Visiting a historical landmark is a far more agreeable social event than police-station crawls, porcupine-cuddling parties, and jury-duty proms. Make a date with the depths of history with today's Groupon: for $16, you get a one-year Colonial Family membership—including unlimited admission to tours of The Old Exchange building and Provost Dungeon for up to five people—from the Friends of The Old Exchange (a $60 value). Colonial Family members also receive 15% off in the gift shop and invitations to special events.
Celebrating an edifice that has served as a military prison and played home to the ratification of the Constitution, tours through The Old Exchange building transport history-hungry brains to pivotal points in American's past, contextualizing Charleston's role in the nation's vibrant tapestry. Enthusiastic guides lead lore lovers through every nook and cranny of the locally legendary building, offering incisive commentary jam-packed with fascinating facts, comprehensive background, and no artificial ingredients. Tours also travail through the Provost Dungeon, whose original brick barrel-vaulted ceiling and minimalist approach to wallpapering have survived hurricanes, earthquakes, and wars, and whose oppressive space was used to house military prisoners of the British during the Revolutionary War. Participants can document their trips through The Old Exchange with photos and video, permitted in all but two of the complex's many rooms.
The tours and membership come courtesy of the Friends of The Old Exchange, a group dedicated to keeping the restored historic structure in tip-top shape through necessary repairs and core-strengthening exercises. Membership fees contribute to the coalition's efforts and ensure that future generations will be able to bask in the mesmerizing glow of rich history.
Reviews
Frommer's highly recommends The Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon, and three Yelpers give it an average of three stars:
- This is a stop that many visitors overlook, but it's one of the three most important colonial buildings in the United States because of its role as a prison during the American Revolution. – Frommer's
- The tour guide was very knowledgeable and did a great job explaining the history of Charleston and the changes in the building and city over time. – pamela s., Yelp, 5/14/10
Charlestowne Pub Stroll
Charlestowne Pub Stroll's knowledgeable guides cover nearly 300 years of history during their three-hour walking tours, shedding light on the city's libation-steeped past. Guide dressed in full pirate or colonial regalia lead guests along Meeting Street as they point out the area’s most historically significant pubs. They regale guests with tales of Prohibition-era criminals, early drinking habits, and other historical oddities, including that time when drinking a full gallon of milk was temporarily outlawed in Charleston in the 1900s. Throughout the tour, groups will stop into select watering holes to sample the storied brews for themselves at an extra cost.