Discover the Spooky Side of Charleston

Touring the City’s Haunted Hotspots

By Jenny Peterson

STEP INTO HISTORY AND COME FACE-TO-FACE WITH THE HAUNTED PAST FOUND IN CHARLESTON. With a storied history that spans over 350 years, it is no surprise that there are more than a few ghost stories to tell. “In Charleston, we’ve seen two wars fought on our soil, murders, scandals and corruption,” said Andrew Kuhn, Tour Guide with Bulldogs Tours, which offers ghost tours and exclusive nighttime access to haunted places. “These tours are about sharing stories that have never been shared before.” Here are some of his favorite haunted spots.

Old Exchange And Provost Dungeon

122 E Bay St., Charleston

During the American Revolution, British forces used the bottom floor of the Exchange Building as a military prison — also called Provost or Dungeon. This space was used to house American prisoners of war, British soldiers and enslaved individuals who all endured its harsh environment. Today, 25-minute tours of the dungeon are given by costumed interpreters. Visitors can see, smell and touch the same brick walls that confined the prisoners. oldexchange.org

Magnolia Cemetery

70 Cunnington Ave, Charleston

The Magnolia Cemetery is an expansive graveyard and a spectacular sight to behold. The extensive grounds contain a Gothic non-denominational church and the original 1790 plantation house. Many remnants of the original design remain. The grounds are beautiful and can be visited for free during the daytime. Bulldog Tours offers an exclusive nighttime tour of the cemetery to tell the stories of its permanent “residents” who include socialites, soldiers, bootleggers, authors and politicians. To take a guided tour, visit bulldogtours.com.

White Point Gardens

2 Murray Blvd., Charleston

Amidst the idyllic White Point Gardens at the tip of the Charleston peninsula, a bronze plaque describes a starling scene: Near this spot in autumn of 1718 marks the execution by hanging of notorious pirate Major Stede Bonnet and 29 of his men. Another 19 pirates were also hanged. They were buried nearby in the marsh beyond the low water mark. Some say the spirits of these pirates still haunt the space, especially during a foggy night overlooking the water.

Uss Yorktown

40 Patriots Point Rd., Mt. Pleasant

While many seek out ghosts at centuries-old locales, Kuhn said that the USS Yorktown, the massive military vessel that sits on the shore of the Charleston Harbor in Mt. Pleasant, is teeming with spirits. Commissioned in 1943, the “Fighting Lady’’ was once manned by over 3,000 people and designed to fight off enemies all over the globe during WWII. While visitors can go on self-guided tours of the carrier during the day, Bulldog Tours offers guided nighttime ghost tours of this impressive aircraft carrier to hear the stories of the American heroes who lived, died, and are still rumored to be there today. patriotspoint.org.

Charleston

Area Map

Getting Around

Some transportation options for getting around downtown Charleston and the surrounding areas.

n WATER TAXI:

Transports visitors from downtown Charleston (Aquarium Wharf or Waterfront Park) to Mount Pleasant (Patriots Point or Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina). Taxi runs each hour; $14 for allday passes, 3 and under are free. No reservations needed. Call 843-330-2989 for pickup. charlestonwatertaxi.com n BUS:

The CARTA bus system has regular routes that travel to major destinations. The DASH trolley service is available free of charge if you’re traveling around downtown Charleston. ridecarta.com | 843-724-7420 n RICKSHAWS AND PEDICABS: n UBER AND LYFT

Available in downtown Charleston as are taxi cabs for transportation around the Lowcountry.

Ride services are available in the area.