Category: History

TEDx Charleston 2023

TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) is an international organization whose mission is to spread ideas, foster community and create impact. There are two types of Talks – TED Talks that are directed to a global audience and TEDx Talks that focus on local audiences.  You can view or listen to their speakers on podcasts or the TED app.

Charleston is fortunate to have a TEDx conference at the Charleston Music Hall on March 29, 2023 at 12:30 pm. Tickets are on sale now for TEDxCharleston-ReEmerge and there is a special Early Bird pricing until January 30.  Click here for more detail.

Many of the people presenting at this event are from the Charleston area.  To see the list of speakers and performers, click here.

–Tidelines Editors

Upcoming Events by Historic Charleston Foundation

In February, the Historic Charleston Foundation (HCF) will honor Black History Month with a special tour at the Aiken-Rhett House, celebrate Valentine’s Day with a special walking tour, and then prepare for the annual Festival of Houses and Gardens.

Black History Month Tours at the Aiken-Rhett House
Wednesday, February 1, 2023, 10:30 am, 12:30 pm, 2:30 pm
Join a special house tour given from the enslaved perspective at the Aiken-Rhett House Museum exploring how the landscape and buildings that make up the Aiken-Rhett House complex were experienced by those held in bondage. The tours are free with admission to the Aiken-Rhett House Museum on February 1 with three times available: 10:30 am, 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm. Click here to purchase tickets.  

Valentine’s Day in the Holy City
Tuesday, February 14, 2023, 4:00 pm
HCF and Bulldog Tours have partnered to offer a unique Valentine’s Day experience. Start with a walking tour with stories of love and end with a Madiera tasting at the Nathaniel Russell House. This is a 21+ event. Click here to purchase tickets.

It’s not too soon to get tickets for the annual Festival of Houses and Gardens.

76th Festival of Houses and Gardens
March 15 – April 16, 2023
Tickets are now on sale for the 2023 Festival of Houses and Gardens. To see the complete listing of the month-long program and to purchase tickets, click here.

–Tidelines Editors

(Image credit: Historic Charleston Foundation)

Reminder: Working on Your Family History

Have you been thinking about capturing or exploring your family history? This is the year to work on it. Whether you are just beginning or have been researching for years, join others who enjoy this hobby. Find and document those unique stories about your family.  Our genealogy club is “Digging Into Roots Together” (DIRT) and we will be meeting in a hybrid fashion on Wednesday, January 25, 2023, from 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm. You can come in person at The Lake House Osprey 2 or join us virtually via Zoom: click here.

We can help you with:

  • How to begin researching your family genealogy
  • How to document and organize what you already have
  • How to search for family information
  • How to digitize all your current holdings – photos, documents, audio and video
  • How to interview
  • How to publish your family history
  • How to solve some of those brick walls
  • Sharing your stories
  • Getting help from others

For additional information, please contact Lynn Baker at bakerlynnd@gmail.com.

-Submitted by Lynn Baker

Drayton Hall Special Locals Admission

Now through January 29, 2023, Drayton Hall is offering residents of Charleston, Berkeley, Dorchester, and Colleton counties and active duty military a special gate general admission of $5.00 per person.

No advance reservations are needed for this special discounted $5.00 admission. Drive up to the entrance gate and show your local driver’s license or military id. Please note the gate does not accept cash.

Drayton Hall, 3380 Ashley River Road, Charleston, is open weekly Wednesday through Monday from 9:00 am- 5:00 pm. Drayton Hall is CLOSED on Tuesdays. The entrance gate closes at 3:30 pm. Please bring your smartphone and headphones or earphones for your tour

