I spent my afternoon at the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon down near market street, a site with a tremendous amount of history for both our city and the nation. The New Exchange and Custom House was built in 1771 and, at the time, located on the waterfront (but currently located at East Bay Street and Broad). The building is massive and important looking, with lots of windows along its street-side and massive arched doorways that remain open during business hours in this pleasant fall weather. The building draws a lot of attention to itself, its old architecture sticking out across the street from a very modern-looking Wells Fargo. The interior of the building still gives off an older feel, keeping in line with the exterior. Old, warped, darkened hardwood floors. Exposed red brick on several of the exterior walls. It may have been in my head, but I felt that it smelled old, almost similar to the way that my grandparents’ house smelled while I was growing up. The second floor of the Old Exchange presented beautiful views of the surrounding cobblestone streets. The dungeon below was cold, dark, and damp – fitting right into its namesake.

As I mentioned, the building is incredibly old. On the self-guided portion of the tour, you wander through the first and second floors which are filled with countless artifacts and posters giving context and history to the building. Much to my surprise, several of the posters discussed the obviously massive stain on the history of the Southern United States, slavery. One of the first ones you see when you being your walk through the first floor of the building reads, “Painful as it is True: Slave Auctions at the Exchange”. It is positioned right near a window and explains that while now you see a busy street and a parking lot, you would’ve originally seen slave auctions, as the Exchange was one of the most popular places in the downtown Charleston area for this type of event. I also found some slave badges in a case on the first floor, which reminded me of our trip to the Gibson Museum and the ones we were shown on our tour. The posters, along with all of the artifacts, did a strong job of giving the harsh details of the Exchange’s past, something for which not all places in the South can be commended. I have had many experiences on old plantations here in South Carolina where there is absolutely no mention of the history of the land, something I find incredibly sad and disrespectful. However, I do think that the Exchange did a good job of not shying away from a sensitive subject and educating those on a hard past.

One of the most interesting and monumental parts of the Exchange’s history is its ties to the founding of our country. On May 23, 1772, the state of South Carolina ratified the United States Constitution. The delegates that ratified the document met and signed it in the Old Exchange building here in Charleston, giving the site an incredible connection to an incredibly significant time. After George Washington was elected as the first president of the United States in April of 1789, he began a tour of the country to visit his people. He made it to Charleston in May of 1791. He loved the city and spent the majority of his time in Charleston in his favorite spot, the Old Exchange, giving the building an even greater honor.

My time at the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon taught me more about the city I live in and its relation to the country as a whole. I think that while the site did have a lot of stereotypical Southern aspects (the building itself, the history associated with it, etc.) it doesn’t necessarily reinforce stereotypes. It didn’t strike me as anything other than educational, with no real bias. As I mentioned, I do feel that many historical places in the south can reinforce stereotypes through their lack of contribution to educating on the nation’s past, but I think that the Old Exchange did the exact opposite of that.

Me at the Old Exchange

When you walk into the Old Exchange, you are greeted with paintings, flags, and artifacts dating back to America’s founding. The building has been greatly preserved and is decorated to make guests feel as if they were transported back in time to the Revolutionary War. Within the Old Exchange is a copy of the Declaration of Independence, a post office booth dating back to 1815, and portraits of Revolutionary War heroes. Unexpectedly, in the basement is what is referred to as the Provost Dungeon. The dungeon, constructed of several million bricks, has served many purposes over the years from storage to a jail.

Historical Timeline of the Old Exchange

Historically, this building is important for many reasons. I have attached a picture of the timeline of the building’s past given to me by the museum. This history is what makes the building so significant since it illustrates how the building housed some of the important parts of America’s foundation. From the reading of the Declaration of Independence on the steps to South Carolina ratifying the United States Constitution, this building held discussion over some of America’s most sacred documents. Many people also find the dungeon and the tour the museum offers very interesting. The tour illustrates how, in 1780 when the British took control of Charleston, they used the basement as a jail for those who did not support the King. Many visitors, including myself, find the dungeon tour an interesting way to learn more about British control during the War. In 1981, the South Carolina State Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution restored the building, to the best of its ability, to the original plans and opened it to the public. Since then, the South has changed greatly since it’s no longer in a state of war and now has a strong foundation.

