Charleston’s French Quarter
Charleston’s French Quarter is one of the most picturesque neighborhoods in the Holy City.
It’s home to some of the most iconic sites, including the Pink House, the French Huguenot Church, and Waterfront Park.
Discover everything there is to see and do in this historic part of Charleston — and the best ways to explore the neighborhood!
Where is Charleston’s French Quarter?
The French Quarter is an area of Downtown Charleston that was once a part of the original walled city. Its boundaries are the Cooper River, Broad Street, and Market Street.
It’s accessible from the rest of Downtown by foot, car, and carriage.
Charleston French Quarter History
Charleston’s French Quarter wasn’t always known as such. It was part of the original Charles Towne in the 1600s.
In the 1600s and the 1700s, French Protestants began settling in this area, and what is now the French Quarter was the site of many homes and warehouses built by these settlers.
The area was dubbed the “French Quarter” in 1973 as a part of a push for the neighborhood’s preservation when an entire city block was scheduled to be demolished. It earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places and became known as the French Quarter in that same year.
Today you’ll still find remnants of the neighborhood’s French history, though there is a lot more to explore in this neighborhood, too.
French Quarter Attractions
Since the French Quarter extends through Downtown, many of the city’s most popular attractions are located in this neighborhood.
Just some of the attractions you’ll find here include the French Huguenot Church, the Dock Street Theatre, the Pink House, the Old Slave Mart, and Waterfront Park.
French Huguenot Church
One of the remaining French sites in this neighborhood is the French Huguenot church, built in 1687. This building was destroyed in 1796, and the current Gothic Revival structure was built in 1845.
It was once dubbed “The Church of Tides”, as worshippers used to arrive here by boat.
The church is still active today, though services are only offered in French once a year — in October. This service is open to the entire community, and you don’t need to be a congregant to join in.
One of Walks of Charleston’s tour guides Dennis with his group outside of the French Huguenot Church
Dock Street Theatre
Another one of the city’s most treasured sites located in the French Quarter is the Dock Street Theatre.
It opened in 1736 as the city’s first theater dedicated to the performing arts, and the opening performance was of The Recruiting Officer. The first opera in the U.S., Flora, was performed here.
The original structure was lost in the Great Fire of 1740, which also destroyed other French Quarter buildings.
From 1809 to the late 1800s, the Planter’s Hotel operated on this site. But after the hotel went under, the structure fell into the hands of the Works Progress Administration. It underwent a massive renovation and reopened as the Dock Street Theatre in 1937.
Local playwright DuBose Heyward, who penned Porgy and Bess, was a writer-in-residence at the Dock Street Theatre.
The Dock Street Theater
The Pink House
Another site that’s located in Charleston’s French Quarter is the Pink House, the oldest-standing structure in the city. Built in 1712, historians believe that this is the only standing tavern house that remains in the Holy City.
Unlike the homes on Rainbow Row, which were painted pastel colors to revitalize the neighborhood, this two-story house is pink because its exterior was crafted from Bermuda Stone. Remodeling was done in the mid-1700s and in the 1930s.
Tour guide Jim in front of the Pink House
Old Slave Mart
The Old Slave Mart is one of the most famous sites in Charleston’s French Quarter.
It was the location of Ryan’s Slave Mart, a private market that was owned by Charleston City Councilman Thomas Ryan. Enslaved African Americans were auctioned here, starting in 1856. The slave market was active until 1863 and it was closed by the Union Army in 1865.
In 1938, it was turned into the Old Slave Mart Museum. Today, you can visit the museum to learn about the history of slavery in Charleston in the 1800s.
Waterfront Park
One of the most iconic sites in the French Quarter in Charleston is Waterfront Park. This park was once where locals traveled to get to the Charleston Harbor.
The park runs along the banks of the Cooper River and is home to the famous pineapple fountain. Pineapples are a symbol of wealth and hospitality, and the fountain represents the welcoming nature of Charlestonians.
While this is the most famous pineapple in Charleston, it’s far from the only one. You’ll find pineapple statues and symbols all over the city.
Charleston Walking Tours
Both of our public walking tours pass through Charleston’s French Quarter, and they’re two of the most popular attractions in the neighborhood.
If you want to visit all of the iconic sites in Downtown Charleston, you might want to consider taking our Charleston History Tour. On this tour, you’ll see some of the attractions mentioned in this article, as well as the following:
- Rainbow Row
- Old Exchange Building
- St. Philip’s Church
- St. Michael’s Church
- White Point Gardens, the “Battery”
What is the best way to visit the French Quarter?
Since the French Quarter is located right in Downtown Charleston, it’s easy to see by foot, tour, or carriage ride.
Of course, you could always drive there too — but the best way to visit is by experiencing it out in the open.
French Quarter By Foot
You can easily walk to the French Quarter from pretty much anywhere in Downtown Charleston.
It’s only a 20-minute walk from Marion Square in the north and a 15-minute walk from White Point Garden in the south.
French Quarter By Tour
We might be biased, but we happen to think that the best way to visit Charleston’s French Quarter is on a walking tour!
Both of our public tours, including our Charleston History Tour and our Alleys and Hidden Passages Tour pass through the French Quarter.
But if you want to know a little bit more about the history of the French settlers in Charleston, you could always book a private tour.
A Walks of Charleston tour group on Rainbow Row
French Quarter By Carriage
One of the most iconic ways to see Charleston is by carriage — and this includes the French Quarter!
Our partner, Carolina Polo and Carriage Co., operates public and private carriage tours throughout the city.
The guide will tell you all about the history of the neighborhood while you sit back and relax and let the horse do the walking for you!
Carolina Polo & Carriage Co. Horse Drawn Carriage Tour