Charleston, A Vibrant Hub in the South

Charleston, or originally ‘Charles Towne’ is a city in South Carolina which is bursting with a vibrant history. It was founded in 1670 and named in honour of King Charles II of England, but adopted its present name in 1783.

Many parts of American history are closely tied to Great Britain, France and Spain predominantly, from before the American Revolution late in the Eighteenth Century, where they fought for their freedom from European colonisation.

In the development of American society, the slave trade gave rise to the emergence of Jazz music, which helped to shape the Civil Rights movement. Modern day Charleston is definitely overlooked as a very influential hub of talent that pushed the Jazz Age along nicely. The Charleston culture today shows its European influences even now through their awesome architecture, liberal attitudes, arts heritage and Southern cuisine.

A repercussion of the prominence of the slave trade in Eighteenth Century America was the arrival of the combination of people, talents and heritage that culminated in Jazz music. Slavery was the use of African men and women as a labour commodity in colonised America, with this, however, came the amalgamation of European, African and American cultures. This saw the undeveloped and uncomplicated rhythms of African slave music using simple beats played with body parts or workman tools integrated with elaborate European melodies and neat compositions played on well-crafted instruments, often by those privileged enough to be able to read music. The end result was the syncopated rhythms, broken chords and call and response techniques that was jazz music.

The Jenkins Orphanage Band massively shaped the jazz movement, contributing a virtuosic trumpet style that extended the range of the horn in jazz music. The orphans there soon became the first all-black membered instrumental group in South Carolina. A lot of them learnt to read music through this and later became members of the hugely successful larger touring jazz bands in the emergence of the Swing era. Such prominent music culture can (and should!) be celebrated at The Mezz or at Charleston’s Lowcountry Jazz Festival.

If the above has all been alien, one thing you will know about is the Charleston dance. It became increasingly popular during the Prohibition era in 1920s America. As the physical accompaniment to Ragtime Jazz (fast, broken time melodies) it is quick, but simple, and is a hopping and a kicking variation of walking on the spot that can be performed alone, together, or in a group. This dance was often given a bad name due to its association with the outrageously loud late-night parties that were a rebellion against the highly unpopular Prohibition laws. With its erratic and impulsive movements the Charleston dance was a bold social statement, and together with the Lindy Hop, it helped to create a freedom synonymous with the jazz age around America that has recently been glamorised by the likes of Baz Lurhmann’s 2013 production of The Great Gatsby. His glitzy and enchanting representation of the roaring twenties brandishes the wealth of the European culture with the barbaric nature of the jazz culture. The excitement this provoked for this era has highlighted the glories of cities such as Charleston, thriving on their past.

Voted top in America’s Travel and Leisure awards this year, Charleston clearly has a lot to offer. But with just one look at its idyllic sea front strips and traditionally picturesque steeples dotting along the skyline it is clearly a city buzzing to show you what it has to offer. Architecture is particularly impressive in the Southern city, Rainbow Row in particular, regardless of what you know of its history. As well as the Embassy Suites Charleston hotel, or the Pink Castle, a building that fits in with the friendly, liberal attitude of the city brilliantly.

Other hotels fit in with the architectural paradox of historical influences. In the French Quarter, linking back to its European heritage, Charleston has the incredible French Quarter Inn which encompasses all aspects of European grandeur of the past, while the Hampton Inn Charleston exemplifies the antebellum architecture of Southern America with its original floors and neoclassical architecture.

For those looking for a more permanent visit, Isle of Palms real estate have done some of the most amazing architectural projects around Charleston which really add to the great aesthetics of the Southern towns. Not only do they buy and sell homes, they have a huge role in restoring and renovating homes and have done some incredible projects in the past which have played a large hand in preserving the charm of South Carolina, starting with their own office.