White Point Gardens - Charleston, South Carolina

Address:East Battery & Murray Blvd.
Charleston, South Carolina

There are many sights to see in Charleston, but within the top tier is the White Point Gardens, called the Battery by locals. The Battery is a collection of landscaped parks filled with palmetto trees, the state tree of South Carolina. Facing the harbor and Cooper River, the Battery is filled with relics from the American Civil War as well as various war monuments. A great walk to take is along the seawall, which runs along Murray Boulevard and East Battery. White Point Gardens is always open, and completely free to visit.

Located in the heart of Charleston's historic district, this prominent landmark provides a spectacular view of Fort Sumter and Charleston Harbor, where the Ashley and Cooper rivers empty into the Atlantic Ocean. It was first used as a public garden in 1837. With the outbreak of the Civil War, it became a fortification for the city. Visitors today also find an impressive display of historic mortars and cannons from the Civil War used to shell as well as defend the city. At the corner of Murray and East Bay there is a Confederate monument. In the early 1720s, the infamous "gentleman" pirate Stede Bonnet was hanged here with about 50 others like him. Townspeople filled the gallows area and jeered as the outlaw was brought to his rightful end. Bonnet was buried in the nearby marsh. His epitaph has been memorialized and stands today in the park.