The Charles Towne Landing Visitors Center has an incredible exhibit showcasing the Carolina beginnings. Step in the shoes of white English settlers, Native Americans, or African slaves and experience first hand how life was like in the late 17th century.
Samuel Benwood a successful tailor, became a free man after 2 years
• How much money can you make if you were a woman?
• What skills were most sought after?
• What kind of crops and trade were the most lucrative?
• How much land can you own as an indentured servant?
• What were the interactions between the settlers and the Native Americans?
• What kind of wildlife roamed the Carolina Coast back then?
There are incredible drawings, artifacts and recollections that paint a vivid image of our primordial past. Here is just a sample:
The cash crop of the Barbados that started it all…
Molasses Cone and Jar in the 1650s
On March 15, 1670 The Carolina finally made it to shore.
“Everywhere they looked, they saw chattering flocks of birds, small game such as rabbits and squirrels, and rivers filled with fish and turtles…they saw miles of unspoiled, seemingly uninhabited land and unlimited potential for their future lives.”
The Carolina
The Cassique of the Kiawah welcomed the white settlers and trading of furs and Indian slaves soon flourished. One settler recollects “…when we came a shoare they stroked us on ye shoulders with their hands saying Bony Conraro Angles, knowing us to English be our collours (as wee supposed) we then gave them Brass rings & tobacco at which they seem well pleased…”
The Welcome
Here’s a look at how the Albermarle Point colony developed during its first 10 years.
The first 10 years at Albermarle Point colony
The white English settlers tried to replicate the Barbados style colonial plantations, were indentured servants, and especially African slaves, did the all the work: building houses, working the fields and harvesting the crops. They tried to grow tobacco, indigo, rice, sugar, olives, grapes, flax and cotton.
Life as an indentured servant
Slaves were brought in from Barbados to work on the new colony. Soon their contribution became indispensable, yet they lived under miserable and inhumane conditions, never allowed to own land or benefit from their hard work.
Pain and suffering...slave ships living Barbados for America
Wildlife was abundant along the Carolina coast. However the very lucrative fur trade lead to ravage hunting and the agricultural expansion to massive deforestation, negatively impacting the fragile ecosystem. Many species declined and some went extinct.
Natives hunting gigantic alligators
“…The Healthfulness of the Air; the Fertility of the Earth and Waters, and the great Pleasure and Profit will accrue to those that shall go thither to enjoy the fame”
Advertisement of the Carolina by the Lord Proprietors
History is great, but what about the children?
Relax, there is plenty of activities to enjoy throughout the park. Here are just a few fun things kids can do inside Charles Towne Landing.
History buffs rejoice! Visit Dorchester State Historic Park (only half an hour away, $2 admission) one of the most prolific archaeological sites on early colonial life. Most Saturdays you can observe archaeologists sifting through the remains of a town that included houses, markets, a school, a church, a boat yard and more.
Be a proud Carolinian at the historic Charles Towne Landing!
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[...] you are passionate about Charleston’s history then you must go to the Charles Towne Landing park, the birthplace of our state, an oasis of outdoor relaxation filled with fun activities for kids. [...]
Great pictures!, Yes this is a wonderful South Carolina historic site. The replica of the ship is terrific too!. My ancestor Dr. Henry Woodward, considered the first English settler in S.C. takes a large spot in the exhibit which was thrilling for me to see. He hitched a ride from Nevis with the Carolina, arriving again after having been kidnapped by the Spanish and taken to St. Augustine. His story is a fascinating one, as explorer and ‘diplomat’ as they refer to him. Come see my post called John Locke and Dr Henry Woodward, at my blog called Charleston Through an Artist’s Eye: http://www.CharlestonArtHIstory.com
Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing this incredible story with us. I loved your writings and your labyrinth photo.
Keep up the good work.
Elena
[...] you are passionate about Charleston’s history then you must go to the Charles Towne Landing park, the birthplace of our state, an oasis of outdoor relaxation filled with fun activities for [...]
[...] at the Visitors Center to see how life was like in the 1670s for the Lord Proprietors, settlers, native tribes, indentured servants, and [...]
[...] They named the territory “The Province of Carolina” and encouraged English settlers to come in. With that South Carolina was born. [...]
[...] In 1673, shortly after Charles Towne settlement was founded, a raised metal pan filled with pitch and set afire at night became the first navigation aid on [...]
[...] to nearby Charles Towne Landing, visitors are rewarded with one of America’s most complete archaeological records of colonial [...]