These birds, known as “Charleston Eagles,” were even protected by law. In fact, buzzards kept the Market clean by eating scraps. The first sheds were located at the beginning of the Market at Meeting Street and sold meat. ![]() ![]() You’ll also find “Sweetgrass Basket Ladies” weaving and selling their baskets in between sheds. The remaining sheds stretching to East Bay Street are open-air and rented to retail vendors selling souvenirs, leather goods and jewelry. The Market “sheds” run from the back of Market Hall (with a few open-air vendors located under Market hall) to East Bay, and a few sheds near Meeting Street are enclosed with retail shops. The Market extends to East Bay Street, with South Market and North Market Streets on either side. The Market begins at Meeting Street with historic Market Hall, designed by architect Edward B. On completion of the Old Slave Mart on Chalmers Street in 1859, slaves were auctioned there. Later, after the Old Exchange Building was completed, slaves were sometimes sold on land to the north of that building. In the early years of Charles Town, slaves were sold on the docks. To be clear, slaves were never sold at the Market. if the City ever chose not to use the land as a market, the land would revert back to the Pinckney family and heirs.Īs a tour guide, I am frequently asked if the Market is where slave auctions were held. The Pinckneys were farsighted about the use and future of this property the deed even had language that is known today as a reverter clause, i.e. In 1788, the Pinckney family deeded the land on which the Market now exists to the City of Charles Town specifically to be developed as a public market. A beef market was originally located at the northeast corner of Broad and Meeting Streets, but later burned. The Charleston Market (or just the Market as locals call it) has been integral to Charleston since a public market was planned at this site around 1788. Find out more about vendors and goods on the market website.Posted in Diary of a Charleston Tour Guide There are also plenty of places to grab a snack scattered throughout the market. While you don't have to pay to browse, you might want to carry some cash on you in case the sweetgrass baskets (or other goodies) prove enticing. The market also offers night hours from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. The market is open every day from 9:30 a.m. The free DASH bus also stops nearby, as do some of the best Charleston tours. If you choose to drive, you'll find limited street parking available. ![]() The Charleston City Market is located in the heart of downtown Charleston on Meeting Street (about a 12-minute walk from Broad Street, the city's main thoroughfare). Past visitors recommend heading straight to the "basket ladies." These Gullah artisans have been weaving baskets for centuries – this craft originated in West Africa and has been passed down through the generations – using local materials, such as sweetgrass and palmetto leaves. Visitors to the market will also observe a noticeable African American influence reflected through the different food and product vendors. There are plenty of locally made products for sale at the market, which you can distinguish by a "Certified Authentic: Handmade in Charleston" tile displayed on vendor stations. The market buzzes with residents and visitors alike, perusing stalls loaded with toys, clothes, art, leather goods and regional souvenirs. It has been a shopping hub since the 1800s and is one of the country's oldest city markets. While some may say that the Charleston City Market is a bit of a tourist trap, others call it a great glimpse into life in the Old South.
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