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South Carolina

Christmastime in Charleston

Program No. 21206RJ

There’s no place like Charleston for Christmas. Come see why as you enjoy Lowcountry traditions, witness the Festival of Lights on James Island and attend a holiday show!

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6 days

5 nights

13 meals

5B 4L 4D

Check-in, Registration, Orientation, Welcome Dinner

Charleston, SC

History Presentation, Magnolia Plantation, Nature Tram Ride

Charleston, SC

Christmas Eve, Manigault Home, Baskets, Festival of Lights

Charleston, SC

Free Time, History by Motor Coach, Professional Vocalist

Charleston, SC

Boone Hall, Gullah Culture, Sound of Charleston

Charleston, SC

Program Concludes

Charleston, SC

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At a Glance

Embark on a holiday learning adventure to experience the distinctive history and delectable flavors of Charleston and the Lowcountry amid customs and traditions of the season. Festive decorations and delightful holiday rituals abound as you enjoy a cup of cocoa in historic homes decked in holiday finery and hear performances of music from every era of the city’s history. Learn about slavery and the Gullah people and culture on a Carolina Plantation.

Activity Level

On Your Feet

Walking up to two miles, some uneven terrain. Periods of standing for on-site lectures.

Best of all, you’ll…

Marvel at historic sites on expert-led walks including picturesque downtown and the City Market Place.
Explore gardens and plantations as you learn about the people who worked and lived on a Carolina plantation more than three centuries ago.
Experience the unique sounds that define Charleston's rich musical heritage at a holiday performance.

General Notes

Program limited to 38 participants.

Featured Expert

All trip experts

Ruth Miller

Ruth Miller, a graduate of Duke University, has lived all over America and journeyed throughout the world. As a Charleston historian and excursion leader, she enjoys tying local history into the American story and worldwide events. Ruth is the author and co-author of numerous books, including “Charleston Charlie — A Family Activity Book for Kids of All Ages,” “Touring the Tombstones,” and “The Angel Oak Story.” She is a member of the South Carolina Historical Society and the National Trust.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Ruth Miller View biography

Jennifer Powell View biography

Jennifer Powell has extensive travel within the United States and internationally. She graduated second in her class from The International Guide Academy of Denver, Colorado. As a resident of Atlanta, Ga. for six years and South Florida for nine, Jennifer is familiar with the geography and attractions in this part of the country. Her extensive travel in the U.S. and abroad has enhanced her interest and aptitude for history and the environment.

Suggested Reading List (7 books)

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You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.

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Christmastime in Charleston

Program Number: 21206

Allegiance: Fort Sumter, Charleston, and the Beginning of the Civil War

by David Detzer

An original and deeply human portrait of soldiers and civilians caught in the vortex of war. So vividly does Allegiance re-create the events leading to the firing of the first shot of the Civil War on April 12, 1861, that we can feel the fabric of the Union tearing apart. It is a tense and surprising story, filled with indecisive bureaucrats, uninformed leaders, hotheaded politicians, and dedicated and honorable soldiers on both sides. The six-month-long agony that began with Lincoln's election in November sputtered from one crisis to the next until Lincoln's inauguration, and finally exploded as the soldiers at Sumter neared starvation. At the center of this dramatic narrative is the heroic figure of Major Robert Anderson, a soldier whose experience had taught him above all that war is the poorest form of policy. With little help from Washington, D.C., Anderson almost single-handedly forestalled the beginning of the war until he finally had no choice but to fight. David Detzer's decade-long research illuminates the passions that led to the fighting, the sober reflections of the man who restrained its outbreak, and individuals on both sides who changed American history. No other historian has given us a clearer or more intimate picture of the human drama of Fort Sumter.

Very Charleston: A Celebration of History, Culture, and Lowcountry Charm

by Diana Hollingsworth Gessler

Cobblestone streets leading to perfectly preserved historic homes. Intricate wrought-iron gates opening to lush, fragrant gardens. A skyline of steeples and a river harbor bustling with schooners and sailboats. Charleston is one of America's most charming cities.In vibrant watercolors and detailed sketches, artist Diana Gessler captures the beauty and riches that make Charleston so unique: White Point Gardens, the Spoleto Festival, Rainbow Row, Waterfront Park, Fort Moultrie, the beaches of Sullivan's Island, sumptuous Lowcountry cuisine, and handmade sweetgrass baskets. Full of fascinating details--on everything from the art of early entertaining, the city's inspired architectural and garden designs, and George Washington's Southern tour to famous Charlestonians and the flags of Sumter--Very Charleston celebrates the city, the Lowcountry, the people, and our history. Hand-lettered and full color throughout, Very Charleston includes maps, an index, and a handy appendix of sites. With her cheerful illustrations and love for discovering little-known facts, Diana Gessler has created both an entertaining guide and an irresistible keepsake for visitors and Charlestonians alike.

A Witness to History: Charleston's Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon

by Ruth Miller and Ann Taylor Andrus

The Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon in Charleston, South Carolina, is one of the great buildings of Colonial America. Serving as city hall, customs house, post office and prison; as the British Headquarters during the occupation of Charles Towne and then host to a great ball honoring George Washington, the Exchange has been an eyewitness to America’s history. This stoic building-—designated a National Historic Landmark in 1975—-has been described as the best example of the dignity and ornament of the traditional English “exchange-town hall” design of the eighteenth century built in the United States. From within its Great Hall to deep below in the Provost Dungeon, the Exchange has played a vital role in American history. Andrus’ and Miller’s fast-paced and readable survey of the history and significance of the Old Exchange Building will appeal to visitor and serious historian alike.

Charleston! Charleston!: The History of a Southern City

by Walter Frazer

This book records Charleston's development from 1670 and ends with an afterword on the effects of Hurricane Hugo in 1989, drawing with special care on information from every facet of the city's life-its people and institutions; its art and architecture; its recreational, social and intellectual life; its politics and city government.

Charleston: City of Memory

by Harlan Greene

A Short History of Charleston

by Robert N. Rosen

A concise small history of Charleston that is easy to read and enjoyable.

Invention of Wings

by Sue Monk Kidd

The Invention of Wings, a powerful and sweeping historical novel by Sue Monk Kidd, begins, fittingly, with an image of flight: Hetty “Handful”, who has grown up as a slave in early nineteenth century Charleston, recalls the night her mother told her that her ancestors in Africa could fly over trees and clouds. That day, Handful’s mother, Charlotte, gave her daughter the gift of hope— the possibility that someday she might regain her wings and fly to freedom. Throughout Kidd’s exquisitely written story, Handful struggles, sometimes with quiet dissidence, sometimes with open rebellion, to cultivate a belief in the invincibility of her spirit and in the sacred truth that one does not need actual wings in order to rise.

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Christmastime in Charleston

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At a Glance

Best of all, you’ll…

General Notes

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