Magnolia Plantation & Gardens is one of The 15 Best Historic and Protected Sites in Charleston.

1. Magnolia Plantation & Gardens

9.0
3550 Ashley River Rd, Charleston, SC
Historic and Protected Site · west of the Ashley · 47 tips and reviews

Kathryn P.Kathryn Phillips: What a beautiful spot! Loved the gardens and our house tour guide Marj was excellent

Mandy P.Mandy P: Great trip through history. There's a basic fee to get in then there are separate fees for the house tour, cabin tour, tram ride, etc. We toured the house, gardens & zoo. It was fantastic.

Mary Catherine J.Mary Catherine James: Be sure to tour the Audubon Swamp Garden. It is amazing. Don't miss the African American cemetery.

Fort Sumter National Monument Visitor Center is one of The 15 Best Historic and Protected Sites in Charleston.

2. Fort Sumter National Monument Visitor Center

8.9
340 Concord St (East Bay), Charleston, SC
Historic and Protected Site · Downtown Charleston · 11 tips and reviews

Deborah F.Deborah Fought🌻: Fantastic place to visit especially if you love history and architecture! Thirty minute boat ride and an hour to roam the island! I highly recommend!

John C.John Culpepper: Don't forget to earn your Junior Ranger badge. An hour is just enough time for a 10 year old to finish everything but some of the questions can only be answered by the Rangers.

Candice B.Candice Barber: The museum is a stark reminder of the need for preservation of our hallowed history. I suggest getting to the boat early (20 minutes) in order to give the artifacts the proper attention.

The Gazebo is one of The 15 Best Historic and Protected Sites in Charleston.

3. The Gazebo

8.3
S Battery St (at Meeting St), Charleston, SC
Historic and Protected Site · Charlestowne · 5 tips and reviews

Paige C.Paige C: A wonderful place to rest or take a photo. In the middle of a great park along the battery. We came here after a bike ride to enjoy the water views and shade!

Laurel L.Laurel LaFlamme: If you hang around long enough on a pretty day, you're likely to see a real-time wedding take place. Horse drawn carriage and all! It's magical.

Scott V.Scott Villeponteaux: The bandstand was completed in 1907.

Calhoun Mansion is one of The 15 Best Historic and Protected Sites in Charleston.

4. Calhoun Mansion

8.2
16 Meeting St, Charleston, SC
Historic and Protected Site · Charlestowne · 14 tips and reviews

Stephen B.Stephen Bellingham: Amazing collection of antiques. Worth the price of the tour

Haider S.Haider Sharifi: If you reserve a tour early you can buy a detailed tour and get behind the scenes.

Rachel E.Rachel Edwards 🐬: Visit milo the cat!!

Magnolia Plantation Conservatory is one of The 15 Best Historic and Protected Sites in Charleston.

5. Magnolia Plantation Conservatory

8.6
3550 Ashley River Rd (at Magnolia Plantation), Charleston, SC
Historic and Protected Site · west of the Ashley · 5 tips and reviews

Beth B.Beth Bond: A great place to see what plantation life was like and how conservation and beautiful gardens provide an enchanting natural experience. They also have a wonderful slavery history tour which is a must

Connor S.Connor Stengel: This point offers a great look over the entire garden and surrounding river.

Jill M.Jill McGranahan: Ric does a great job on house tour - very informative

Legare Waring House is one of The 15 Best Historic and Protected Sites in Charleston.

6. Legare Waring House

7.8
Charleston, SC
Historic and Protected Site · west of the Ashley · No tips or reviews
The Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon is one of The 15 Best Historic and Protected Sites in Charleston.

7. The Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon

7.9
122 E Bay St (at Broad St), Charleston, SC
Historic and Protected Site · Charlestowne · 16 tips and reviews

Debbie C.Debbie Curtis-Magley: Very interesting. Our tour guide Stephan was terrific - he shared a lot of fascinating history within a brief 30 minute tour. Don't miss the exhibits on the top and main floors.

Bulldog ToursBulldog Tours: Great place to brush up on American History or see a Pre-Revolutionary Dungeon (especially at night on the Ghost & Dungeon Tour!)

The History PressThe History Press: George Washington visited the Old Exchange Building in May of 1791. Read all about his visit and more Old Exchange Building history in CHARLESTON'S OLD EXCHANGE BUILDING: A WITNESS TO AMERICAN HISTORY Read more.

McLeod Plantation is one of The 15 Best Historic and Protected Sites in Charleston.

