Charleston’s Old Exchange
Charleston has always been a port city. It’s Old Exchange was initially established as the Royal Exchange in 1771. During the Revolutionary War, it served as a dungeon for those disloyal to the crown during the British occupation. George Washington gave a speech on its Western balcony during his visit in 1791. Fast forward a bunch of decades, and Elizabeth Taylor would stand on the same balcony during the filming of the television series “North and South.”
The Old Exchange hosted the War of 1812 Symposium. The dungeon is worth the price of admission.
The ceiling of the Great Hall of the Old Exchange, where South Carolina’s delegates to the first Continental Congress were elected in 1774.
Fireplace detail in the Great Hall of the Old Exchange.
The Rebecca Motte DAR Room of the Old Exchange, where the infamous spitting duel occurred in 2008.
George Washington and Elizabeth Taylor stood here.
The Old Exchange Dungeon.
This post is part of a series on Charleston, South Carolina, the place I consider my hometown. A local’s-eye-view. Take notes, potential visitors. The first post in the series is here, the second post is here and the third post is here.
Trackbacks & Pingbacks
- Charleston’s Fireproof Building by Robert Mills | The Accidental Cootchie Mama
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- Charleston Is the Land of No | The Accidental Cootchie Mama
- What To Do With Dead Bodies | The Accidental Cootchie Mama
- How to Kill a Body Dead | The Accidental Cootchie Mama
- Waiting To Be Laid Low | The Accidental Cootchie Mama
- I Got a Boner | The Accidental Cootchie Mama
- I’m Late For a Very Important Date | The Accidental Cootchie Mama
- O Death, Where Is Thy Sting? | The Accidental Cootchie Mama
- The Valley of Dry Bones | The Accidental Cootchie Mama
- A Breath of Charleston Spring | The Accidental Cootchie Mama
- Magnolia Cemetery Is THE Place to be Dead | The Accidental Cootchie Mama
Oh Andra, I dearly love the pictures and the historic narrative. The spitting of 2008. Do you suppose that someday when a tour is progressing that the narrator will say those words in describing a specirfic spot? Holy Moly.
It would be awesome if they did…..
Great pictures Andra and a very Happy Valentine’s Day to MTM and you.
Happy Valentine’s Day!!
And even better yet, the Charleston Beer Exchange http://www.charlestonbeerexchange.com is now right behind it! Love that place. Well, I love both places.
Ha. I have yet to visit the Beer Exchange, for obvious reasons. I do not like beer.
They have cider too. I think.
Is this where we return Valentine’s gifts?
Haha. I don’t think so, Lou.
Oooh! I bet the dungeon is AWESOME
It is the best part, Jessie.
Love the interior of the DAR room, particularly the three legged chair. A perfect spitting chair if ever I saw one.
Hahahaha. It is, isn’t it, Roger?
As the former education curator at that esteemed building, I can tell you many tales of being in the dungeon alone…mwahahahahahaha. The building’s interior is almost all a recreation, not a preservation. A bad restoration in the 1970s of the interior left it with a feeling of new, rather than preserved. I addressed the Sons of the American Revolution in the north meeting room, opposite the main lobby and the DAR room. However, the dungeon is all original, except for the really ratty looking mannequins who represented the Patriots imprisoned there.
The brickwork down there is really quite something. And, your tales of being in the dungeon alone would be welcome.
What a gorgeous building. I love the caption, “George Washington and Elizabeth Taylor stood here.” That’s too funny. I am sure our DAR meeting place isn’t anywhere near as grand, but there’s nothing like the south for beautiful buildings. Your photos are beautiful. I’m enjoying stories from Charleston…I hope you won’t completely abandon the direction. If you move on, do come back from time to time!
Happy Valentine’s Day to you and MTM. You’re a dear couple.
Plenty of people write about Charleston better than I, Debra. I especially enjoy its early history, though visitors mostly get the Civil War stories.
Happy Valentine’s Day to you, Jay, Pinky and Darwin.
As many times as I ambled through downtown, I never went in here. Maybe someday yet.
Particularly LOVE that wide-board flooring. Heart pine?
Yes, I believe it is heart pine.
Are there any tales of the people who stayed in the dungeons?
Here is a link to get you started. http://scaresandhauntsofcharleston.wordpress.com/2012/04/09/180/
Love the details on that building! One of these days I will have to make it down to Charleston.
You are most welcome to crash here, if you ever do.
The dungeon looks like the place one of your stories took place. Thanks for another look at your lovely city.
It’s a creepy place, even today.