A carriage ride through downtown Charleston is a great way to learn about it's history.  Many influences over the past 300+ years have shaped today's "Holy City" such a unique place - the early English and Spanish settlers, Pre and Post Civil War reconstruction, a major earthquake in 1886, and in 1989 a Category 4 Hurricane named HUGO.

As Charleston was our home in 1989, I remember the destruction to the City and surrounding communities.  Obviously a week or two without power and water (and the loss of our "Anniversary Cake" that melted in the freezer) was minor in comparison.

A brief History

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/weather/hurricane/poststories/hugo-sc.htm

Post HUGO images

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&q=hurricane+hugo+damage&revid=451872132&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&biw=1113&bih=704&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=rQ8KUJrzKaHc0QGyv93fAw

But if you REALLY want a history lesson, please ask for Myron at Palmetto Carriage Tours.  We had a private carriage ride (for 4) and not only got some great pictures but learned a lot about the city that we had either forgotten, or never learned while we were living here.

Did you know:

• The Civil War was started when shots were fired "at" Fort Sumpter, not "from" it?
• All porches in the City face South to block the hottest sun of the day (only practiced here)
• Some of the "newer" homes in the City are over 200 years old

Without a doubt, Charleston (especially when we stay in Kiawah!) is our favorite place to visit.