thursday evening, September 14 at 7:00 pm and will be presented by Lee Ann Bain, a well-known Charleston tour guide and historian of Lowcountry culture.

As a member of the Daniel Island Historical Society, Bain has uncovered and documented indigo processing sites on what were once two contiguous colonial era plantations on the island. Last year, Smithsonian Magazine detailed the renewed interest in the plant on Johns Island, where several indigo farms are now in operation, providing the deep blue dye for use in clothing and accessories.

SINHG Evening Programs at The Lake House will continue later in the fall with the examination of Charleston architecture in October and the exploration of the history of Seabrook Island in November. Evening Programs are open to all Seabrook Island residents and guests, with a $5 admission charge for non-SINHG members. To register, visit SINHG Events.

-Submitted by Norm Powers for SINHG

(Image credit: SINHG)

Upcoming Events at Charleston’s Historic Plantations

  • Sip & Stroll on the Drayton Hall Landscape ◊ September 2, October 7
    You are invited to attend the most extraordinary outdoor Charleston wine and beer event. Guests will be served wine and local brews while walking the grounds and learning about the historical happenings on the landscape. Guests will also receive a complimentary wine glass, or koozie, to take home.
    Click here for additional information.
  • Webinar: The Draytons vs. The Griswolds: A Summer Vacation ◊ September 14
    Before there was the Griswold family, there was the Drayton family. In July of 1806, at the age of 63, Dr Charles Drayton loaded up the family truckster for a tour of the northeast with stops in Baltimore, Washington, New York, Philadelphia, and other many other locales. Along the way, the family encountered friends, family, celebrities, and a number of popular culture icons and attractions in a manner similar to the Griswold family as portrayed in National Lampoon’s American Vacation. Join Dr. Carter C. Hudgins on September 14 from 5:00 – 6:00 pm as he explores the travels of the Drayton family alongside the adventures of the Griswolds.
    Click here for additional information.
  • Pon Pon Chapel of Ease Field Trip ◊ September 23
    Visit Pon Pon Chapel of Ease. The chapel is now a ruin but was active from 1725-1832. Located on Parker’s Ferry Road near Jacksonboro, SC, the chapel played an important role in the area’s history. The tour begins at 10:00 am. Register today, space is extremely limited!
    Click here for additional information.
  • Indigo Dyeing Workshop ◊ September 30
    Join Drayton Hall for an Indigo Dyeing Class with CHI Design Indigo! Guests will learn the process and techniques for dyeing fabric with the historically significant plant inside the Lenhardt Garden in our Education Pavilion. During this workshop, guests will dye their own scarf.
    Click here for additional information.
  • Teacher Appreciation Day ◊ August 8
    Free Garden admission for all teachers and homeschoolers with proof of school ID or homeschool program.
    Click here for additional information.
  • Wine on the Piazza Edmondston-Alston House ◊ August 17, September 21, October 19
    Enjoy a self-guided tour of the Edmondston-Alston House followed by a glass of wine on the second-story piazza overlooking Charleston Harbor.
    For additional information click on the desired date: Aug 17, Sep 21, Oct 19

–Tidelines Editors

August at the Charleston Museum


The calendar of special events in August at the Charleston Museum includes the following:

August 4 – Fossil Friday with the Natural History Department

August 7 – 11* – The Charleston Museum Summer Camp

August 7 – 11* –STEAM Explorers Camp (Ages 6 – 11)

August 9* – Exclusive Society Members Tour: Giant Predators of the Ancient Atlantic with Curator of Natural History Matthew Gibson

August 10* – What’s the Pattern? Exploring Transfer-printed Earthenwares from Charleston with Curator of Historical Archaeology Martha Zierden and Archaeology Volunteer Juliana Falk

August 11 – Conversations with a Curator: Ice Age Giants with Curator of Natural History Matthew Gibson

August 11 – Fossil Friday with the Natural History Department

August15* – Fossil Frenzy Workshop

August 16* – Colonial Crafts Workshop

August 17* – Excavating Egypt Workshop

August 18* – Teen Terrarium Workshop

August 18 – Fossil Friday with the Natural History Department

August 25 – Fossil Friday with the Natural History Department

*Reservations Required

-Submitted by The Charleston Museum

(Image credit: charlestonmuseum.org)

