Charleston

We arrived in Charleston Wednesday afternoon and have been enjoying all the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of one of the South's most charming cities since.

Run on the Beach, Plantation, and Charleston

Started the day with a beautiful run along Myrtle Beach, after sleeping to the sound of ocean waves just outside my balcony door. So pleasant...

On to Boone Hall plantation...

Columbia, King Cotton and Tobacco

Yesterday we spent the morning in the capital city, Columbia, where we ran the steps for exercise. Our stop at the University of South Carolina left some to be desired, as our professor was absent-minded, to say the least. Teachers are a tough crowd too, but we were happy to move on to the state museum, where we had a good tour.

Our hotel, the Sheraton, was a historic bank.  You can see the old vault below.  The rooms were beautiful Southern rooms with original wood floors.

A vestige of Southern pride, this monument stands proudly in front of the South Carolina state capital building.  I read in the state museum later that day that the small Confederate flag was placed there as a compromise for taking down the large ones that hung in the House and Senate chambers.  

The South Carolina State Capital building

My hero.  Be sure to read the inscription below.

Palmetto State monument on the grounds of the capital for soldiers who fought in the War with Mexico.  The fort of palmetto logs withstood an attack during the American Revolution, and the state has been called the Palmetto State, due to that.

Back of the SC state capital.

Grounds:  so beautiful and lush

Waiting for the professor from USC who was supposed to visit with us and was late.

What did we do before smart phones and devices?

When Dr. Littlefield finally showed up and spoke to us about the economic history of the South, we decided it was okay he was late.  No disrespect, but we've had better presentations.  

On to the South Carolina State Museum!  These are the flags that once hung in the capital and by law must now have a permanent presence in the state museum.

Excited to have seen this!  These have to do with the infamous Brooks-Sumner incident in Congress (1857).  Brooks's cousin was insulted by Sumner (a Northerner who hated slavery), and Brooks (a House member) came into the Senate and beat Charles Sumner with a cane, causing Sumner serious problems for his life.  The cane above is not the one Brooks used but one of several given to him by Southerners who thought his deed heroic.  

More implements from the Brooks-Sumner incident, which was incited by "Bleeding Kansas" and contributed to the Civil War.

Copy of South Carolina's Secession Ordinance.  While in Charleston later that week, I saw where the building stood where this was signed.  It is no longer standing.

We had this "volunteer" along with our tour guide of the museum.  He slept several times along the tour and prompted several photographs by our giggling group.

Our museum tour guide describing some antebellum history.

What would a stop in Columbia be without a stop at the USC stadium?  Pretty impressive.  It seats about 80,000 people.  Clemson is USC's big rival.

Our lunch stop at USC's campus.

Greater Yellowstone American History Project Trip to South Carolina:Day #1

I met my groupers for our 6th summer seminar tour this morning at 5:15 to depart for South Carolina. We had the usual 3 hour wait between flights at O'Hare, but then made it to Columbia, South Carolina's gorgeous capital. We are staying at the Sheraton, a former bank and on the registry of historic places here. The wood floors in our room are original, and the lobby and dining areas magnificent. We ate at a nearby place called the Mellow Mushroom.

We enjoyed the evening walking around the area. The temps are lovely, not the typical southern highs. I look forward to a wonderful week of learning and Southern hospitality and experiences.

 We stayed at a historic building that had once been a bank in Columbia.  We are waiting for our fearless leader Jeff P to get our room keys.

I had never eaten at a Mellow Mushroom, but it was lots of fun, delicious and a must try again.