South Battery Tour 1 (Historic Charleston Foundation)
March 20, 2015 |
South Battery was once a narrow pathway stretching a mere five city blocks on a strip of high ground connecting the southern ends of Meeting and Church streets. Across the street, along the Ashley River, as well as to the east and west, salt marshes and creeks prevailed. From the late eighteenth century, this was a busy shipping area marked by numerous large wharves that extended into the Ashley River and contained warehouses, stores and other structures.
Between 1830 and 1840, the city acquired land to create a "public pleasure ground" along the waterfront where a series of forts and batteries had stood. The area had been known as "White Point" or "Oyster Point" since the initial settlement of Charles Town because of the white oyster shells found there. The current White Point Garden, adjacent to South Battery, is sometimes simply called "the Battery."
In 1909, Andrew Buist Murray promoted a plan to fill about fifty acres of mudflats and marshes along the Ashley River, south of Tradd Street to South Battery.The extension of the seawall from White Point permitted the development of what became Murray Boulevard and the extension of old streets like South Battery. Outstanding examples of the prevailing early-twentieth century architectural styles can be found in the mansions along waterfront, including Beaux Arts, Colonial Revival and Tudor Revival.
Ticket Price: $50.00
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Website:
www.historiccharleston.org/events/annual-festival-of-houses-and-gardens/house-garden-tours/south-battery-tour-1.aspx |
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Location Information |
Charleston, SC 29401 |
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