Charleston, South Carolina
Early morning our pilot boarded the ship and took us through the main channel into the very busy port of Charleston, South Carolina. This was to become another full day with early American history to be explored.
Our aim for the morning was to visit a still standing and maintained plantation house in the south, Drayton Hall. In the early days the economy of this area was based first on rice growing, later indigo and then cotton became the major industries. All three have one thing in common, as they are all labor intensive.
Many of the early English to settle here at Charlestown had a previous history at Barbados and sugar cane plantations. Very early, slaves became the main tool to keep the sugar cane industry in the Caribbean running. Of course, as these people settled in South Carolina and established plantations, they soon brought slaves into the plantations to maintain the production. All together about 500,000 slaves were brought to North America and in fact many entered through Charleston.
Buses took us along the Ashley River on a very scenic drive and soon we reached the old plantation house. It was established already 1738 and was in the hands of the Drayton family for seven generations. Now it is maintained by the National Trust.
We were first greeted by the Trust’s executive director and then local guides took us around. Anyone who wanted was also able to walk trough a lush green forest with live oak tress. The house is described as Georgian - Palladian architecture and very much a time capsule of early American history for the south.
On our way back for lunch onboard the ship we also got a short and brief introduction to the city center of Charleston. Much of the city center is nowadays persevered as historical buildings. Charleston also stands out with its many churches. This has to do with an early decision about religious freedom. Here a group with seven or more could establish their own parish.
Afternoon was dedicated to explore Fort Sumter. It was here the first shot was fired which was to test the new young nation. As the states in the south declared independency, Fort Sumter was still manned by the Federation troops. April 12 1861 the first firing started and the nation was entangled for a long civil war.
With a tender boat we were brought out and had an hour to explore the fort. Others instead went into Charlestown to explore on their own. Before the Civil War Charlestown was a major port for export on different commodities from the plantations in the south. The major import market was bustling even before the Revolutionary War. During the Civil War, Charlestown and surrounding areas were severely burnt and sacked by General Sherman’s troops. After this war the city had a long dark period which did not end until WWII. Now the port is again very busy, and regarded as the 2nd largest container port along the eastern Seaboard.
Although this day was much in drizzling rain we still were able to keep exploring, not only history but also natural history. The salt marshes and evergreen forest in the area is full of interesting wildlife. We spotted tree-frogs, alligators, snowy egrets, and bottle-nose dolphins. It was a splendid way to end the day.
Early morning our pilot boarded the ship and took us through the main channel into the very busy port of Charleston, South Carolina. This was to become another full day with early American history to be explored.
Our aim for the morning was to visit a still standing and maintained plantation house in the south, Drayton Hall. In the early days the economy of this area was based first on rice growing, later indigo and then cotton became the major industries. All three have one thing in common, as they are all labor intensive.
Many of the early English to settle here at Charlestown had a previous history at Barbados and sugar cane plantations. Very early, slaves became the main tool to keep the sugar cane industry in the Caribbean running. Of course, as these people settled in South Carolina and established plantations, they soon brought slaves into the plantations to maintain the production. All together about 500,000 slaves were brought to North America and in fact many entered through Charleston.
Buses took us along the Ashley River on a very scenic drive and soon we reached the old plantation house. It was established already 1738 and was in the hands of the Drayton family for seven generations. Now it is maintained by the National Trust.
We were first greeted by the Trust’s executive director and then local guides took us around. Anyone who wanted was also able to walk trough a lush green forest with live oak tress. The house is described as Georgian - Palladian architecture and very much a time capsule of early American history for the south.
On our way back for lunch onboard the ship we also got a short and brief introduction to the city center of Charleston. Much of the city center is nowadays persevered as historical buildings. Charleston also stands out with its many churches. This has to do with an early decision about religious freedom. Here a group with seven or more could establish their own parish.
Afternoon was dedicated to explore Fort Sumter. It was here the first shot was fired which was to test the new young nation. As the states in the south declared independency, Fort Sumter was still manned by the Federation troops. April 12 1861 the first firing started and the nation was entangled for a long civil war.
With a tender boat we were brought out and had an hour to explore the fort. Others instead went into Charlestown to explore on their own. Before the Civil War Charlestown was a major port for export on different commodities from the plantations in the south. The major import market was bustling even before the Revolutionary War. During the Civil War, Charlestown and surrounding areas were severely burnt and sacked by General Sherman’s troops. After this war the city had a long dark period which did not end until WWII. Now the port is again very busy, and regarded as the 2nd largest container port along the eastern Seaboard.
Although this day was much in drizzling rain we still were able to keep exploring, not only history but also natural history. The salt marshes and evergreen forest in the area is full of interesting wildlife. We spotted tree-frogs, alligators, snowy egrets, and bottle-nose dolphins. It was a splendid way to end the day.