8. McLeod Plantation

7.6
325 Country Club Dr, Charleston, SC
Historic and Protected Site · James Island · 9 tips and reviews

Bruce T.Bruce Tyndall: Sarah was our tour guide and was hands-down the best we've ever experienced out of all the plantations and historic sites. McLeod is a great experience and everyone should go.

Lisa B.Lisa Bernarducci: Excellent, informative tour. Daily life, from the slaves perspective. Also, life on the plantation after the civil war. Enlightening

Christophe S.Christophe Sarkozy: Recently opened the place is still on its way to being interesting. But for now the $10 you put in is more of a support move. Not enough historical proofs.

The Battery is one of The 15 Best Historic and Protected Sites in Charleston.

9. The Battery

9.5
East Battery (Murray Blvd), Charleston, SC
Scenic Lookout · Charlestowne · 58 tips and reviews

Peter B.Peter Boyce: Scenic views; beautiful walk; open sky; park trees

Charleston Parks ConservancyCharleston Parks Conservancy: Come look at the spectacular views Fort Sumpter and the Charleston Harbor!

jennifer K.jennifer Krienert: Great place to catch a breeze and cool off on a southern summer afternoon. Enjoy the view while cooling off.

Circular Chruch Graveyard is one of The 15 Best Historic and Protected Sites in Charleston.

10. Circular Chruch Graveyard

7.1
Charleston, SC
Historic and Protected Site · French Quarter · 3 tips and reviews

Denise C.Denise Cooley: Cool historic cometary!

Mary Catherine J.Mary Catherine James: Beautiful place. Peaceful with lovely trees.

jennifer K.jennifer Krienert: Leave some time to read the graves. A moving experience.

Magnolia Plantation Carriage House is one of The 15 Best Historic and Protected Sites in Charleston.

11. Magnolia Plantation Carriage House

7.5
3550 Ashley River Rd (at Magnolia Plantation), Charleston, SC
Historic and Protected Site · west of the Ashley · No tips or reviews
Nathaniel Russell House is one of The 15 Best Historic and Protected Sites in Charleston.

12. Nathaniel Russell House

8.9
51 Meeting Street, Charleston, SC
Museum · Charlestowne · 10 tips and reviews

Melissa C.Melissa Colebank: Best historic spot in all of Charleston...architecture is stunning and the restoration is beautiful...buy the combo with the Aiken-Rhett house and save $4

The Wall Street JournalThe Wall Street Journal: Dates to 1808 and is filled with period furniture (check out the three-story spiral staircase, built largely without nails or screws). Thirty-minute tours take place every half-hour Read more.

Ron J.Ron Jeramiah: Pretty cool spot with amazing feats of architecture 👍🏾

Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site is one of The 15 Best Historic and Protected Sites in Charleston.

13. Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site

8.8
1500 Old Towne Rd, Charleston, SC
Park · west of the Ashley · 18 tips and reviews

Topher C.Topher Cassidy: I LOVE this place. I love the zoo, the trails, It's a wonderful, cheap thing to do on a great Saturday, pack a lunch and pick a spot on the grass and enjoy! AND you're in the middle of history.

Laura A.Laura A: Awesome place to bike or walk around and enjoy the beautiful gardens.

Darrell W.Darrell Weaver: This is the original settlement of Charleston. It was prone to more attacks from the Spanish although found the indians helpful. They grow their own indigo and cotton and also have a zoo there. The

Angel Oak Tree is one of The 15 Best Historic and Protected Sites in Charleston.

14. Angel Oak Tree

8.7
3688 Angel Oak Rd, Johns Island, SC
Tree · 59 tips and reviews

Bobby Y.Bobby Y: It's a sight to see, pictures are great but you need to visit this amazing tree.

Charleston Parks ConservancyCharleston Parks Conservancy: The Angel Oak is thought to be one of the oldest living things east of the Mississippi River, so make sure not to climb on it or carve it...we want future generations to enjoy it as well!

Beci M.Beci Markijohn: Such a beautiful place. It really puts you in awe.

Rainbow Row is one of The 15 Best Historic and Protected Sites in Charleston.

15. Rainbow Row

8.6
95 E Bay St, Charleston, SC
Plaza · Charlestowne · 24 tips and reviews

Nancy M.Nancy Margolis: So very pretty, we enjoyed viewing it.

Scott V.Scott Villeponteaux: Learn about Rainbow Row here. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainbow_Row

Bulldog ToursBulldog Tours: 18th century homes painted a rainbow of colors. Great photo-op.