Old Slave Mart and Museum

Charleston, South Carolina

One of the largest slave markets sites in the U.S.

The Old Slave Mart was established in 1856 by Charleston sheriff Thomas Ryan, after a citywide ban on public slave auctions made private facilities necessary.  Slave auctions were held at the site until approximately 1863.  The building is believed to be the last surviving slave auction facility in South Carolina.  Along with the museum, the main building is now a bustling street market with numerous vendors.

Also in Charleston is the Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture located at the College of Charleston and the International African American Museum.

In the Charleston area there are several noteworthy plantations including Drayton Hall.  At Middleton Place you will learn about Eliza’s House and the artisan skills once performed by enslaved Africans.  Boone Hall Plantation and Gardens in Mount Pleasant features a unique “Black History In America” experience that is told using nine of the original slave cabins.  Near the border with Georgia is Redcliffe Plantation.