–Tidelines Editors

Upcoming Events at Charleston’s Historic Plantations

  • Lowcountry Oyster Festival ◊ January 29
    The Lowcountry Oyster Festival is the world’s largest oyster festival! Highlights include live music on the main stage, raw oyster eating and shucking contests, wine, a selection of domestic and imported beers, a Children’s Area, and a “Food Court” showcasing a variety of local favorite restaurants to satisfy everyone’s taste.
    Click here for additional information.
  • 2023 Candlelight Tour◊January 14
    Experience Drayton Hall at night with this incredibly special candlelight experience. This is a remarkable way to understand the house and the lives which touched it – and historic Charleston – from the perspective of a preserved colonial home.
    Click here for additional information.
  • Webinar: What’s in a Staircase? ◊ January 19
    Join Trish Smith, Director of Preservation on January 19, 2023 to discuss Drayton Hall’s grand staircase in this donate-what-you-can online event.
    Click here for additional information.
  • Masonry Preservation and Research with a Walking Tour ◊ January 21
    Trish Smith will take you behind the scenes of masonry preservation and research at Drayton Hall where you’ll learn how our historic bricks and mortar were made. 
    Click here for additional information.
  • Stargazing on the Ashley ◊ January 28
    Drayton Hall and Lowcountry Stargazers are pleased to announce the return of the most brilliant evening event of the year: Stargazing on the Ashley at Drayton Hall. Space is limited, advanced tickets are required.
    Click here for additional information.
  • Webinar: Slave Patrols and the Charleston Workhouse in Drayton Documents ◊ February 9
    Curator Amber Satterthwaite will use Charles Drayton’s diaries and other historic documents to introduce you to some of the courageous individuals who risked everything by trying to reach their freedom, the consequences some of them faced, and the determination of men and women who continued to resist enslavement. This is a donate-what-you-can online event.
    Click here for additional information.
  • Candlelight Tour Maderia Tasting◊January 20
    Enjoy a unique evening visit to the Edmondston-Alston House on Charleston’s historic Battery. This is a special opportunity to see the house lit by candlelight on a self-guided tour, then try some Madeira on the second-story piazza overlooking Charleston Harbor.
    Click here for additional information.
  • Camellia Walks◊February 2 – 28
    Each winter, the beauty of camellias enhances America’s Oldest Landscaped Gardens with thousands of blossoms. Special 11:00 am walking tours given by expert guides focus on historic camellias, including the 1786 Reine des Fleurs, one of the first camellias planted in America.
    Click here for additional information.
  • Colour of Music Festival | Chamber Music at Edmondston-Alston House◊February 2
    The Colour of Music Festival returns to the Edmondston-Alston House Thursday, February 2 at 7:30 pm with Chamber Music II: From Duos to Cello Quartet.
    Click here for additional information.
  • Camellia Workshop◊February 4
    Sidney Frazier, dubbed “The King of Camellias,” will lead this lively workshop, covering several aspects of the camellia plant, from its origins in Asia and its various forms to care and maintenance.
    Click here for additional information.
  • Cocktails and Camellias◊February 11
    Guests will experience an evening of specialty cocktails, wine selections, and live music surrounded by breathtaking camellias in America’s Oldest Landscaped Gardens. 
    Click here for additional information.

–Tidelines Editors

New Year’s Resolution: Working on Your Family History

Have you been thinking about capturing or exploring your family history? This is the year to work on it. Whether you are just beginning or have been researching for years, join others who enjoy this hobby. Find and document those unique stories about your family.  Our genealogy club is “Digging Into Roots Together” (DIRT) and we will be meeting in a hybrid fashion on Wednesday, January 25, 2023, from 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm. You can come in person at The Lake House Osprey 2 or join us virtually via Zoom: click here.

We can help you with:

  • How to begin researching your family genealogy
  • How to document and organize what you already have
  • How to search for family information
  • How to digitize all your current holdings – photos, documents, audio and video
  • How to interview
  • How to publish your family history
  • How to solve some of those brick walls
  • Sharing your stories
  • Getting help from others

For additional information, please contact Lynn Baker at bakerlynnd@gmail.com.

-Submitted by Lynn Baker

Upcoming Events at Charleston’s Historic Plantations

  • Christmas At Boone Hall Plantation ◊ December 5 – January 1
    The plantation home is beautifully decorated during the Christmas holidays and we are proud to share that USA TODAY 10 BEST has chosen Boone Hall Plantation as one of the top “Historic Homes For The Holidays”.
    Click here for additional information.
  • Lowcountry Oyster Festival ◊ January 29
    The Lowcountry Oyster Festival is the world’s largest oyster festival! Highlights include live music on the main stage, raw oyster eating and shucking contests, wine, a selection of domestic and imported beers, a Children’s Area, and a “Food Court” showcasing a variety of local favorite restaurants to satisfy everyone’s taste.
    Click here for additional information.
  • 2022 Candlelight Tours◊December 16 & 17
    Experience Drayton Hall at night with these incredibly special candlelight experiences. This is a remarkable way to understand the house and the lives which touched it – and historic Charleston – from the perspective of a preserved colonial home.
    Click here for additional information.
  • Webinar: What’s in a Staircase? ◊ January 19
    Join Trish Smith, Director of Preservation on January 19, 2023 to discuss Drayton Hall’s grand staircase in this donate-what-you-can online event.
    Click here for additional information.
  • Stargazing on the Ashley ◊ January 28
    Drayton Hall and Lowcountry Stargazers are pleased to announce the return of the most brilliant evening event of the year: Stargazing on the Ashley at Drayton Hall. Space is limited, advanced tickets are required.
    Click here for additional information.
  • Home for the Holidays ◊ December 17
    Enjoy an exclusive tour of Magnolia’s historic Plantation House, learning fascinating facts not shared on our daily tours. Carolers, holiday decor, and signature drinks will help set the scene – and lend some extra cheer to the most wonderful time of the year! Tickets are limited, so purchase them soon!
    For additional information click on the desired date/time: December 17 @ 5:30 or December 17 @ 6:30 pm
  • Grand Illumination and Dinner◊December 15, 16, or 17
    This lively event celebrates the return of Arthur Middleton from Philadelphia, the end of the Revolutionary War in the South, and the departure from Charleston of the British troops. After the presentation, guests will feast on early American cuisine from the colonial period in the Pavilion.
    For additional information click on the desired date/time: December 15, December 16, or December 17

