Berkley museum image courtesy of Paul Zoeller

Written by Deirdre Hickey, Image courtesy of Paul Zoeller

3 Historical Places to Visit in the Lowcountry

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Before there were sprawling bridges and relentlessly preserved historical districts, the Lowcountry was a vast wilderness, first conquered and explored by Indigenous tribes and early settlers. Visitors at The Berkeley County Museum can experience this history through a panoramic scope, from prehistoric fossil displays to local, contemporary art.

Additionally, the museum puts a major focus on Revolutionary War history. A recently installed interactive kiosk allows visitors to explore a deeper overview of this time period by choosing different points of view, from an enslaved person to a loyalist or patriot. This kiosk highlights the roles that women served during the American Revolution, explores the history of hometown heroes often overshadowed by larger names, and contextualizes this information with immersive visuals and interactive maps.

The Powder Magazine

Charleston

The Powder Magazine, located on Cumberland Street downtown, is South Carolina’s oldest standing public building. The magazine was built in 1713 to house the city’s supply of gunpowder during the era of the Lords Proprietors, when defenses were crucial to protect the settlement from attacks by the French, Spanish, and pirates.

The architecture displays how those early settlement buildings may have looked, with its 36-inch-thick brick walls and a slanted gable roof, all designed so that if an explosion were to happen from the massive amounts of gunpowder inside, the building would explode upward and not damage surrounding structures.

The magazine went on to serve a variety of purposes as a stable, a print shop, and even a wine cellar for Gabriel Manigault. In 1902, the building was acquired by the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America and now operates a museum.

History buffs can enjoy the museum’s collection of historical military artifacts, weapons, and uniforms. Additionally, The Powder Magazine offers rental packages for hosting weddings, celebrations, and other events.

Parker’s Ferry Battlefield

Parkers Ferry

Parkers Ferry, just 30 miles west of Charleston, was a massive avenue throughout The Southern Campaign of the Revolutionary War. The site marks where General Francis Marion led 400 troops into the Battle of Parker’s Ferry on August 30, 1781, ultimately conquering the British and their allies and forcing them to retreat. Marion’s strategies utilized the difficult terrain of the South Carolina marshlands to disorient and disrupt the British troops, decimating their weaponry and supplies just nine days before the crucial battle of Eutaw Springs.

In 2021, the 31-acre former battle site was acquired by the South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust with the mission to preserve and protect this piece of history. Visitors can enjoy exploring the undeveloped battlefield terrain and drive along The Liberty Trail to experience a self-guided version of The Southern Campaign.