Charleston Walking Tour: Exploring Historic Founders

Discover the fascinating history of Charleston on this walking tour. Explore the city’s founding and the influential figures who shaped America. From pirates to patriots, uncover the secrets of Charleston’s past.

Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon - Built in 1771 as a commercial exchange and custom house, the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon has been a Charleston landmark for nearly 250 years. Today, it is a non-profit historic site that focuses on the American Revolution and colonial Charleston.
What's Included
  • Admission to the Philip Simmons House.
  • Entry to the Halsey Gallery of Contemporary Art.
Additional Information

This excursion offers a glimpse into Charleston’s history by throwing light on the extraordinary women and men who played pivotal roles in the establishment of both Charleston and the United States.
Ever wondered if the United States would still be here today without the contributions of Charleston’s pirates and patriots?
We initiate our journey at the…

Location
122 E Bay St
East Bay Street
We will meet next to the Old Exchange Building at 122 East Bay Street.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(19 Ratings)
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Lizwatters314
Apr 6, 2025
Yes book if you love history - This was an outstanding tour. Larry was so knowledgeable I could have listened a couple more hours. 😊👍🏼
Review provided by Viator
A4707gkgracep
Mar 15, 2025
Engaging Historical Tour of Charleston - Larry is the best tour guide ever! We had a wonderful two hour walking tour of downtown Charleston but it was not physically strenuous. Larry connected the dots of history to paint a realistic picture of Charleston. I went on this tour with two of my girl friends. Three girls in our young twenties found this tour amazing and incredibly interesting. We covered important/serious topics like slavery’s influence on Charleston but also lighthearted anecdotal stories about different buildings and neighbors we passed. I would attend this tour again! I learned so much and Larry left us with lots of ideas to ponder.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Evelyn_i
Jul 18, 2024
A Memorable Experience - This tour exceeded my expectations. We chose the 3pm tour. It turned out that my husband and I were the only ones on the tour that day. So we wound up having a wonderful personalized experience. Our tour guide had a wealth of knowledge. He was very amusing too. We liked the way the walk and information was planned out. Although there is shade along the way, if you choose this tour during the summer wear sunscreen, a hat, and carry a bottle of very cold water. I definitely recommend this tour.
Review provided by Viator
Lorij379
Apr 9, 2024
Don’t miss this guy! Great tour! - Fantastic guide and fascinations history told by a master storyteller. We thoroughly enjoyed getting local history; the stories really brought the city to life.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kelley_c
Feb 18, 2024
Fun touey - Extremely knowledgeable guide who intertwined the history of Charleston with application to today’s world. The love for the city of a Charleston was obvious!
Review provided by Viator
Lauren_t
Feb 12, 2024
What's not in your history books... - Lawrence was incredibly knowledgeable and animated which enhanced the history of a beautiful city. Highly recommend booking and jumping into the prelude of a wonderful story.
Review provided by Viator
Frequenttraveler1986
Feb 11, 2024
Great for first time visitors! - Amazing your arranged by our hotel. We had a small group and felt like a personal tour. He was super knowledgeable and answered all our questions. Yes he did run over on the time but asked us first. We didn’t mind at all. He also gave great advice about what else to see in town and where to eat.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Gracemg1765mv
Jan 30, 2024
Storytelling we'll never forget! - I've been on a lot of walking tours in a lot of cities across the world. Larry and the Holy City History Tour was easily the best one ever! I booked this tour because of the emphasis on storytelling and Larry delivered. The stories were interesting and new, despite having spent a decent amount of time in Charleston (we're from Columbia, SC down the road). Larry shared great information and also showed how that history has shaped the world around us and is relevant today. I can't recommend this tour enough. Next time I'm in town, I'm going to call Larry up for a beer or two!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jjo8402fu
Nov 17, 2023
Go Larry! - The guide Larry…a historical American treasure. Just great. Really enjoyed the architecture and stories.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
John_k
Mar 16, 2025
Great tour. - Larry was a great tour guide. Not sure all his history is perfectly accurate but he’s a terrific storyteller. We definitely enjoyed it.
Review provided by Viator
From $36
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).