–Tidelines Editors

December at The Charleston Museum

There are a number of interesting workshops and events on the calendar this month at the Charleston Museum. The calendar of special events this month includes the following:

December 2 – 30 – Garden Club of Charleston Holiday Decorations at the Joseph Manigault House

December 2 – Fossil Friday with the Natural History Department

December 3 – Sweetgrass Basket Weaving Workshop

December 3 – Holiday Decorations Celebration at the Manigault House

-Submitted by The Charleston Museum

(Image credit: The Charleston Museum)

The National Bird?

The national bird – that’s what Ben Franklin famously thought the turkey should be. It was, he wrote, “a much more respectable bird” than the eagle, which he considered to be “a rank coward”. He thought the turkey to be “a true original native of America, and a bird of courage” that would willingly attack any grenadier of the British Guards who dared to invade his farm.

He was correct in thinking that the tom turkey would aggressively protect itself, as many a stroller or golfer who has come too close to one can attest. But he was wrong in thinking that turkeys were native to the United States, although today they can be found in every state except Alaska. They were first encountered by 16th-century European explorers arriving in Mexico, where turkeys had been bred for centuries, making it one of only two birds native to the Americas (the other being the Muscovy duck). Imported to Europe and the Middle East, the birds reminded traders of the African guinea fowl that came to them along trade routes passing through Turkey, and thus came to be called “Turkey birds.”

To read more about our almost national bird – the turkey – as well as other articles from SINHG, click here.

Seabrook Island Natural History Group is one of the island’s oldest and largest special interest groups dedicated to exploring the ecology, history, and culture of the Carolina Lowcountry. For more information about SINHG, click here.

-Submitted by Seabrook Island Natural History Group

(Image credits: Seabrook Island Natural History Group)

