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Sixteen Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Charleston

Featured Image Credit: unsplash.com

  1. Pineapples are a symbol of hospitality in Charleston. Years ago, sea captains would announce their arrival and invite people into their homes to hear their story by sticking a pineapple prominently outside their homes.
  2. All of American theatre history began in Charleston at the Dock Street Theatre, which is also the very first theatre built in the country.
  3. The first flag considered to be an American flag contains no red. The Moultrie flag, flown at the battle on Sullivan’s Island, is navy blue with a white crescent emblazoned with the word “Liberty.”
  4. The College of Charleston is the oldest city-sponsored college in the country. And is also the 13th oldest college in the country. Three of its founders helped found our country (Edward Rutledge, Arthur Middleton, and Thomas Heyward).
  5. The show “Army Wives” had an actual fake town constructed in North Charleston for filming purposes.
  6. Charleston likes to call itself the “Holy City” thanks to the crazy number of steeples making up most of the skyline.
  7. Not only is it the most expensive structure in Charleston (at nearly $700,000,000), but The Arthur J. Ravenel bridge is the longest cable-sustained bridge in the country (at precisely 1,546 feet).
  8. The first time the game of golf was played in America was played in Charleston.
  9. Charleston has been a victim of nearly every natural disaster: Hurricane Hugo, the earthquake in 1886, the decade of fire at the turn of the century, the catastrophic flooding in 2015, and a tornado in 1938.
  10. All of the homes in Charleston have verandahs that face either south or west because it is the direction of prevailing wind, and we all know what life would be like without AC in the summer.
  11. The official craft of the state and one that Charleston is known for is the art of sweetgrass basket weaving.
  12. Travel & Leisure named Charleston the Friendliest City in America in 2011 and Conde Nast Traveler has given Charleston the same honor for many years.
  13. It wasn’t always Charles-TON. It was originally Charles Towne, named for King Charles II, but in 1783 they dropped the ‘w’ and the ‘e.’
  14. Charleston is located exactly halfway down the South Carolina coast.
  15. The very first museum instituted was The Charleston Museum in 1773.
  16. When the British first saw what would now be Charleston, a mess of white oysters was seen where the Battery now is, hence the name White Point.

Featured

Busting Common Myths About Charleston Carriage Horses

Featured Image Credit: Blake Williams

Misinformation about carriage horses is rampant in Charleston. People often talk about the issue without having any facts to back up their stances. Well, we’re here to help with that. We’re taking on common myths about carriage horses and busting them with the truth. So, educate yourself on this hot-button issue before you get into that spirited debate. Oh, and don’t forget to resist the Russian trolls!

Image Credit: Blake Williams

Myth: Carriage Horses Work No Matter the Weather

Erroneous! While horses and mules have the ability to adapt to the weather, they’re not asked to perform in extreme weather conditions…and that includes extreme heat. We know it gets hot down here in the summer and the caretakers of our four-legged friends know what to look out for when it comes to an overheated horse. At Palmetto Carriage Works, they take each horse’s temperature after every tour to make sure they are within the normal range. If the horse even approaches having an above normal temperature, they are pulled from working. And if a day reaches 95 degrees or the heat index is 110, there are no tours.

Myth: Carriage Horses Work Long Hours Without Breaks

Lies! The number of hours a horse is allowed to work in a row is highly regulated by the city of Charleston. Palmetto Carriage Works’ horses and mules typically work a five hour day. Plus, the horses get at least a 15-minute break between tours to rest and drink water. And when they’re not working, they have plenty of space in their stalls to eat and relax.

Carriage Horses in Charleston

Image Credit: Palmetto Carriage Works & Palmetto Tours Facebook

Myth: Carriage Horses are Made to Carry Backbreaking Loads

Nope! Even a fully loaded carriage isn’t hard for a horse or mule to pull, especially in teams. The tourism committee recently determined that even on a full carriage ride, it would be almost impossible for a carriage to exceed the city’s weight limit due to logistical issues. In Charleston, the weight of the carriages is restricted to a maximum of three times the horse’s weight. While all carriage companies must adhere to this ordinance, it is possible for the horses to pull much more than this. But don’t get all worked up just yet. To give you an idea of just how much weight carriage horses can pull, a regular horse can easily pull a wheeled vehicle that is six times its own weight. Since the average weight of a draft horse is about 1,400-2,000 pounds, that means that one of the larger horses could easily pull up to 12,000 pounds on a wheeled vehicle. A typical carriage load is FAR less than that, and the horses, on average, work five hours per day with breaks.

Myth: Carriage Horses Are Easily Spooked and Dangerous

False! It’s true that horses are firmly in the “flight” camp when it comes to the “fight or flight” response, but Charleston carriage horses aren’t just ordinary horses. They’re highly trained animals that adapt easily to their environments. They know how to deal with pedestrians, cars, sirens, yelling, and other loud noises. Things that might make a typical horse bolt don’t ruffle these quadrupeds.