The Society, Scoundrels and Conflicts

that define Charleston, South Carolina
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About Lee Ann
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I was 14 years old the first time I visited Charleston and from that moment on I was in love with this historic city. Leaving town, riding in the backseat of my parent’s station wagon and reading “Charleston” by Alexandra Ripley, I decided then and there I was going to live in Charleston, someday. (I know the book is fiction, but it IS historical fiction so at least I was learning a little something.)

Years later, and after many weekend getaways to Charleston, it was decided that it would be less expensive for us to move from Atlanta than to continue our support for the hotels and B&B’s in this lovely city. (By the way they are excellent).

As the saying goes, the rest is history and do we have a lot of that here. Charleston is a city that touches all of your senses – from putting your hand on a 100 year old piece of iron work, to peeking through a gate and seeing an amazing garden, to the smell of puff mud (this is an acquired scent) or the hint of the aroma of the Confederate Jasmine, to finding an pottery shard on the streets and wondering what story it holds. Charleston is such an enchanting city and I am very lucky that I get to experience it every day!

I have been licensed by the City of Charleston since 2009, so should you need a professional guide with a heartfelt passion to introduce you to this wonderful city, please contact me.

Community Involvement

  • Daniel Island Historical Society Board Member 2012 to present, Vice-President 2013-2016
  • Preservation Society – Member
  • South Carolina Historical Society – Member
  • Middleton Place – Member
  • Hunley – Member
  • Gibbs Art Museum – Member
  • Drayton Hall – Member
  • Historic Charleston Foundation – Member
  • Charleston Museum – Member
  • Young Preservationists of Charleston – Member
  • Charleston Tour Guide Association

Charleston Tour Guide Association

Lee Ann

Carolina Day and The Battle of Fort Sullivan

In Charleston, June means that it’s time to celebrate Carolina Day, the way Charlestonians commemorate the 1st Patriot victory in the South during the American Revolution. Every June 28th since 1777, the church bells of St. Michaels ring out with the song of “3 Blind...

150 Years Ago – The Hunley

By 1863, Lincoln’s Anaconda Plan was in full effect. Most of the harbors of the South had been closed and those that were open were blocked by Union ships patrolling to ensure any blockade runners were stopped from entering the ports with their goods and supplies.  ...

Arrr, Pirates off the Port Side

September 19th was “Talk Like a Pirate Day” and that got me thinking about this month’s blog. The threat of a pirate attack was very real for the new colony of Carolina. This was one of the reasons why the colonists built a wall around their town when they moved to...

Presidents

It’s hard to believe that it is the middle of February already. While thinking about the 3 day weekend for President’s Day, I had a great idea for this month’s blog: let’s talk about the Presidents that have visited Charleston. The first President to visit our fair...

The Flag

As I sit and watch the Democratic and Republican conventions and think what a folly they have become. Neither side can agree with each other even on minuscule ideas. I wonder how they got like this and then I start to laugh. This is nothing new. This has been...

Another Charleston First – Memorial Day

Wow, it’s hard to believe that this weekend is the official start of summer. Not only is it that but more importantly is a time to honor all those that have died serving our Country. The tradition of remembering those who lost their lives while defending their country...

Money, Money, Money

Where did it come from? Coinage was the backbone of monetary systems around the world. But here on U.S. soil, we did not have the precious metals that were used for coinage so the colonies turned to paper. Massachusetts was the first to use paper money in 1690 and the...

151 Years Ago- Secession

151 years ago on December 20, 1860, the Civil War started in Charleston, South Carolina. What you are probably thinking is “no April 12, 1861 was the start of the Civil War” and yes that is correct too. April 12, 1861 was the 1st actual shots of the war. The “War”...

Charleston Firsts

Welcome to the first blog of Charleston History. Just to let you know a little about myself, my name is Lee Ann and I am a licensed tour guide in Charleston, South Carolina. Charleston is an amazing city and so much has happened here over the last 341 years that I...