Charleston Explained

The Tavern at Rainbow Row 🍻

The Oldest Liquor Store in America! 🤯 Slinging booze for over 300 years, the oldest liquor store in America is right here at The Tavern at Rainbow Row! 🏴‍☠️ Established in 1686, this legendary spot allegedly served pirates like Blackbeard, survived the Prohibition disguised as a barbershop, and still holds a trapdoor leading to secret underground tunnels beneath the city! Some say it’s even haunted… Swing by to grab a bottle and step into history! 🍻 • • • #CharlestonSC #RainbowRow #HistoricCharleston #Blackbeard #PirateHistory #CharlestonDrinks #Prohibition #HauntedHistory #SpeakeasyVibes #discover

Sneak Peek at the underground tunnel system beneath The Tavern at Rainbow Row - The oldest liquor store in America built in 1686. Sealed off in the 1970's, there are 6 access points in total at this location, 4 of which we took a look at today. These were used to smuggle alcohol during the prohibition by rum runners to different establishments around Charleston! #Prohibition #tavern #pirates #charleston #southcarolina #history

✨ Tobin’s Market: A Hidden Gem with a Storied Past ✨

✨ Tobin’s Market: A Hidden Gem with a Storied Past ✨ Did you know this vibrant Eastside hotspot was once on the brink of collapse? 🤯 Originally built in 1890 by the Tobin family, the Jackson Street Cottages were vital housing for Charleston’s working class. Over time, they fell into disrepair, but thanks to preservation efforts, they now stand as a beautiful blend of history and modern charm. 🏠 Fun Fact: These are the only grouping of 4 Freedman’s Cottages left in Charleston, complete with reclaimed siding, some original hardwoods, and even Jonathan Green’s signature West African-inspired diamonds♦️ 🥂 Today, Tobin’s Market is a must-visit for food, drinks, private events, live music, and a slice of Charleston history. From near-demolition to a Carolopolis Award, these cottages are a testament to the city’s resilience. 👉 Tag someone who loves hidden gems, live music, or Charleston history! • • • #CharlestonHistory #HistoricPreservation #TobinsMarket #FreedmansCottages #EastsideCharleston #CharlestonSC #LiveMusicVenue #HiddenGems #HistoricHomes

🏴‍☠️ Did you know the owner of this Charleston gem helped take down the infamous pirate Stede Bonnet? 💀 Welcome to 35 Tradd Street, a stunning slice of Charleston’s history in the heart of South of Broad. From its 1718 pirate trial connection to its 1920s preservation, this home has seen it all—and now, it could be yours. ✨ 3,477 SqFt 🛏 3 beds | 🛁 3.5 baths📍 $3.75M. Comment “INFO” below for details, and let’s bring this storybook home to life! 📜 Listed by Kathy Wilkinson | Carolina One Real Estate •••#CharlestonHistory #TraddStreet #HistoricHomes #LuxuryRealEstate #CharlestonLiving #PirateHistory

Murder on The Battery ⚓️👻The murder of Clifton Harris Jr. - 76 Murray Blvd 📍Taking place on August 16th, 2006 at 3:30 a.m. Clifton Harris Jr. was shot dead in his vehicle parked along The Battery. Who killed him and why remains a mystery to this day. •••#charleston #mystery #murdermystery #discover #explore

The Legend of Big John’s Tavern 🍻John “Big John” Cannady was born in Charleston in 1923. After playing college football at Indiana, he was drafted by the NY Giants in 1947 and became a two-time Pro Bowler. Following his retirement in 1954, he returned to Charleston, and in 1955, he opened Big John’s Tavern at 251 East Bay Street.Big John’s Tavern quickly became the Market area’s most iconic dive bar, renowned as a relaxed spot for locals to unwind amidst the city’s busy tourist scene. It was an unforgettable place with its dark wood-paneled walls, Citadel name tags, and Big John’s larger-than-life spirit, drawing visitors eager to experience its unique atmosphere. One famous story, as told by the Charleston Mercury, recounts an attempted robbery in which Big John was shot in the neck. Remarkably, he pressed a bar rag to his wound, chased down the assailant, beat him to a pulp, and then drove himself to the hospital.After a fire closed the tavern in 2015, the space briefly housed another bar before reopening as Big John’s Tavern in 2021. The revamped space brightens the atmosphere a bit but retains its storied character, with some red tufted chairs, a refinished mahogany bar, and the original sign and name tags. The tavern’s motto, “Come as a Stranger, and Leave as a Friend,” still endures, and on your next visit, be sure to ask about the hidden speakeasy—if you know where to look!•••#charleston #story #speakeasy #tavern #legend #discover #explore #explorepage #nfl #nflfilms #reels

