Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon
Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon
Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon
4.5
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
History comes alive as Colonial dressed guides talk about Pirates, Patriots and Presidents! Explore the location where pirates were once held and view a section of the 1698 fortification that once protected the Walled City. Completed in 1771 as the New Exchange and Customs House, recognized today as South Carolina's most historic building. Where Patriots were imprisoned, the Constitution was ratified and George Washington was entertained.
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Charlestowne
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545 within 5 kms
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287 within 10 kms
See what travellers are saying
- Berny L155 contributionsGreat visitWe had a lovely time walking through the history of this building. Lots to read and the dungeon tour was very informative. The guide was enthusiastic about sharing the history of the provost. We bought a combined ticket which I would recommend if you want to visit the Old Slave Mart museum.Visited October 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 7 October 2023
- Life2TravelCharlotte, North Carolina1,651 contributionsDungeon tourWe did a tour here, wanting something other than a historic house. The dungeon tour was interesting and well paced 30 minutes with Carol. We also learned the history of the building. The main and top floors are just explore on your own exhibits but worth the time. We purchased the combo ticket which also included the Slave Mart.Visited October 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 22 October 2023
- AuntK2132714 contributionsGood tour and knowledgeGood tour. Workers are very knowledgeable. The dungeon tour was great. Our guide was very informative, his story telling was engaging, lots of good tidbits. There was a younger gentleman upstairs who too was a wreath of knowledge and more than willing to share. Lots of people were asking him questions. This place has a lot of history. Lots of well known, historical figures have walked through this building. Definitely a stop to see.Visited October 2023Travelled with friendsWritten 29 October 2023
- NeillibinLa Mesa, California470 contributionsOld Exchange and Provost DungeonsOld Exchange and Provost Dungeon was a very informative tour, mostly self paced with no guide or automated guide, which could be more useful. Lots to see on the main and upstairs. Downstairs is the Dungeon, which includes a guide to explain the history behind the dungeon. It was very informative as well as visually interesting.Visited May 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 28 May 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
1 519 reviews
Excellent
784
Very good
543
Average
149
Poor
34
Terrible
9
Cynthia J
1 contribution
Feb 2021 • Family
My child had learned that there was a dungeon in Charleston. While there we stopped in for him to see it. The tour of the dungeon lasted 25 minutes. My children, 7 and 5, very politely listened to the the tour guide as he talked the whole 25 minutes. There was no time for the kids to look around and pose their own questions. We were asked to leave for the sake of the next tour which was two people. I asked when we could come back to spend more time and was firmly told no. I was very disappointed for my child who had really been looking forward to seeing the dungeon. Not really worth the money if you aren't afforded the time to explore.
Written 16 February 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Elizabeth K
San Jose, CA166 contributions
Feb 2020 • Friends
The information in the rooms upstairs left something to be desired—I wasn’t quite sure what the building was for or why it was significant. But when we took the dungeon tour, a lot of the blanks were filled in. I wish the tour had been more factual—a lot of it seemed like conjecture on the part of the tour guide, but he was engaging and mostly well informed, so I came away feeling like I had learned something.
Written 21 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
michelenerangel
Bristow, VA49 contributions
Apr 2021
Great Price for a tour with so much history. The kids and I really felt the presence of our founding fathers when walking through the building. I highly recommend waiting for your time slot to have a tour of the dungeon as well. Our guide was wonderful and we really got a sense of how much he studied and revered the history that took place in that space. The old pictures on the staircase wall were so cool and the we loved comparing the old pictures to where we were today. My daughter an Alexander Hamilton scholar and 8 year old :) was so excited to see where his buddy George Washington spoke. It was great 2 hours learning, remembering, and being educated on the history of the building and neighborhood.
Written 14 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TravelingSoccerLoon
Saint Paul, MN6 424 contributions
Nov 2021 • Couples
The Old Exchange or Custom House was built from 1767-1771 and is arguably amongst the 3 most important public buildings from the colonial period still standing joining Independence Hall in Philadelphia and Faneuil Hall in Boston. So much history inside these walls. It is here where South Carolina selected it’s delegates to the 2nd Continental Congress and where the South Carolina convention was held to ratify the US Constitution. It was the focal point during George Washington’s week long visit to the city. It also served as a prison by the British during the Revolutionary War and this can be experienced during the guided tour of the dungeons included in price of admission. The 2 main floors can be explored on your own. You need 60-90 minutes to take it all in. Anyone who has any appreciation of history should not miss visiting this treasure.
Written 7 December 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carmen B
Buffalo, NY351 contributions
May 2021 • Couples
As one of the last buildings constructed under British rule in Charleston, this structure is really something to behold. The dungeon is worth the price by itself. The architecture and authenticity are mind-blowing, and the story behind it was supremely interesting. Upstairs, the rooms that held celebrations for George Washington’s Southern tour will give you a nice feel for the time period. The artifacts are well-chosen and nicely displayed. Overall, it was an interesting and well-designed museum and well worth the price of admission.
Written 31 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
WC-Travelers-75
West Chester, PA2 191 contributions
Oct 2019
We visited the day after a guided walking history tour with a licensed guide.
