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Reinventing history: Charles Towne Landing begins $14 million renovation
By Sarah G. McC. Moise
Staff Writer
After a hasty inception rushed to meet the state’s tri-centennial in 1970, Charles Towne Landing is finally winning the respect it deserves as South Carolina’s birthplace.
“Charles Towne Landing is not only the birthplace of the city of Charleston and the state of South Carolina, but also one of the birthplaces of America. It is just as important as Jamestown in Virginia, Plymouth in Massachusetts, or any of the other first settlements in the country. We’re focusing on that message,” says Chad Prosser, director of the S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism.
Several state lawmakers joined U.S. Rep. Henry Brown, R-S.C., and parks and tourism officials for the groundbreaking of a new visitor center that will serve as a gateway and orientation facility for the rest of the park, as well as the beginning of a total reinvention for the historic landmark. The renovation costs are expected to reach a total of $14 million, and while the park will have to bid for funding against other state projects, both State Rep. Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston, and Sen. Glenn McConnell, R-Charleston, are optimistic about getting some of that money this year.
At $5 million, the new visitor center will be the most expensive renovation to date, with offices, meeting facilities and an exhibition hall.
Gone are the dilapidated 1960s pavilion and geodesic dome, as are the days of pet shows and community food tastings that overshadowed the park’s historic message. The Adventure, a replica of a 17th-century trading ship, has been dry-docked and will undergo a complete reconstruction from keel to mast over the next 18 months.
Other improvements also are planned for the bear and the puma habitat in the animal forest.
Archeological investigations conducted in the summers of 2000 and 2001 not only uncovered the first house structure on the fledgling colony at Albemarle Point, but proved that the palisade, a defensive wall of 8-foot pointed logs, extended across the length of the settlement. A new palisade has been erected based on evidence of the 1670 settlement. Once funded, a reconstructed settlement will be built within the palisade wall, with examples of early structures and living history demonstrations.
“It’s fortunate that the Charles Towne Landing renovation would come in a time of core surplus,” says McConnell. “It’s an important capital investment to preserve our heritage for the future of this state, and there is a very good likelihood that the project will be funded.”
Department officials are confident that the renovation will increase the park’s waning visitation. “There are no marketing plans yet, but most likely we will work collaboratively with other tourism organizations in the state to do some aggressive promotion once it’s ready to accept visitors,” says Dawn Dawson-House, public information director for the state parks department.
The park plans to collaborate with schools to facilitate the public schools’ third- and eighth-grade curriculum on South Carolina history.
Sarah Moïse is a staff writer for the Business Journal. E-mail her at smoise@crbj.com.
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