CHARLESTON, S.C. — You hear the sound everywhere in Charleston's historic district.
There's a distinct clip-clop sound of the horses, pulling tourists in elegant carriages on the age-old cobblestone. That sound is part of this city's makeup, and riding on one of the dozens of Charleston's historic carriage tours, the question stays in your mind — is there another part of this country with as much history as this southern city?
It is the country's self-proclaimed "Holy City." It's been around since 1670. The Civil War started here. Enslaved people were, tragically, sold here. And now, it is the host to mega corporations like Boeing.
You get that awe-inspiring feeling of history when taking a ride with the Old South Carriage Company. Every block you pass has a story, and looking up, you catch the many church spires that give this city its "Holy City" nickname. Without question, the story of America can't be told without Charleston's place in it.
Old South Carriage Company
Scott Bartosik moved here from Boston, and he led us on a carriage tour of what he says is one of the world’s most outstanding cities. He came here for the weather, and he stayed for the experience.
"We are the second-most preserved city in the world, outside of Rome, I understand. They take it very seriously. They have a lot of laws, and we welcome that because it preserves the things we need to talk about city history," Bartosik said. "Without the Preservation Society, which goes back to the 1930s, we would not be seeing half of the buildings today that we can talk about, between the churches and the beautiful antebellum homes."
The amount of history on a one-hour ride is simply amazing.
From the site of a grand ball for George Washington to a dungeon where the British kept local citizens in jail; from the eclectic and most photographed part of Charleston, Rainbow Row, to the majestic steeples of churches like St. Philip's and St. Michael's, now part of The Anglican Church in North America — there is a lot to see here.
And the most common question Bartosik answers is the prices on the beautiful, historic antebellum homes.
"I would estimate between $5-$8 million. You will notice these older ones have porches or piazzas here. They only face one direction, and that would be to the south. Every single one that has a porch or piazza faces to the south," Bartosik said. "Now, you could face them in the early day, or you could face the west to catch the prevailing winds. That was your A/C plan back in the 1700s."
The homes here are jaw-dropping. The Williams Mansion, built in 1878, is an architectural masterpiece that features a 75-foot staircase to a glass dome, 24,000 feet of space, 35 rooms and 34 fireplaces. Keep looking up at the steeples, and the ride also passes by the many restaurants that give this city its reputation as a haven for foodies. Through the years, five major fires have destroyed at least 100 buildings in Charleston, but laws for construction have almost eliminated the threat of widespread fires, so most likely, what you see today, you will be able to be seen 100 years from now.
Every tour passes by Charleston's famous City Market, where a person can buy the best sweetgrass baskets in the world.
Bartosik says his carriage ride is the best way to see Charleston.
"If you don't have a vehicle, you jump on a carriage. We can take you further than you can anywhere else, a walking tour or such, and you can catch a lot of our history within one hour on a carriage tour. It's a wonderful thing," Bartosik said.
The clip-clop sound of these carriage horses is an unmistakable sound in historic Charleston. It is also one of the great memories here in one of America's most storied towns.
More of Chuck's Big Adventure in Charleston:
- Chuck's Big Adventure in Charleston: Lowcountry Oyster Co. & cooking with Chef Kevin Mitchell
- Chuck's Big Adventure in Charleston: South Carolina Aquarium
- Chuck's Big Adventure in Charleston: Magnolia Plantation
- Chuck's Big Adventure in Charleston: Fort Sumter
- Chuck's Big Adventure in Charleston: Coastal Expeditions
- Chuck's Big Adventure in Charleston: The Gullah Experience
- Chuck's Big Adventure in Charleston: Charleston Tea Garden
- Chuck's Big Adventure in Charleston: Southern fashion