The building was central to historic Charleston.
I thought the best part was the guided tour of the Provost Dungeon with a docent in period garb. Period Scenes of the use of the Dungeon are illustrated with mannequins and reconstructions. Really brings it meaning.
The main and upper floors have a number of exhibits relating to personages who were key players in Charleston history.
Not expensive to visit - $9/senior
We spent almost 2 hours here.
The building was central to historic Charleston.
I thought the best part was the guided tour of the Provost Dungeon with a docent in period garb. Period Scenes of the use of the Dungeon are illustrated with mannequins and reconstructions. Really brings it meaning.
The main and upper floors have a number of exhibits relating to personages who were key players in Charleston history.
Not expensive to visit - $9/senior
We spent almost 2 hours here.
Written 23 May 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Patrick M
Fremont, OH16 contributions
Mar 2020
The top two floors have a nice mix of pictures, information boards, and artifacts. The guided tour of the dungeon was very good and most interesting. Our guide took a few extra minutes and told a few additional stories. Enjoyed this very much.
Written 10 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chris Boehmke
Charleston, SC165 contributions
Oct 2020 • Couples
Saw the historical sign and walked in to check it out. We made it just in time for a tour. Turns out Robert Phillips works there! He’s a well known tour guide who I’ve been on several tours in the past around the city. My favorite part was learning about this painting of Washington :-). Thanks for another history lesson Mr. Phillips!
Written 3 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SoCalRoadWarrior
Yorba Linda, CA18 contributions
Jun 2021
This was a great piece of history. We were able to easily spend about 2 hours here, looking at artifacts, reading through history, and doing the dungeon tour. I cannot say I would go again, just because I feel we were able to mostly take it all in the first time. But I do recommend it for anyone that enjoys putting the pieces of history together.
On our road trip, we went to Charleston, Savannah, and Saint Augustine. It has been interesting to see how their history is tied together. We came to Charleston first, and were able to learn things, at this site, that helped to make sense of things we learned about in the other two cities.
On our road trip, we went to Charleston, Savannah, and Saint Augustine. It has been interesting to see how their history is tied together. We came to Charleston first, and were able to learn things, at this site, that helped to make sense of things we learned about in the other two cities.
Written 28 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sophia O
1 contribution
Aug 2021 • Family
Our tour guide Zach was wonderful. He did a thorough job of narrating American history with attention to excluded voices. We also chanced upon him at the Old Slave Mart Museum where he did a thoughtful job answering our question!
Written 16 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Someone said you really don't have to pay admission to visit this. The $10 was for the tour. Is this true? If we don't pay are there things to read explaining things? I did read on the website that the self guided tour only includes the top 2 floors and not the dungeon. Anyone have experience with this?
Written 8 July 2020
We paid the $10 which included the dungeon tour. The self guided part still required the $10 admission to get in and see the two upper floors.
Written 23 August 2020
How often do you have the pirate trials during the day? Are they scheduled for specific times?
Written 31 December 2017
Hello!
The pirate trials are not a regular feature of The Old Exchange. The trials are a reenacted yearly as part of Colonial Charles Towne Festival. We have not set a date for 2018's pirate trial yet, but will be the 300th anniversary of the trial of Stede Bonnet, the infamous Gentleman Pirate. Please check our website or our Facebook page in the coming year for more details.
Written 2 January 2018
bought tickets gives via pirate walk ....would you know if we gwt the tickets when we start the walk?
Or how we get the tickets thanks Chuck
Written 17 March 2017
If you purchased tickets through the pirate walking tour, they will provide you with an admission ticket during the walking tour.
Written 18 March 2017
A Tripadvisor member
Hi, I've read comments that there might be a 'combo' admittance that includes Slave Mart Museum. Any details on that?
Written 28 September 2016
Hello and thank you for the question.
We sell a combination ticket that includes both The Old Exchange and The Slave Mart Museum. The ticket can be purchased at either location and doesn't have to be used in the same day.
The Prices are:
$15 for Adults
$11 for Seniors
$8 for Children
If you have any other questions, please call us at 843-727-2165.
Written 29 September 2016
Thank you for your interest in The Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon.
The building's prices are:
$10.00 for Adults
$5 for children ages 7-12
Free for children ages 0-6
There is a discount of $2 off for adults who are Seniors, have a military ID, AAA card, or groups of 6 or more.
There is a student discount of $5 if a student has a school ID.
We also have a combination ticket with the Old Slave Mart Museum. It includes admission to both locations and can be used on any day. The prices are as follows:
$15 for Adults
$11 for Seniors
$8 for Children and Students
I hope this clears up the pricing. Thank you!
Written 17 November 2016
What times are the dungeon tours provided? Thanks.
Written 20 February 2016
How much time should we plan to spend here? It is just my hubby & I, no kids. Thanks!
Written 24 June 2015
The dungeon tour is about 30 minutes, and, depending on how fast you read/look, you can get through the other two levels in 45 minutes. I'd say 90 minutes should cover you!
Written 17 July 2015
Any place you can find. There's a small lot behind the museum, but it fills up quickly. The parking enforcement officers are very vigilant. Godspeed.
Written 14 June 2015
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