Jewish History Private Walking Tour of Charleston
Charleston History. Jewish Soul.
Charleston was home to the largest Jewish community in the U.S. until the 1820s — even surpassing New York.
Experience iconic landmarks and hidden gems on a private tour that weaves Jewish heritage into the broader story of Charleston.
We will explore a fascinating stretch of Charleston’s historic core, visiting homes once owned by Jewish merchants, including a steamship magnate and a successful clothier, as well as the site of America’s first Jewish-owned pharmacy. You’ll also see the Hebrew Orphan Society building and stroll past the colorful facades of Rainbow Row.
As we walk, we’ll reflect on the vital role of African Americans in Charleston’s Jewish story and the complex legacy of Jewish involvement in both the city’s slave economy and the Civil War.
This is more than a history tour—it’s a meaningful exploration of Jewish identity, community, and continuity in Charleston, led with insight, care, and a storyteller’s heart.
Options
Jewish History Private Walking Tour of Charleston
What's included in Jewish History Private Walking Tour of Charleston
(Subject to Option Inclusions)Itinerary
See the Farmers & Exchange Bank Building, Charleston best example of Moorish Revival architecture, built by prominent Sephardic Jewish Charlestonian David Lopez
Learn about Dock Street Theater, once owned by Milton Pearlstine, and pass by the Sasportas Tenements, once owned by prominent French-Jewish privateer and Revolutionary War soldier Abraham Sasportas
Hear the story of Francis Salvador, the first Jewish person to die in the American Revolution (also known as the "Paul Revere of the South")
Inclusions
- Government Fees
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Meet
Pickup and Dropoff
You will make your own way to the meeting points
Meeting / End Points
- Please meet your guide at the benches under the trees on the North side of the building (left side if you are facing it from the street).
