Charleston, SC

Gibbes Museum of Art
Works by African American artists and lifestyles are depicted in a permanent collection of the Charleston Renaissance Gallery; many photographs pertinent to African American heritage can be found in the museum archives; 135 Meeting Street; 843-722-2706; http://www.gibbes.com

Calhoun Mansion
George Walton Williams, a wealthy merchant and banker, built this Baronial 24,000 square-foot Manor House following the Civil War; has 14-foot ceilings, ornate wood moldings, elaborate chandeliers, a stairwell that reaches to a 75-foot domed ceiling, as well as a ballroom with a 45 feet high glass skylight; Featured on A&E channel's "American Castles"; guided tours from 45 minutes to 2 hours; adults: $15.00, age 5-10 $7.00, under 5 free; Wed-Sun 10a-4p; 16 Meeting Street; 843-722-8205

Old City Market
Built 1841, it features small shops and restaurants selling everything from produce to antiques; a favorite merchandising place for Gullah ladies who weave and sell sweetgrass baskets; daily; Market Street between Meeting and East Bay Street; 800-868-8118

Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon
Built by the British as the Exchange and Customs House in 1771, American Patriots were held prisoner in the Provost during the Revolutionary War; see the Half-Moon Battery portion of the Charles Towne Sea Wall built to defend the colony from pirates in the late 1600's; some say its one of the three most significant buildings of colonial America; the kids will enjoy Pirate and George Washington Scavenger Hunts; adults $6, age 7-12 $3.50; daily 9a-5p; 122 East Bay Street; 843-727-2165

Dock Street Theatre
Built on the location of one of America's first playhouses, its a combination reconstruction of a Georgian playhouse and old Planters Hotel (1809); the New Theatre in Dock Street opened in 1936; performances Mon-Fri noon-6p; 135 Church Street; 843-720-3968

Charleston Cooks! Maverick Kitchen Store
Low country culinary classes & demos with food products, cookware, cookbooks; culinary teachers include African American chefs like South Carolina native, Marvin Woods, and Black brewmaster, Garette Oliver; tourists can watch them cooking from the picture window facing East Bay Street; 194 East Bay Street; 843-722-1212; http://www.charlestoncooks.com

Wells Gallery
Features a permanent exhibit by local African American artist, Gary Grier, who also did a portrait of P. Diddy Combs; 103 Broad Street; 843-853-3233

Fort Sumter, SC

Fort Sumter National Monument
Union forces first occupied the fort on this man-made island in December 1960; on April 12, 1861 Confederate forces at Fort Johnson fired the first shot of the Civil War at Union-occupied Fort Sumter; after a 34-hour bombardment, Major Robert Anderson surrendered and Confederate troops occupied Fort Sumter despite bombardment until 1865; it took so much pounding that by February 17, 1865, when the Confederates evacuated, it was little more than rubble; Mon-Sun 9a-5p; ask for a tour by National Park Service Education Director, Michael Allen -- Gullah native with a wealth of knowledge about Black military and civilian history of South Carolina; visit by Fort Sumter Tour Boat from 1214 Middle Street, Downtown; 843-883-3123

Sullivan's Island, SC

Fort Moultrie
Current structure was completed in 1809 and is the third fort on this site; original palmetto log fort was attacked by a British fleet on June 28, 1776 during the Revolutionary War; Colonel William Moultrie's forces repelled British in one of the first decisive American victories of the Revolution; the National Park Service administers and has restored the interior of the fort; the visitor center features a film with important segments about the Massachusetts 54th Colored Regiment (portrayed in the movie “Glory” and Robert Smalls, a slave who captured a Confederate warship; 20 minute film runs on every 1/2 hour; Admission fees: Adults $2, children under 16 $1,  family $5; ask for a tour by National Park Service Education Director, Michael Allen -- a Gullah native with a wealth of knowledge about Black military and civilian history of South Carolina; daily 9a-5p; visitor center located on West Middle Street; 843-883-3123