How much is The John Ravenel House selling for?? 😳 Built by Samuel Stevens for the Ravenel family in 1848, the historic John Ravenel House at 5 East Battery embodies Charleston’s rich legacy. It was home to prominent John Ravenel, a very familiar name that many of us know in Charleston. After earthquake damage in 1886, the house was rebuilt in Victorian Italianate style by Elias Horry Frost, John’s son-in-law, a design that endures today. It remained in the Ravenel family until 1953, saved from becoming condominiums in 1949 by Dr. Joe Sam Palmer (also known as The Palmer Home), operated as a B&B until 2016, and has since been restored as a private residence. It’s currently listed for $22.25 million 💰 If you’re in the market to own an iconic piece of Charlestons history, message me and we will take a tour! Listed by The Cassina Group • • • • #charleston #realestate #history #icon #explore #discover

Halloween Special: The Jasmine House 👻

The Jasmine House stands as an elegant relic of Charleston’s past. What happened in the Chrysanthemum Room is completely unexplainable. Who this ghost is, and her motive, are still a mystery to this day.

Do you know the story behind Vincent Chicco’s?

Mermaid held captive in Charleston? Surely it can’t be true.. but why did so many witnesses claim to have seen this event? In spring of 1867, Dr. William G. Trott opened an apothecary at 106 Broad Street. Struggling to attract new customers against a popular Gullah root doctor, he claimed to have caught a mermaid to draw in business. The root doctor, seeing mermaids as powerful nature spirits, warned him of disaster. Soon after, Charleston experienced an unprecedented storm and severe flooding, and many blamed Dr. Trott and his mermaid. During a demonstration to prove the mermaid was a hoax, the roof collapsed, and witnesses claimed to see the mermaid swim away. Miraculously, the rain stopped shortly after. Was it real or just a scam? Let us know your thoughts!

JFK had an affair with a Nazi Spy?? 😳 1 King Street was once The Fort Sumter Hotel, and is home to a scandalous secret affair between JFK and an alleged Nazi Spy, Inga Arvad. Inga was described as a beautiful, radiant woman with the intelligence and charm to back it all up. In 1941 she moved to Washington D.C. to work for “The Washington Times Herald”. Through JFK’s sister Kathleen, the two met. JFK was 24 years old and worked in Naval Intelligence. Although Inga was a married woman, they quickly fell for each other, even referring to her as “Inga Binga”, however, this love story doesn’t end riding off into the sunset. Inga’s past as a Danish journalist interviewing several high ranking members of the Nazi party, including Adolf Hitler, caused major concerns. During surveillance, the FBI discovered the affair between her and JFK and he was soon transferred from D.C. to Charleston. In fact, his office was located in the residence at 29 East Battery, which was then being used by the U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence. Although JFK moved to Charleston, the two still made efforts to see each other as much as they could. On one occasion, it was at the Fort Sumter Hotel on The Battery. Government agents believed Inga was in fact a Nazi Spy, and under orders from President Franklin D Roosevelt, the room (132) was to be wiretapped and an undercover agent followed the two around the city.The couple cut off their relationship and JFK was transferred to the Pacific theater of the war. The FBI investigation found no evidence that Inga was a spy, and they officially ended their surveillance.Do you think Inga a Nazi Spy? Let us know! •••#jfk #history #mystery #lovestory #charleston #ww2 #military #discover

The Footpad Murder of 1788 💀Did you know this St. Philip’s Church gravestone once explained how a murder was solved? On March 12, 1788, Nicholas Wightman left his Queen Street residence to make a stop at a tavern situated near the Meeting Street cattle gate. This gate marked the boundary to the neighboring shantytowns and pastures, near where the present day College of Charleston campus now sits. Nearby, another tavern, managed by Thomas Jones, was known for its patronage by thieves on foot, otherwise known as footpads. Locals also referred to this tavern as “a den of thieves and killers”. Wightman’s brother and friends came searching for him. Nicholas assured them he would be joining shortly and to return to their shop at Broad and Meeting St, “I’ll be leaving shortly and I’ll catch up with you,” he said, but he never made it. Later that night, his brother discovered him slumped near the cattle gate, shot dead with a pistol laying nearby.Demanding answers immediately, the brother was quick to call for police, but the police had already been to the tavern previously that night in regards to the theft of Dutch coins from a sea captain. Now having returned, they weren’t keen at all on going back in to investigate. That is, until a posse, including his Nicholas’ brother, showed up demanding justice. The group caught the suspected murderer and six accomplices known as “The Jones Tavern Gang”. The same gang causing unrest in the city with robberies and arsons. A large crowd gathered at the scene the next morning, among them a young boy who actually solved the murder. Identified only as “The young son of Edgar Wells, a merchant” on Wightman’s tombstone, he discovered a coat button in the street’s dust, matching the cloak of the same tavern-goer accused of stealing the sea captain’s coins.The gang members were tried, and executed. In the western churchyard Wightman’s gravestone detailed how the murder case was solved. The tombstone is