Life was hard for the first colonists, and those that landed at Albemarle Point in South Carolina in April 1670 were no exception.
They had to figure out quickly how to establish a food source, build homes and find a way to defend themselves from the Spanish and Native Americans.
The colony they established, Charles Towne, not only survived but flourished.
Charles Towne Landing, a living history park established in 1970 on the site of the original colony, teaches visitors about life in the 1600s.
You can tour a crop garden that closely follows the agricultural methods used by the settlers, or view a replica of the palisades and period artillery used to protect the colonists. You also can watch demonstrations of weaponry and indigo dyeing. The latter is a hands-on demonstration. Bandanas and T-shirts for dyeing are available for purchase.
You can also tour the Adventure, a replica cargo vessel like the colonists used to transport commodities, supplies and provisions between New Amsterdam, Barbados and the West Indies.
The park is a rich site for plenty of archaeological research, too, and excavations are open to the public. Archaeologists have discovered Native American villages, camp sites and a ceremonial center as well as colonial household artifacts and remnants of the original palisades.
The park also features indigenous plants and animals in the Animal Forest and offers 80 acres of English gardens. The visitors center includes a museum and gift shop. Also on site are an African-American cemetery dating from the late 19th century and the Legare-Waring House, built in the late 1840s as a plantation home.
- Lisa Kaylor, staff writer
Where: Charleston, S.C. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
Admission: $7.50 adults, $3.50 ages 5 to 15, free for children under 5
Getting there: Take I-20 east to Columbia. Take Exit 61 onto Sunset Boulevard and go about two and a half miles. Then take I-26 east to Charleston. Take Exit 216A onto Cosgrove Avenue, go about three miles and Charles Towne Landing will be on left.
Learn more: www.charlestowne.org
