The Shrimp City Report Podcast (Charleston, South Carolina)

John Hiatt with Clark the Elk on The Adventure

On this episode we visit the Charlestowne Landing State Historic Site in West Ashley, Charleston, and sit down with John Hiatt, Interpretive Ranger and park historian. John shares his personal journey to the park, how archaeological research and primary sources shape interpretation, and why Charlestowne Landing is known as the birthplace of South Carolina (first settled in 1670).

Listeners will hear a sweeping overview of the site's layered history: the 17th-century English settlement and its move to Oyster Point, the Old Town Plantation era, archaeological discoveries (including a Mississippian-period Native American ceremonial site), and the African‑American cemetery connected to the plantation period. John explains how ongoing digs continue to refine the park’s story and how artifacts are rotated into exhibits and programs.

The conversation also highlights the park’s living features: three miles of trails, 664 acres (about 200 acres of upland), Ferdinanda “Ferdie” Legare Waring’s extensive gardens and avenues of oaks, and the Animal Forest & Aviary — home to bison, elk, otters, bears, and domesticated animals that illustrate colonial life. John describes the Adventure tall‑ship replica, its construction and sea trials, and how small cargo vessels served the original settlement.

Education and public programming are a major focus: curriculum-based school programs (Discover Carolina), hands‑on demonstrations (Colonial Cultivation, indigo dyeing), the popular Great Guns artillery demonstrations, living‑history events (Founders Day and Colonial Trades & Harvest Day), and seasonal archaeology tours. The park also offers two premiere event venues, robust volunteer opportunities, and an active outreach/video program developed during the pandemic.

https://southcarolinaparks.com/charles-towne-landing

One of the native species you can check out at Charlestowne Landing.