Our kids love “Battery Park!”
Located along East Bay Street, beautiful, wise oak trees shade White Point Garden where The Battery of artillery once guarded the city of Charleston (or Charles Towne, at the time). Also referred to as “Battery Park,” the many monuments and walkways blend together into one of our kids’ favorite places to kill time downtown. Civil War canons dot the outside of the park, as well as statues and memorial markers noting local military and naval events. Stacks of canon balls permanently glued into a pyramid fashion, as well as the canons themselves, make climbing irresistible to the kids. They cautiously peer into the ends of old, but freshly painted giant guns of the the past, as if these canons still actively defend the city.
A cool place to rest.
Not only are the trees in the park characteristic of Historic Charleston, but their shade make this park an ideal relaxation spot to cool down on any of the available benches. Squirrels play among the tree trunks surrounding the bandstand gazebo in the center of the park- at least, until my screaming kids scatter the furry creatures into higher branches! The seaside breezes from the harbor also knock the temperature down a few degrees on the nearby walkway by the water. From the walled viewpoint, you can see Ft. Sumter in the distance.
Pirates were here!
Don’t forget that White Point Garden is also the location of the hanging executions of several captured pirates, including the infamous “Gentleman Pirate,” Stede Bonnett. Of course, we didn’t describe in detail to the children what actually occurred beneath the oak tree branches. All they know is that pirates were here! Argh. Check out the engraved stone marker on South Battery Street to read the story.
Parking is free around Battery Park, as long as you are not blocking driveways or staying too long in front of a residence. This is a great place to land, if you’d like to explore other nearby areas of downtown, as well.
