Charleston

On Friday we headed to Charleston with Grandma and Grandpa Allen.  Our first stop was at Patriot's Point to take a ferry to Fort Sumter where the Civil War started.  Jon has informed us that this is called the War of Northern Aggression in some circles here in the South. Fort Sumter was initially built on a manmade island to help protect Charleston harbor, which was very important for shipping.

The Spirit of Charleston took us to the fort.

While choosing pictures for this blog, we were talking about the fact that we didn't see any dolphins.  Apparently the camera did a better job than we did.  The bridge behind it is beautiful as well. It connects Charleston to Mount Pleasant, where our hotel was located, and we joked that we saved $100 every time we drove over it. In fact, grandma and Me drove over it extra just to save more money (not really, but they did go over it an extra time when they discovered that the only way they could go from the road they were on was over the bridge); not the ideal way to the grocery store but it sure was beautiful!

Grandpa, Sarah and Grandma on the boat.

Grandpa and Sarah watching the waves.

Megan and Matthew loved being at the front.

Most of the crew watching the fort grow closer.

There it is!

Ready to go exploring.

Picture from a sally port.  Sarah was with Grandma and Grandpa elsewhere.

Some of the cannon could shoot up to five miles.

Matthew and U were exploring buddies.

Three in front of a cannon. Photo courtesy of Megan.

Me, U and Megan. Photo courtesy of Matthew.

A close up of the outside.  The walls are significantly lower than when it was an active fort.

Grandma, Grandpa and Sarah getting back on the boat.

Headed back to the shore.

U was there too.

After Fort Sumter, we decided to tour the military vessels at Patriot's Point.  There were three: The USS Yorktown is an aircraft carrier, USS Laffey is a destroyer and USS Clamagore is a submarine.  This was a highlight for several people including Matthew and Grandpa.

Sarah in the cockpit of a fighter.

Matthew's turn to fly.

Megan also wants to pilot.

These are some of the brave astronauts who went up in the Apollo 8 capsule behind them.

It was actually an informative movie on the Apollo program.

Matthew and Sarah watching for enemy fighters.

After shift change, Megan is paired with Matthew.

Megan was a little worried about knowing how to work all the levers.

Looking out over the deck of the Yorktown.

The whole flight deck.

We saw an old sailing ship go by in the harbor.

Matthew wanted to sit in the Captain's chair.

Megan is in the Pilot's chair.

While touring the interior of the ship, Megan decided she would need two of these bunks to be comfortable.

The kitchen had very practical recipes for us to follow.

This is what those ingredients look like.

Sarah thought it would be better to get sick since the sickbay beds were nicer.

Megan trying to look sick.

Matthew waiting to get his teeth checked.

The destroyer looked a lot like the aircraft carrier only smaller so we didn't get any photos there.  The submarine was different--very compact!

Matthew climbing to the hatch.

Grandpa enjoyed the tours.

So did U and Matthew.

After the boats, there was a Vietnam War camp to tour.

Matthew driving the ambulance to help people.

Taking his turn in the guard tower.

This was a big helicopter.

On Saturday, we explored the downtown Charleston area.  We were excited to see the history and architecture.

Grandpa got to open his Father's Day present early so he could use it for all of our walking.  His pedometer showed we walked almost ten miles that day.

Megan and Sarah posing for pictures at the Battery.

Matthew on a mortar.

Very important map posted in the park.  All the public bathrooms were marked (although several were closed when we tried to use them).

Me with some of the beautiful homes.

There is a lot of South Carolina pride. The American flag being flown is the flag at the start of the Civil War.

This is the Rutledge home which belonged to one of the signers of the Constitution.

There were a lot of historical plaques like this on buildings throughout downtown.

Grandma with the Rutledge house.

This was one of our favorites.  A Patriot brother was auctioning off the home of his Loyalist brother.

This big house was once used by the British as their headquarters.  Note the wrought iron equivalent of barbed wire.

A good example of the prevalent Georgian architecture where the whole building is symmetrical.

Almost all the buildings come up to the sidewalk.  Yards are gated and you can catch glimpses of many through the gates.  They are often quite beautiful.  This picture was taken through a gate.

There were a lot of flowering trees in the city.

More beautiful landscaping.

Lots of ivy.

Grandpa and Matthew.

An example of an iron gate

Beautiful arch and gate.

Me in front of 37 King street which was once where General Beauregard lived. (General Beauregard was the leader of the Confederate troops in Charleston during the attack on Fort Sumter.)

