Heyward-Washington House Tours and Tickets

Travel back in time to discover one of America’s most historic cities—Charleston, South Carolina—on this guided small-group walking tour. Explore some of the city’s most enchanting alleys and hidden passages. Visit the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon, a colonial building with a 300-year history; Rainbow Row, the longest cluster of Georgian row houses in the United States; plus historic Philadelphia Alley, and many more.

Get an inside perspective on Charleston's lesser-known black history during this 2-hour walking tour. Listen as your guide tells forgotten folktales and facts about important figures in the city's history. Set off through Charleston's historic neighborhoods on foot, taking in the local ambiance from the ground up. Stop by the Jehu Junes Hotel site, see Catfish Row, where the opera Porgy and Bess is set. Stroll along the ocean, through Waterfront Park and past the Charleston Harbor. Finish up with visits to the Heyward Washington House and the Old Slave Art Museum. After 2 hours, return to your starting point with a better understanding of Charleston's black history.

I promise you're going to learn more about history on this tour than on any other tour in this town. I will teach you things you did not know, and challenge things you think you know. But... we start by discussing what's important to you about history. What you like, and what you hope to learn. This allows me to focus the conversation where you want. I use a story format and I ask you a lot of questions to spur discussion. I'll walk you down the path of Charleston in a funny, interesting, sometimes irreverent way. We'll start at Waterfront Park and head south to the famous Charleston battery. We'll see some amazing sights and have some fascinating discussions about the very colorful history of the early fort of Charles Towne. When we’re finished we’ll end up very close to where we started, the proud new owners of the most valuable souvenir you can take home from your trip – knowledge. So come on ya'll, this tour ain't gonna book itself! :)

Charleston sightseeing pass includes admission for 30+ top tours, attractions, and restaurants. Choose from a 1-, 2-, or 3-day option—days don’t have to be consecutive and can be used anytime within a 10-day window, making this an easy addition to your existing itinerary. Each ticket includes tours such as a carriage ride or trolley tour, plus skip-the-line access to select Charleston museums and plantations.

Charleston’s a city with centuries of history, but you won’t feel like you’ve got too little time to explore it thanks to this self-guided audio tour. Skip the crowded, speedy group tours and opt to see Charleston on your schedule with unlimited use of this tour which you can even use at home. On your stroll, you’ll pass by sites like the High Cottage Charleston Restaurant, Rainbow Row, Dock Street Theatre, and the Battery - all of which you can visit.

Unlike many tour companies in town that allow up to 20 people in each group, my Charleston tour is guaranteed to have no more than 10. The most unique aspect of my tour is the high level of historical professionalism that I deliver to my guests. Earning a Ph.D. in history meant spending thousands of hours reading and researching primary sources in the South Carolina archives. I use the knowledge that I have obtained from that hard work and pass it off to you on the tour. Because I limit the number of guests to 10 and offer a tour that is 30 minutes longer than most in town, you will receive a degree of exclusivity and historical depth that is far greater than what is offered by the larger tour companies in Charleston.

Touring with a guide who grew up in Charleston allows a perspective like no other.Why choose someone who read about Charleston through a book-instead of someone who lived the lifestyle.