Upcoming Events at Charleston’s Historic Plantations

  • 10th Annual Ladybug Day ◊ July 29
    Join us at Magnolia Plantation & Gardens on Saturday, July 29, 2023 for our 10th Annual Ladybug Day! This family friendly event will take place from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm.
    Click here for additional information.
  • Paint & Sip at The Inn at Middleton Place ◊ July 14
    Join us for a Paint & Sip party at The Inn at Middleton Place Lake House! Enjoy beer, wine, and light snacks for purchase while you learn how to paint with step-by-step instructions. Limited tickets available.
    Click here for additional information.
  • African Seed Exchange Workshop ◊ July 15
    Join Kim Pruit, Middleton Place Nursery Manager, to learn more about plants with cultural and symbolic significance within the African American community. Take home seeds and grow a varietal in your home garden.
    Click here for additional information.
  • Wine on the Piazza Edmondston-Alston House ◊ July 20
    Enjoy a self-guided tour of the Edmondston-Alston House followed by a glass of wine on the second-story piazza overlooking Charleston Harbor.
    Click here for additional information.
  • Distinguished Speakers Series ◊ July 23
    Carin Bloom will discuss her chapter, A Black Loyalist’s Liberty: How Lucy Banbury Took Back Her Freedom, in the recently published collection of research entitled “Women Waging War In The American Revolution”.
    Click here for additional information.
  • Wine on the Piazza Edmondston-Alston House ◊ August 17
    Enjoy a self-guided tour of the Edmondston-Alston House followed by a glass of wine on the second-story piazza overlooking Charleston Harbor.
    Click here for additional information.

–Tidelines Editors

July at the Charleston Museum


The calendar of special events in July at the Charleston Museum includes the following:

July 5 – Kids Tours: Fantastic Flags

July 7 – Fossil Friday with the Natural History Department

July 9 – Last Day to View: Eliza Lucas Pinckney: A Legacy in Silk

July 12 – Kid Tours: Say Cheese!

July 14 – Fossil Friday with the Natural History Department

July 15* – STEAM Saturday: Fireworks

July 19 – Kid Tours: 250 Years of the Charleston Museum

July 20 – Curator Talk: Snakes in the Lowcountry with Curator of Natural History Matthew Gibson and Natural History Volunteer Makayla Peppin-Sherwood

July 21 – Fossil Friday with the Natural History Department

July 22* – Winged Wonders: Beetle Pinning and Preservation Workshop

July 26 – Kid Tours: Lowcountry Safari

July 27 – Special 250th Early Days Gallery Tour with Curator of History Chad Stewart

July 28 – Fossil Friday with the Natural History Department

July 31 – August 4* – The Charleston Museum Summer Camp

July 31 – August 4* – STEAM Explorers Camp (Ages 6 – 11)

*Reservations Required

-Submitted by The Charleston Museum

(Image credit: charlestonmuseum.org)

SINHG Releases Fall Schedule

The Seabrook Island Natural History Group (SINHG) has released its autumn schedule of SINHG Trips for members.

The 37 educational and recreational trips begin in mid-September with a culinary tour of downtown Charleston and end in December with an overnight visit to Brookgreen Gardens and its annual holiday season “Nights of a Thousand Candles.” Among the new member offerings for the fall is a Sounds of Charleston concert at downtown’s historic Circular Church and a tour of barrier island oyster farms. Returning favorites include boating excursions around Charleston Harbor and the Intracoastal Waterway, downtown history and cultural tours and kayaking excursions.

SINGH’s fall series of Evening Programs for island residents and guests will resume in September with a presentation on indigo’s role in the growth of Lowcountry plantation culture, followed in October and November by programs about Charleston architecture and a history of Seabrook Island itself.

For more information about SINHG Trips for members, Evening Programs and SINHG membership, visit sinhg.org.


-Submitted by Norm Powers for SINHG

IAAM Opens Tuesday, June 27, 2023

Charleston is fortunate to be the home of the International African American Museum (IAAM) opening to the public on Tuesday, June 27, 2023. According to their website, the mission of the IAAM is to honor the untold stories of the African American journey. Visitors can engage with history through transformative storytelling, remarkable artifacts and exhibitions, and a uniquely impactful power of pace.