There were a lot of churches in the downtown area.  This was a Baptist church.

An Episcopalian church.

St. John's Catholic Church was open for tours.

The interior was all done in white marble and was quite beautiful.

Here you can see the dark wood that contrasts nicely with the marble.

There was a lot of beautiful stained glass.

There were many remnants of older times throughout the city like this mounting block.

Old shoe scrapers could be very ornate.

Some of the homes still use flame lanterns outside.

Who has a mailbox on their gate? :)

Another flowering tree.

These X's are earthquake straps.  They are on the end of long iron rods that run completely through the building.  They can be tightened to help hold the building together.

A natural citizen of Charleston.

Grandma and Me took the kids to a train museum.  This was the only exhibit.  It was free.

We then went to the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon.  This is said to be the most historic building in South Carolina and was where the Declaration of Independence was first read in the state, where it selected delegates to the Continental Congress and where it ratified the US Constitution.  On his presidential tour, George Washington danced in the ballroom. One thing that we all learned was how powerful South Carolina was during the Revolutionary War and Civil War. Charleston was the wealthiest city in the colonies, with 9 of the 10 wealthiest colonists living here, and one of the most influential (Boston, New York and Philadelphia being the others). There was also a lot of interesting information on pirates, the Civil War and local heroes.

Matthew was excited to learn the rules of being a pirate.

He liked the red flag the best since it was so different.

All the kids got to add their signatures to the Declaration of Independence. This was in the ballroom where George Washington danced.

Here is Sarah.

Matthew signing.

Megan signing.

Matthew was excited to hold a Revolutionary War era rifle.  He thought it was pretty heavy.

Megan took her soldiering very seriously.

Everyone enjoyed looking at the historical artifacts like state issued money.

U showing Megan how to clean the chamber of the rifle.

Matthew was excited to learn how to put on a bayonet.

After dinner, we walked in the Waterfront Park.  The group with the pineapple fountain.  All the fountains in the park are designed to be played in but we didn't bring swimsuits.

Matthew loves being taller than things in pictures.

Yet another beautiful tree.

Down by the harbor.

Matthew, Me and Megan on Rainbow Row.  This is a row of old houses that are each painted a different color and is the largest group of preserved Georgian houses in a row.

Sunday was Father's Day and Me surprised Grandpa and U with matching bow ties.  There was also one for Matthew.  They all wore them to church.

Handsome men

After church, we went to the Charles Pinckney National Historic Site.  He was one of the signers of the Constitution from South Carolina and a very influential person in the state.  He was governor four times.  The site is at one of his former plantations.

The ranger is showing the kids how to work the water gates to grow rice.

It was difficult work.

These massive trees were Southern live oaks.

Matthew signing the Constitution.

U signed this one as well.

The kids love signing their names on these historic documents.  Megan borrowed Grandma's hat and is wearing it in these pictures.

After lunch we went to Fort Moultrie.  This fort was used from the Revolutionary War through WWII.  They had guns from each of the eras.  This was the largest cannon placed.  It shot 300 lb balls.

Megan, Sarah and Matthew on a pile of the cannon balls.

When we were done with the fort, we walked straight onto the beach.  All the kids ended up with wet clothes.

Matthew and Megan playing.

Sarah and Matthew running along the water.

Nice shot of Matthew.

Most of our beach explorers.  Me, Grandma, Sarah, Megan, Grandpa and Matthew. U was taking the photo.

We ate at the East Bay Deli a couple of times.  It was delicious. Sarah said next time we go there, she is going to just get the salad bar.

On Monday morning, we headed up to OBX but we stopped by a waterfront park in Mount Pleasant with Grandma and Grandpa for a little bit.  Everyone loved the chance to play.  The playground was shaped like the bridge and the Yorktown aircraft carrier.

These spinning cups were the first things the kids gravitated to.  Megan couldn't stop spinning. Literally.

Captain America was there with us.

Sarah worked hard to spin fast.

The kids thought it was great that there were two handicapped swings.  Sarah did the big swing.

Matthew had to try out the wheelchair swing.

Megan climbing the rope to the bridge.

Three generations.

Me with her parents.

Another three generation picture.

We had a great view of the Yorktown.  It was in the process of being painted.

The pier went over the marsh and we saw a lot of shore birds looking for breakfast.

Sarah liked watching the crabs below the bridge.  How many do you see?

We sure enjoyed visiting Charleston with Grandma and Grandpa. One other noteworthy thing: Me and her dad sang the family songs to the kids. Their favorite? I'm a Villain.