I believe that the museum does a good job at covering the history of the South since the building was constructed. While much of the history of the building

Mannequins in the Dungeon

has to do with the Revolutionary War, there is nowhere near as much information as with the Civil War, another very important part of Charleston’s history. They do have some signs giving information on how Charleston was taken over, but not many signs, none that I saw, that called attention to what the South was fighting for during the Civil War. The walking tour also glossed over information about slavery. When discussing the construction of the cellar, the tour guide simply stated that the millions of bricks were made at a nearby plantation, seeming to leave out that they were likely made by slaves. The tour guide also, when discussing who the British imprisoned in the cellar, excluded the fact that many of the people the British imprisoned were slaves. This reminds me how in “Charleston: A Historic Walking Tour,” the exclusion of information made the piece appear to be misleading and secretive, even if that was not the intention. While the rest of the museum does a much better job of informing on Charleston’s history of slavery, the walking tour glossed over some information.

Copy of the Constitution at the Old Exchange

While there is not much written information on the Civil War, there is a “Don’t Tread on Me” flag located in the front room, without a plaque of information on it and simply on display, and its Southern origins were also discussed during the walking tour. I feel as these two things portray the South as still having ties to the Confederate cause, something many people also still attribute to the South as well as racism, although that is not a popular belief in the South. The discussion of the origins of this flag over the discussion of slavery in the walking tour illustrated to me that, while it is not the popular opinion, the Confederate cause is still supported in small ways. It also illustrates to me how the South is very proud of its history and has a harder time letting it go and adapting to more modern views than do other parts of the country. While displaying the flag is much more subtle, it still is reminiscent of how white Southerners behaved directly after Emancipation by supporting segregations, denying former slaves the right to vote, and continuing to support the Confederate cause, even after the war had ended, as discussed in “After Slavery: Race, Labor, and Politics in the Post- Emancipation Carolinas.” Overall, the museum does a good job of describing the South’s history since the Revolutionary War.

Greer Phillips

I visited the Joseph Manigault House located on 350 Meeting Street. While touring the Manigault House in person, there was a certain element of enchantment and respect I associated with the site. The Manigault House was built in 1803 and was designed by Gabriel Manigault for his brother Joseph Manigault. Joseph’s grandfather passed down over 200 slaves to Mr. Manigault, which helped build the home. This site encompasses the living style of a wealthy southern family involved in rice planting. Rice planting yielded the family a substantial amount of money which helped them in establishing such an impressive dwelling. The Manigault family was one of the most prominent families in South Carolina and their house reflected their decadent lifestyle. The three-story house is a typical 18th-century neoclassical design. One of the distinct features of the house is a floating spiral staircase that is attached to the wall. Additionally, located in the very middle of the foyer hangs a massive crystal chandelier, which has survived many hurricanes. As you enter the house there is a dining room to the right, which has elegant and ornate silverware and dinnerware. In the dining room, the family would have large meals and sit for several hours discussing the important matters of life. Moreover, the dining room was very symmetrical and even had a fake door, just to make the room appear as if everything was the same. The trim around the ceiling was lavish to impress guests and demonstrate wealth. Additionally, the rooms have been repainted to resemble authentic colors. Every piece of furniture is from England or France, which dates back to the 19th century. One piece of furniture of great value was the bed in the master bedroom. The bed was made out of Mahogany wood which is very expensive to purchase. While walking through this agricultural masterpiece, I was in awe of how much history was preserved. 

The Manigault House is a perfect representation of the South during the 1800s, as the Manigault family had accumulated significant wealth through rice planting and owning 200 slaves. During the 1800s, agriculture in Charleston was at its peak and the Manigault family benefited tremendously from rice-planting. However, the family did little work themselves to afford their lifestyle. They made their money on the backs of slaves. Not only did slaves work for them on a rice plantation, but they also built the house in which they resided. During the period when the Manigault family resided in their home, slavery was still alive and well. Slaves had quarters in the house and would work in every capacity needed. One of the most valuable and historical representations of this house is the staircase that was specifically designated for the slaves. They used their own staircase to not be seen or heard throughout the house. One of the aspects of the South that have changed the most since this time is the greater understanding we have as human beings. In modern-day America, slave quarters rightfully do not exist and slaves are no longer being forced for their labor to build homes. 