IAAM is located at 14 Wharfside Street in downtown Charleston. It is the historic site of Gadsden’s Wharf which was the arrival port for almost half of all enslaved Africans brought to North America. The museum is open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm (last entry 4:00 pm) Tuesday-Sunday. It is closed on Monday.

To learn more about the International African American Museum as well as its events, go to iaamuseum.org.

-Tidelines Editors

(Image credit: iaamuseum.org)

Carolina Day is June 28

We know that the nation will celebrate Independence Day on July 4, but do you what is celebrated on June 28?

South Carolinians, and Charlestonians in particular, have been celebrating June 28 as Carolina Day for over 200 years. It was on June 28, 1776 that South Carolina achieved the first decisive victory of the American Revolution at the Battle of Sullivan’s Island, encouraging all of the colonies to mutually pledge their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor in the fight for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

The Palmetto Society of Charleston, founded in 1777, celebrates the Revolutionary War victory of the Battle of Sullivan’s Island, June 28, 1776 and is hosting several events commemorating Carolina Day.

Church bells will ring out across the historic city of Charleston and there will be a commemorative service at St. Michael’s Anglican Church. Following the service, citizens, dignitaries and costumed Revolutionary reenactors will gather in Washington Park at the corner of Meeting Street and Broad Street and process with all the pomp and circumstance that bagpipes and flags afford to nearby White Point Gardens for a ceremony of speeches and commemoration.

CAROLINA DAY 2023

Schedule of Events
Wednesday, June 28, 2023​

10:00-11:00 am
Church Service at St. Michael’s Church​

11:00-11:30 am
Gather at Washington Park​

11:30-11:45 am
Parade from Washington Park to White Point Garden​

11:45 am-12:30 pm
Program at White Point Garden featuring Dr. David Preston

–Tidelines Editors

(Sources: https://charlestonlivingmag.com/carolina-day and www.palmettosociety.org)

(Image credits: http://www.palmettosociety.org)

Honoring the Flag

As we begin preparations for our Independence Day celebrations, it is a great time to review how to display the United States of America flag.  

When an American flag is worn out or otherwise no longer fit for display, it should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning. Several national organizations hold flag ceremonies for retired flags throughout the year: American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Girl Scouts and Scouts BSA. You can call the local chapter of any of these organizations to find out when and where to take your worn out flag.

–Tidelines Editors 

(Image credit: USA.Gov)

Upcoming Events at Charleston’s Historic Plantations

  • Fireside Cabin Chat & (Optional) Sleepover ◊ June 16
    As a part of our weekend Juneteenth Program, join us Friday evening for honest conversation at our historic cabins where those who were enslaved at Magnolia once lived and worked. Learn more about the Slave Dwelling Project and the meaning behind Juneteenth. Honor and recognize the Emancipation of those who were once enslaved. Preregistration is required!
    Click here for additional information.
  • Juneteenth Freedom Day ◊ June 17
    Learn more about the Slave Dwelling Project and the meaning behind Juneteenth. Honor and recognize the Emancipation of those who were once enslaved. This all day event is included with garden admission and will include education & interpretation seminars, demonstrations, and a performance from the notable Plantation Singers.
    Click here for additional information.
  • Wine on the Piazza Edmondston-Alston House ◊ June 15
    Enjoy a self-guided tour of the Edmondston-Alston House followed by a glass of wine on the second-story piazza overlooking Charleston Harbor.
    Click here for additional information.
  • Paint & Sip at The Inn at Middleton Place ◊ June 16
    Join us for a Paint & Sip party at The Inn at Middleton Place Lake House! Enjoy beer, wine, and light snacks for purchase while you learn how to paint with step-by-step instructions. Limited tickets available.
    Click here for additional information.
  • Juneteenth ◊ June 19
    In recognition of this important moment in our nation’s history, Middleton Place will offer half-price general admission to all residents of Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties. Discounted tickets must be purchased at the Visitors Center with ID.
    Program Schedule:
    • Beyond the Fields: Enslavement at Middleton Place – 11:00 am, 12:00 PM, 1:00 pm , 2:00 pm , 3:00 pm , 4:00 pm
    • Presentation of the PBS Beyond the Fields Documentary – 10:30 am and 2:30 pm (in the climate-controlled Pavilion)
    • Curator Talk at Eliza’s House – 1:00 pm
      Click here for additional information.

–Tidelines Editors