By Shelia Watson
Contributing Writer

Demolition began this month on buildings in Charles Towne Landing that were designed and built for Charleston’s tri-centennial celebration in 1970, while a few feet away construction continues on the new visitors’ center museum.

The redevelopment of the park began earlier this year thanks to $11 million allocated from the state budget. Of that amount, $4 million—paid for by a 1999 bond—will fund the visitors’ center museum, which includes plans for a meeting room, archaeology lab, gift shop and administrative offices.

The remaining $7 million was received recently from the state General Assembly for improvements that include parking lot renovation, historical trail redesign and construction, ongoing archaeology and various outdoor exhibits.

“Charles Towne Landing is a one-of-a-kind site with the unique attractions it offers, and it’s one of only five sites in the nation that exist in the original condition,” said Rob Powell, park director.

According to Powell, this places Charles Towne Landing in the same historically significant category as Jamestown, Va., Plymouth, Mass., St. Mary’s City, Md., and St. Augustine, Fla.

The current work is still in Phase I, which consists of the visitors’ center museum and the parking area. This phase should be completed by December 2006, although Powell said the park hopes to open the museum by July. Complete Building Corp. is the general contractor for the museum.

Phase II, which consists of general improvements to the park itself, includes work on the animal forest, habitats, historic trails, outdoor exhibits and extended architectural improvements. Some parts of this phase will begin before the completion of Phase I. A request for bids will go out soon for the historic trail and parking lot.

Reconstruction and other projects

In addition to the demolition and construction, several reconstruction projects have occurred during the past year. The palisade wall, crop garden and shed and cannon platform with a full-scale replica of a 17th-century cannon were all completed.

Several outdated and poorly located structures were demolished, including the snake exhibit, settler’s life exhibit, old crop garden exhibit and greenhouse.

Powell noted the park has made tremendous archaeological progress with the discovery of a structure presumed to be the home or workshop of a pipe maker, who is documented to have arrived in Charles Towne in 1673, as well as the location of a possible tavern site outside the palisade wall. Part of the $7 million will go toward rebuilding these structures.

Among the other ongoing projects are a Native American ceremonial center and the reconstruction of the full-scale replica of the trade ship Adventure. The ship’s reconstruction is being funded in part by the Charles Towne Landing Foundation, a 501c3 organization set up to help the park meet needs that are not funded by the state.

“Usually that means things like flower gardens or office equipment that’s not budgeted,” said Buzzy Tiencken, the foundation’s chairman. “We also help with providing volunteers to do things for the park, so it doesn’t have to hire people or have employees double up on work.”

Another function of the foundation, Tiencken said, is to bring awareness to the needs of the park and try to raise money to meet those needs. Through fundraising efforts, the foundation was able to donate $25,000 toward the Adventure project.

Tiencken praised local politicians for their assistance with funding.

“The foundation is extremely pleased with what Rep. Bobby Harrell and Sen. Glenn McConnell have done to help rejuvenate Charles Towne Landing. They’ve spearheaded the efforts to get us the money we need. They did a great job of getting us the last $7 million against tremendous odds, including overriding the governor’s veto. We’re grateful for their work.”

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