Charleston’s French Quarter neighborhood is a delightful place to visit. The area owes its name to the many French Huguenots who immigrated here, escaping religious persecution. As a result, you’ll see many historic churches. Wander leisurely along the charming streets of this pleasant area. Once a walled city built by the English, the entire French Quarter neighborhood is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Start your Charleston history lesson on Chalmers Street, one of Charleston’s quaint old cobblestone streets. Head to the Pink House, a one-time tavern that is among the city’s most photographed houses. Learn about Charleston’s African American history at the Old Slave Mart Museum, the site of the last surviving slave auction site, built in 1859. Check out the Dock Street Theatre, the first building in America created specifically for theatrical performances.

Historic churches are almost too many to count. Consider visiting St. Philip’s Church, with a congregation founded in 1680. Take a photo of the pale-pink Huguenot Church, once the center of Charleston’s Huguenot life. Walk through the oldest graveyard in the city at the Circular Congregational Church.

Your history lesson continues at the Powder Magazine, an 18th-century storage bunker for artillery used for defense against European and pirate invaders. Visit the U.S. Custom House, with gleaming white steps and pillars in Greek and Roman style.

When you get hungry, walk to the Charleston City Market, built in the late 1700s across four city blocks and still operating today as a public market. Purchase a locally crafted sweetgrass basket and treats ranging from homemade biscuits to fried okra and sweet tea.

Find the French Quarter on the southeastern corner of the Charleston peninsula between Meeting Street, Market Street, Broad Street and the Cooper River. You can park for a fee along the riverfront side of the French Quarter. Get a glimpse of Charleston’s yesteryear with a visit to this charming neighborhood.