Upcoming Events at Charleston’s Historic Plantations

  • Wine Under the Oaks ◊ December 4
    This event has become one of the highlights of the December social calendar in the Lowcountry and a signature special event for Boone Hall Plantation. Sunday, December 4, 2022, from 1:00 – 5:00 pm.
    Click here for additional information.
  • Christmas At Boone Hall Plantation ◊ December 5 – January 1
    The plantation home is beautifully decorated during the Christmas holidays and we are proud to share that USA TODAY 10 BEST has chosen Boone Hall Plantation as one of the top “Historic Homes For The Holidays”.
    Click here for additional information.
  • 2022 Family Bulb Planting Day ◊ November 12
    Bring the whole family out to Drayton Hall on Saturday, November 12, 2022 from 9:00 am to 2:30 pm for a fun and exciting day of interactive learning and bulb planting for spring blooms!
    Click here for additional information.
  • Virtual Book Club – “Lost Charleston” ◊ November 17
    Join Drayton Hall on Thursday, November, 17 at 5:00 pm to discuss “Lost Charleston” by Leigh Handal. This is a Donate What You Can Event.
    Click here for additional information.
  • 2022 Candlelight Tours◊Nov 26, Dec 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17
    Experience Drayton Hall at night with these incredibly special candlelight experiences. This is a remarkable way to understand the house and the lives which touched it – and historic Charleston – from the perspective of a preserved colonial home.
    Click here for additional information.
  • Wreath Building Workshop ◊ November 27
    Enjoy a 2 hour tutorial on wreath assembly and construction resulting in a finished product to take home and enjoy throughout the holiday season.
    Click here for additional information.
  • Oyster Roast ◊ December 4
    A long time favorite of local families and visitors alike, Drayton Hall throws the best annual oyster roast to celebrate the holiday season in Charleston! Register early, this event sells out early every year!
    Click here for additional information.
  • African American Spirituals with Ann Caldwell and The Magnolia Singers ◊ December 11
    Ann Caldwell and The Magnolia Singers will usher in the Holidays with their ancestral hymns. Enjoy a beverage and light bites at the reception before being seated for the performance. This event sells out every year, get your tickets early!
    Click here for additional information.
  • Home for the Holidays ◊ December 10 & 17
    Enjoy an exclusive tour of Magnolia’s historic Plantation House, learning fascinating facts not shared on our daily tours. Carolers, holiday decor, and signature drinks will help set the scene – and lend some extra cheer to the most wonderful time of the year! Tickets are limited, so purchase them soon!
    For additional information click on the desired date/time: Dec 10/5:30 pm, Dec 10/6:30 pm, Dec 17/5:30, Dec 17/6:30 pm
  • Living History Days ◊ November 12 & 13
    This event showcases the many different skills that were practiced by both the enslaved and free people throughout the Low Country’s long rich history.
    Click here for additional information.
  • Thanksgiving Buffet at Middleton Place◊November 24
    Make plans to spend Thanksgiving Day at Middleton Place with a traditional buffet meal prepared by the Middleton Place Restaurant in the Pavilion with sweeping views of ancient live oaks.
    Click here for additional information.
  • Holiday Market◊November 25 & 26
    The Garden Market & Nursery and Museum Shop at Middleton Place kick-off the shopping season with an open-air holiday market. The market will feature some of your favorite local artisans and vendors.
    Click here for additional information.
  • Victorian-Style Christmas Wreath Wet Felting◊November 30
    Learn the ancient artisan process of wet felting while making a Victorian-style Christmas wreath with local artist Kim Keelor.
    Click here for additional information.
  • Christmas on the Battery: Carols, Candlelight & Gullah Christmas Stories◊ December 1 & 2
    Enjoy a special evening at the historic Edmondston-Alston House. Take a self guided tour of the festively decorated house by candlelight and hear the Charleston Caroling Company. Warm up in the courtyard with a glass of wine or hot cider where local storyteller, Fouché Sheppard, will perform Gullah Christmas stories.
    For additional information click on the desired date: Dec 1, Dec 2
  • Needle Felted Wool Victorian-Style Christmas Tree◊December 8
    Learn the basics of needle felting a hanging art piece with Charleston artist Kim Keelor, and take home a lovely framed and mounted Victorian-style Christmas decoration to keep or to give.
    Click here for additional information.

–Tidelines Editors

November and More at The Charleston Museum

There are a number of interesting workshops and tours on the calendar this month at the Charleston Museum. The museum also includes two historic homes, the Joseph Manigault House and the Heyward-Washington House. Tours for both historic houses are on the half-hour from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Saturday and noon to 5:00 pm Sunday. Last tour of the day begins at 4:30 pm. The calendar of special events this month includes the following:

November 2 – Kids Tours: Spies

November 4 – Fossil Friday with the Natural History Department

November 8* – Joshua Lockwood: Revolutionary Clockmaker

November 10* – USO Tour at the Joseph Manigault House

November 11 – Fossil Friday with the Natural History Department

November 12* – In Defense of Charleston: A Tour of Batteries Pringle & Tynes

November 12* – Family Fun: USO 

November 17*- Homeschool History Day: Native American Knowledge

November 18 – Fossil Friday with the Natural History Department

November 22* – Discovery Day: Terrific Turkeys

November 24 – Museum and Historic Houses Closed

November 26* – Advent Wreath Workshop

Looking ahead to December…

December 2 – 30 – Garden Club of Charleston Holiday Decorations at the Joseph Manigault House

December 3* – Sweetgrass Basket Weaving Workshop

December 10* – Holiday Candle Making Workshop

*Reservations Required

-Submitted by The Charleston Museum

(Image credit: The Charleston Museum)

