A Historic Charleston Foundation Fundraiser
Themed Walking Tour: Charleston's Catastrophes
Tue, Mar 24
|Walking tour begins at 40 E Bay St.
The perfect introduction to Charleston’s history—walk the streets where the city’s story began. Presented in partnership with Bulldog Tours. $35 Adult $10 Children
Time & Location
Mar 24, 2026, 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Walking tour begins at 40 E Bay St.
About the event
Beneath Charleston’s picturesque streets lies a powerful story of survival—one shaped by centuries of disasters that have repeatedly tested, threatened, and transformed the city. This compelling walking tour uncovers the hidden history of Charleston’s most devastating events, from the Great Fire of 1740 to the citywide firestorm of 1861, from the catastrophic 1886 earthquake to relentless hurricanes like Hugo, and from Yellow Fever epidemics to devastating storms that reshaped both landscape and community.
As you journey through Charleston’s most historic streets, you’ll stand in the very places where these catastrophes unfolded—sites where buildings crumbled, fires raged, and communities fought to survive. You’ll learn how the 1886 earthquake leveled over 2,000 buildings, how hurricanes repeatedly flooded the peninsula, how outbreaks of disease shaped public health, and how fires redrew entire neighborhoods.
Yet the heart of this tour lies not only in destruction, but in resilience. Charleston’s response to each disaster—rebuilding homes, redefining neighborhoods, strengthening infrastructure, and adapting architecture—reveals the…
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