The Manigault House tries to portray itself in a light that properly and adequately represents the time in which the family lived. Joseph Manigault and Charlotte Manigault had eight children together, all of which resided in this house. The house examined the architecture of the rooms and relayed the purpose they served for the Manigault’s. It was mentioned on a few occasions that slaves helped to establish the house and worked for the family, however, it seems like the contributions of the slaves were glossed over. As a visitor, I was told more information about the dining ware and expensive furnishings of the house, rather than the tasks slaves had to perform within the dwelling. 

The Manigault House reinforced my stereotypes about the South during the 1800s. I perceived the South to rely heavily on agriculture to provide financial support, and also to implore the work of slaves and treat them unfairly. The site had its own slave quarters and staircase, and the fact that the Manigault family owned over 200 slaves cemented my stereotype of the South during the 1800s. I also learned from the site that slaves would also reside upstairs on the third floor with the children. Slaves were considered to be on the level of children and were treated deplorably.

One topic we have studied in class is how despite how beautiful architecture in Charleston is, it has a deeper and darker reality. In the documentary “If These Walls Could Talk,” the audience learns that many historical buildings and houses in Charleston have been built by slaves. In the documentary, it was stated that young children made bricks at four or five years old. The same probably reigns true for the Manigault House. Joseph Manigault inherited 200 slaves from his grandpa, and the slaves built his house. Slaves in both cases built well-known structures without receiving the proper accolades for their work and forced labor.

Mary Connolly in front of Joseph Manigault House

For this project, I decided to visit the Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. This place of worship is located on Calhoun Street in Downtown Charleston. The district in which this church resides has been named the “Mother Emanuel Memorial District” as a dedication to the nine individuals who lost their lives in the violent shooting that occurred here in 2015. The church itself is beautiful, with a large steeple and cross located on the front. To the left of the first-floor entrance, there are two sets of stairs leading to a balcony and doors that open to the main part of the church. Here, many pews and large windows provide lots of natural light. Although I have walked by the site many times, stopping to visit brought many feelings of community and resiliency, two important principles associated with the Mother Emanuel Church.

The Mother Emanuel AME church is worthy of our attention for a variety of reasons. Aside from being a beautiful space on the inside and the outside, the church represents a critical aspect of Southern African American culture, religion. The present site was purchased in 1865 under Reverend Morris Brown who helped facilitate Charleston’s African Church movement (“Our Story – Mother Emanuel AME”). Before the location on Calhoun Street, Reverend Brown founded the Hampstead Church on Reid and Hanover, but due to strict regulations surrounding African American worship at the time, the denomination moved to an area where the county jurisdiction was less strict (“Our Story – Mother Emanuel AME”). This demonstrates the resiliency of African Americans and their dedication to religion. Although African Americans are allowed to worship more freely today, based on the racially motivated shooting that occurred here six years ago, they continue to face backlash from whites.

To its’ visitors, the site interprets itself as incredibly welcoming regardless of race or gender identity. Although a Methodist church, Mother Emanuel encourages individuals from other religious denominations to worship with them. Unfortunately, since such a violent tragedy occurred in a place where members are supposed to feel protected not only by each other but by a higher power, there may be negative aspects associated with this site. Rather than ignoring these aspects, Mother Emanuel recognizes the event and continues to rise above by enlightening people on love and social justice issues. On their website, there is a section dedicated to explaining what took place on June 17, 2015, and pictures showing the memorials that members of the Charleston community have created every year since. I believe it is extremely powerful for the church to acknowledge the negative aspects of their past, demonstrating just how resilient their members are.

This site reinforces the ideas discussed in the Black Religion NESC article discussed previously in class. This article highlights the fact that “the church [is] the most important and effective public institution in southern black like” (37). Additionally, the reading claims that today, “most African Americans continue to worship in predominantly black denominations” (38). Based on the history of Mother Emanuel, these two claims are not surprising, especially considering the history of racial tensions in this country. This site adds to my understanding of the 21st- century South in a couple of ways. First, it confirms that religion is still important to African Americans, especially when it comes to having a safe space to worship. Second, the violent history of Mother Emanuel demonstrates that racial tensions and white supremacists are still present in the South. How church members and the Charleston community responded to the tragedy with reconciliation and love is not only in agreement with the core principles of Mother Emanuel but allows for open conversation and change regarding racism in the 21st- century South.

Bibliography:

“Our Story.” Mother Emanuel AME – Our Story, SnapPages, https://motheremanuel.com/our-story.