Upcoming Events at Charleston’s Historic Plantations

  • Boone Hall Fright Nights ◊ September 24 – October 30
    Prepared to be scared! Celebrate Halloween with a creepy night of fright! Come experience The Lodge at Willow Ridge, Freaks World of Oddities, and the Sinister Cinema Haunted Hayride – Extended Directors Cut.
    Click here for additional information.
  • Boone Hall Pumpkin Patch ◊ September 30 – October 30
    This year will mark the 26th year for this event which has become one of the largest fall festivals in the state of South Carolina. Come explore the Giant eight-acre corn maze. Enjoy the family-friendly Halloween Tractor Tour, the All American Petting Zoo and so much more. Of course, there will be a variety of pumpkins of all shapes, sizes, and colors available for purchase along with all those delicious festival foods we all love.
    Click here for additional information.
  • Wine Under the Oaks ◊ December 4
    This event has become one of the highlights of the December social calendar in the Lowcountry and a signature special event for Boone Hall Plantation. Sunday, December 4, 2022, from 1:00 – 5:00 pm.
    Click here for additional information.
  • Sip & Stroll on the Drayton Hall Landscape ◊ October 8
    You are invited to attend the most extraordinary outdoor Charleston food and wine event.  Guests will be served wine and local brews while walking the grounds and learning about the historic happenings on the landscape.
    Click here for additional information.
  • Sweetgrass Weaving Workshop with Henrietta Snype ◊ October 15
    Drayton Hall welcomes Charleston’s beloved Henrietta Snype for a hands-on sweetgrass weaving workshop. Guests will learn the historical significance of this unique craft from the absolute best.
    Click here for additional information.
  • Virtual Book Club – “Liberty is Sweet“ ◊ October 20
    Join Drayton Hall on Thursday, October, 20 at 5:00 pm to discuss “Liberty is Sweet:  The Hidden History of the American Revolution” by Woody Holton. This is a Donate What You Can Event.
    Click here for additional information.
  • Drayton Hall Archaeology Site Tour◊ October 29
    Join Drayton Hall Director of Archaeology Luke Pecoraro on a walking tour of Drayton Hall on October 29, 2022 at 10:00 am. Guests will tour the cellar and east side of the main house to learn more about the current archaeological investigations and planned work to explore the designed 18th & 19th century landscape.
    Click here for additional information.
  • Webinar: “What’s in the attic?” at Drayton Hall ◊ November 3
    Go behind the scenes to a part of the house that most visitors to Drayton Hall never get to see. Curator Trish Smith will host this webinar live from the attic at Drayton Hall. This is a Donate What You Can Event.
    Click here for additional information.
  • 2022 Family Bulb Planting Day ◊ November 12
    Bring the whole family out to Drayton Hall on Saturday, November 12, 2022 from 9:00 am to 2:30 pm for a fun and exciting day of interactive learning and bulb planting for spring blooms!
    Click here for additional information.
  • Virtual Book Club – “Lost Charleston” ◊ November 17
    Join Drayton Hall on Thursday, November, 17 at 5:00 pm to discuss “Lost Charleston” by Leigh Handal. This is a Donate What You Can Event.
    Click here for additional information.
  • Garden Wine Stroll – Italy ◊ October 13
    Join us on Thursday, October 13, 2022 from 5:00-8:00 pm for a Garden Wine Stroll featuring wine selections from Italy.
    Click here for additional information.
  • Garden Vinyasa in the Tropical Conservatory ◊ October 16
    Join us on Sunday, October 16, 2022 from 9:00-10:00 am in our Tropical Conservatory for a guided Garden Vinyasa class! Class will be followed by mimosas and a private shopping experience with a few great local artisans from 10:00-11:30 am.
    Click here for additional information.
  • Garden Wine Stroll – West Coast ◊ October 20
    Join us at Magnolia Plantation & Gardens on Thursday, October 20, 2022 from 5:00-8:00 pm for a Garden Wine Stroll featuring wine selections from the West Coast of the United States.
    Click here for additional information.
  • Garden Wine Stroll – France ◊ October 27
    Join us at Magnolia Plantation & Gardens on Thursday, October 27, 2022 from 5:00-8:00 pm for a Garden Wine Stroll featuring wine selections from France.
    Click here for additional information.
  • Fall Garden Strolls and Wine Tasting ◊ October 12, 19, & 26
    Spend the evening at Middleton Place exploring America’s Oldest Landscaped Gardens with a glass of wine in hand.
    For additional information click on the desired date: Oct 12, Oct 19, Oct 26
  • Art In The Barn ◊ October 14
    The Stableyards’ annual fundraising event, Art in the Barn, is back! This fundraiser to support the Heritage Breeds at Middleton Place includes a special evening with BBQ, live music, drinks, a silent auction, and an art sale.
    Click here for additional information.
  • Gullah Spirituals: Eric Crawford Book Talk◊ October 16
    Join Dr. Crawford author of “Gullah Spirituals:  The Sound of Freedom and Protest in the South Carolina Sea Islands” for a book talk and signing reception on Sunday, October 16, 2022 from 3:00-4:30 pm at The Pavilion at Middleton Place.
    Click here for additional information.
  • Wine on the Piazza | Edmondston-Alston House ◊ October 20
    Looking for a breathtaking view and a glass of wine? The Edmondston-Alston House is the perfect piazza for an autumn evening. 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.
  • Living History Days ◊ November 12 & 13
    This event showcases the many different skills that were practiced by both the enslaved and free people throughout the Low Country’s long rich history.
    Click here for additional information.

–Tidelines Editors