At the dedication of Waterfront Park, Charleston's Mayor Joe Riley said, "The lasting mark of a civilization is a city, and a city cannot have too many parks. They soften the hard edges of human life, invigorate us, and give us peace and repose." The mayor, of course, is correct. However, parks also become repositories for statues, plaques, monuments and military ordnance. Over time, as memories fade and the back stories are lost, questions develop. Who was William Gilmore Simms? Why are there seven steps leading up to the Defenders of Fort Sumter Monument? Why did they take the plaques off the Washington statue? What is an echo stone?
Enjoy a private tour with historian John Young, author of A Walk in the Parks, as he unveils these mysteries and many others! Guests will explore Waterfront Park, White Point Garden (The Battery) and Washington Square. As you journey from park to park, Mr. Young will also share other stories of the places and people of the Holy City.