Lost Stories of Black Charleston Walking Tour

Badge of ExcellenceCharleston, USA

2 hours
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Overview

Get an inside perspective on Charleston's lesser-known black history during this 2-hour walking tour. Listen as your guide tells forgotten folktales and facts about important figures in the city's history. Set off through Charleston's historic neighborhoods on foot, taking in the local ambiance from the ground up. Stop by the Jehu Junes Hotel site, see Catfish Row, where the opera Porgy and Bess is set. Stroll along the ocean, through Waterfront Park and past the Charleston Harbor. Finish up with visits to the Heyward Washington House and the Old Slave Art Museum. After 2 hours, return to your starting point with a better understanding of Charleston's black history.

2-hour Lost Stories of Black Charleston Walking Tour
Tours narrated by writer, historian, educator, and licensed tour guide, Damon Fordham
Experience Mother Emanuel A.M. E. Church stories that have faded from memory over the centuries.
Walk by historical Charleston sites such as Old Slave Mart Museum and the Heyward-Washington House

What's Included

2-hour Lost Stories of Black Charleston Walking Tour
Tours narrated by writer, historian, educator, and licensed tour guide, Damon Fordham
Experience Mother Emanuel A.M. E. Church stories that have faded from memory over the centuries.
Walk by historical Charleston sites such as Old Slave Mart Museum and the Heyward-Washington House

Gratuities

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Buxton Books
160 King St, Charleston, SC 29401, USA
Departure Point: Tour Charleston Headquarters (inside Buxton Books) Address: 160 King Street Charleston, SC 29401

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Meet your guide and tour group at the tour office at 9:30am. Set off through Charleston's historic neighborhoods on foot, taking in the local ambiance from the ground up.

Listen as your guide combines historical facts, personal perspectives, and powerful storytelling. Stop by the Jehu Junes Hotel site, see Catfish Row, where the opera Porgy and Bess is set. Stroll along the ocean, through Waterfront Park and past the Charleston Harbor. Finish up with visits to the Heyward Washington House and the Old Slave Art Museum.

After 2 hours, return to your starting point with a better understanding of Charleston's black history.

Tour Charleston (Pass By)

Charleston City Market

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Heyward-Washington House

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Old Slave Mart Museum

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Joe Riley Waterfront Park

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible

Service animals allowed
Not recommended for travelers with back problems
Most travelers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Reviews

5.0

312 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

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Showing 1-10 of 312 reviews

Full of hidden history that I loved learning about and celebrating with others

TIia_R, May 2024

Loved the tour. The historical stories mixed with known stories and personal stories made this tour so enjoyable. Also as we walked around we got to see the different areas and how people live today amongst the history.

Wonderfully educational

Richard_S, Apr 2024

The guide's knowledge, ability to make us think, and clear answers to questions, made this tour fantastic!

Fantastic!

Ola_G, Apr 2024

David was absolutely fantastic with a plethora of knowledge of the history of black Charleston! I would absolutely take his tour again and recommend friends and family to take his tour!

Knowledge

Mongo_S, Apr 2024

Are guided was very knowledgeable gave us a lot of information and also was a great storyteller. If you want to learn more about African American history I definitely recommend this trip.

Too focused on the tour guide!

Cynthia_S, Apr 2024

Damon certainly knows his material and his passion clearly shines thru. But that said, he is so rigid (“don’t interrupt me when I’m talking so I don’t lose my way…”), so self-aggrandizing (everything was about things he’s done, people he’s met and where he fits into the narrative) and about the books of his we should buy, etc., that we felt this overshadowed what was very interesting history and story.

Charleston History with Blackness Centered

Kris_P, Mar 2024

We didn't get a chance to complete the tour. My son got sick at the last minute. However, I still want to thank Mr. Damon for removing the white sugarcoating from the American story and placing Black people squarely at the center of Charleston history. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Revealing Walk

Kimberley_P, Mar 2024

Damon Fordham was completely informative and also entertaining as a tour guide. I wanted to learn more about African American History in the South. Damon covered so much material that was completely unknown to me. He guided as a storyteller. He used facts and statistics woven into daily living and humanistic experiences including personal history. My attention was engrossed on his words (and music) the entire tour!

Excellent tour!

Dina_L, Mar 2024

The stories were very interesting and eye opening. I wish it was a longer tour. I definitely recommend everyone taking this tour

The power of positive stories

mfds5fsfpt, Feb 2024

Great history of Charleston, focused on positive Black narratives. He talked really fast, so it was a lot to take in, but overall, I learned a lot.

Time Well Spent in Charleston

Nakia_K, Feb 2024

David is an excellent story telller/tour guide. You can tell he is extremely passionate about sharing some of Charleston's rich Black history with those on the tour. David was willing and eager to answer any questions we had, as well as sharing some additional information about his personal journey in between stops. We were given a bathroom break during the tour which was great!

Recommended!

Quoi_D, Feb 2024

Tour was engaging! Stories were informative and at times fun! Mr. Damon was entertaining! I thoroughly enjoyed :)

Storytelling at its finest

Trent_D, Jan 2024

For all the stories, Damon used citations to where he could verify his stories. All stories you have never heard before as they aren’t mainstream history. Damon is a storyteller and has great voices for different people and even enhances the tour with music.

Fantastic tour! Domon was...

Jay_R, Nov 2023

Fantastic tour! Domon was extremely knowledgeable and engaging when telling the lost stories of Black Charleston!

Great Tour!

Jane_J, Nov 2023

The stories at the landmarks made this tour a rich experience! Mr. Fordham made history come alive. I highly recommend it!!

Factual Yet Untold

Veronica_L, Nov 2023

What an amazing presentation! The professor is very knowledgeable, personable and funny too! He provided a lovely tour of Charleston from a perspective not heard by most. If you want to know Charleston history though the eyes of Black Americans and the Gullah then please attend this walking tour…and bring mosquito spray!

Entertaining and educational

Maureen_R, Nov 2023

Mr. Damon was entertaining, engaging but most importantly extremely knowledgeable, generous with his personal insights and experience. What a true pleasure to hear from this academic and leader first hand. Thank you!

Worth every penny

Deborah_M, Nov 2023

Damon is very knowledgeable and patient with guests, answering all the questions. Highly recommended

Really interesting with a great tour guide who is a subject matter expert

Matthew_T, Nov 2023

Damon was an engaging tour guide with encyclopedic knowledge of the history of the black Charleston experience. Damon has done a lot of primary research, which he managed to weave into the stories he told us. His passion for the subject is obvious. This is a great tour to take as a supplement to the more "traditional" Charleston walking tours.

To Know is to KNOW

Michelle_J, Nov 2023

I think it was informative and personal. This tour added to all the knowledge that was obtain at the IAAM and more.

True History

Elizabeth_P, Oct 2023

Damon’s knowledge of the history of Charleston is amazing. He told stories that aren’t in history books and many people today don’t want to discuss. Very informative!

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