School Programs
Education Programs in Downtown Charleston
Drayton Hall guides take students on an exploration of historic Charleston. Four different walks are offered, and as always, we are able to customize our
programs to meet your needs. Walks are recommended for students in third grade and above.
Charleston and the Revolutionary War
This tour enables students to demonstrate an understanding of the American Revolution and of South Carolina's role in it. Through observations, lectures,
and inquiries, students learn that Charleston was the thriving, wealthy, and powerful capital of the colony and therefore a target for both the British and
the Continental armies.
During the tour, students observe buildings and places important during the American Revolution and locate and identify important
battles in Charleston, including the Battle of Fort Moultrie and the Siege of Charleston. Drayton Hallīs educators introduce students to factors that caused
the war, such as the "Intolerable Acts," as groups observe places where colonists, including members of the Sons of Liberty, responded to these acts with
boycotts and petitions. Students also identify South Carolina leaders, such as William Henry Drayton, Christopher Gadsden, William Moultrie, Col. Isaac Hayne,
and Francis Marion. By combining observations, inquiries, and information, these walks enable students to summarize and interpret the course of the Revolution
and the effects of independence.
Charleston and the Civil War
This tour of Charleston enables students to demonstrate an understanding of the Civil War by considering multiple perspectives and by locating and processing
information from a variety of sources. The tour begins with inquiries and discussions about the causes of the war, including the conflict between industrial and
agrarian economies, debates over slavery, and regional differences in ways of life.
Students are introduced to key events that took place in Charleston, including
the firing on Fort Sumter, the blockade of the city, the bombardment, and the fall of the city to the Union Army. Students learn to describe the impact of the war
from multiple points of view, including the wealthy elite, the middle class, poor farmers, and the vast number of African-Americans. They also learn to describe
daily life in the city under constant bombardment and the condition of scarcity. Observing important historical places, such as the headquarters of General P. T.
Beauregard, Fort Moultrie, and Fort Sumter, even if from afar, enhances students' understanding of South Carolinaīs critical role in the war. In conclusion,
students discuss, and are asked to interpret, the lasting impacts of the Civil War on Charleston, South Carolina, and the United States.
Charleston's African-American History
This tour enables students to describe and interpret the important role of African Americans in the history of Charleston and South Carolina. By
observing places key to that history and by gaining information about events that took place there, students are able to describe the transfer of the institution of
slavery from the West Indies to South Carolina, the development of the African slave trade, and the formation of African-American culture, especially Gullah culture.
By examining Charleston's architecture and landscapes, students appreciate the critical roles that African Americans played in the building of the city, ranging from
the wealth their labor produced to the decorative architectural details wrought by their skilled craftsmanship. They see what life was like for slaves, empathize with
the hardships they faced, and identify steps taken to resist their masters. On-site discussions and inquiries enable students to describe the important roles that African Americans, enslaved and free, played in the American Revolution and the Civil War as well as the challenges faced by the newly freed African Americans. Students conclude the tour with observations and discussions about the civil rights movement and its influence on South Carolina and the nation.
Charleston Neighborhoods: History and Preservation
By exploring three neighborhoods in Charleston, outside the normal tourist areas, this program literally gives students the opportunity to walk through
time. Through observations, lectures, and inquiries, students learn to identify architectural styles from the 18th to the 20th century, to place those styles in
chronological order, and to describe how changes in architecture are connected to the wider context of economic, social, and cultural factors.
The walk also examines the history of the city, beginning with the colonial period and continuing through the antebellum period, industrialization, Jim Crow and segregation, and the modern era. Finally, students learn about and are able to identify the leaders and ideas behind Charleston's national prominence in historic preservation -- including the renowned Ansonborough project, seen on this tour -- and are able to describe and evaluate current opportunities and challenges in preserving history.
