White Point Garden

Located on the southern tip of the peninsula where the Cooper and Ashley rivers meet and spill into Charleston Harbor, White Point Garden also marks the endpoint of the Battery, the seawall defending the city from the ocean. Most importantly, White Point (Originally named Oyster Point for the shells covering the ground when colonists first arrived) was the second location of the city, the first being Albermarle Point, across the Ashley River.

White Point Garden was bought by the city in 1837 for public use as a park, and extended again in 1855, and is known now for its collection of Revolutionary and Civil War cannons, including both an 11-inch Dahlgren gun that fired shells at Fort Sumter, and Confederate Columbiads that were used to defend Fort Sumter. In addition to these are heavy weaponry used in World War One, The Spanish American War, and one incredibly clever fake that the city was tricked into buying for its collection, and was for a time on full display. It has since been either lost or stolen after being removed by the city- no one knows for sure.

Also, of note Is the Williams Music Pavilion, which was named after the original owners of the Calhoun Mansion, Mr. and Mrs. George Walton Williams, and gifted to the city by their daughter, Martha W. Carrington, in 1907. The first concert took place on June 28th of that year and was a regular occurrence in the park until they were banned permanently at the insistence of nearby residents.

There is a marker in the northeast corner of the park as well that commemorates the hanging of Stede Bonnet, one of the most famous pirates in Charleston's history. In 1718, he and Captain Edward Teach (best known as Blackbeard) successfully blockaded the Port of Charleston. Later that very same year, he was captured and sentenced to death. After seven delays to his execution from then Governor Charles Johnson, he was hanged at White Point on December 10th.

Today, White Point Garden is a central meeting place for tourists and residents who use the shade of the great live oaks as shade to cool off in the intense subtropical heat of a Charleston afternoon.

Photo “Battery-park-charleston-sc1.jpg” by Brian Stansberry is licensed under CC BY 3.0