Old Slave Mart Museum

Top choice in Charleston


Formerly called Ryan's Mart, this building once housed an open-air market that auctioned African American men, women and children in the mid-1800s, the largest of 40 or so similar auction houses. South Carolina's shameful past is unraveled in text-heavy exhibits illuminating the slave experience; the few artifacts, such as leg shackles, are especially chilling.

For firsthand stories, listen to the oral recollections of former slave Elijah Green and others. In a word: haunting.

Combination tickets with the Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon cost adult/child $15/8.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Charleston attractions

1. St Philip's Church

0.1 MILES

An Episcopal church erected in 1835, considered all-important by the first city residents. Lots of famous people were buried in the church cemetery and…

2. Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon

0.11 MILES

Kids love the creepy dungeon, used as a prison for American patriots held by the British during the Revolutionary War. The cramped space sits beneath a…

3. Waterfront Park

0.18 MILES

A lovely, eight-acre park on the Cooper River, notable for its landscape architecture and eye-catching, pineapple-shaped fountain. During summer it's a…

4. St Michael's Church

0.18 MILES

St Michael's is the oldest church in town, dating back to 1752, and its beloved bells have been announcing the time and various events, including…

5. Rainbow Row

0.18 MILES

With its 13 candy-colored houses, this stretch of Georgian row houses on lower E Bay St is one of the most photographed areas in Charleston. The…

6. Heyward-Washington House

0.18 MILES

As the name hints, this 1772 Georgian-style town house is kind of a big deal because George Washington rented it for a week, and visitors can stand in…

7. Gibbes Museum of Art

0.2 MILES

Houses a decent collection of American and Southern works. The contemporary collection includes works by local artists, with Lowcountry life as a…

8. Nathaniel Russell House

0.31 MILES

A spectacular, self-supporting spiral staircase is the highlight at this 1808 Federal-style house, built by a Rhode Islander, known in Charleston as 'King…