250 years ago, a group of Charlestonians gathered at the Exchange Building to protest Britain’s Tea Act and the arrival of the British ship London. The resulting Charleston Tea Party was the first in a series of protests that ultimately sparked the American Revolution.
On Saturday, Dec. 2, hundreds of guests returned to the same spot to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Charleston Tea Party. With chants of “huzzah” and a few opposing shouts of “God save the King” from cast and audience members, many in colonial attire, the reenactment gave attendees a look into one of the formative movements of the American Revolution.
After the reenactment, guests toured the dungeon of the Exchange Building, where the controversial tea was stored in 1773, and tasted historically accurate Colonial Bohea tea from Oliver Pluff & Co. Tea Party guests also received free admission to several Charleston historical landmarks for the day.
Unlike its more famous counterpart in Boston, which took place 13 days later on December 16, 1773, the original Charleston Tea Party saw no tea thrown into the harbor. Instead, the London remained in the Charleston wharf – with 257 chests of East India Company tea onboard – for nearly 20 days until the tea was seized and stored in the Exchange Building basement. In 1776, the tea was sold to fund South Carolina’s fight against the British.
This milestone anniversary of the Charleston Tea Party, which brought Charlestonians and visitors back to where the original protest took place, is one of many Revolutionary-era commemorations slated for Charleston and South Carolina. Historical organizations, including those behind the Charleston Tea party anniversary, will honor key dates for years to come.
The 250th anniversary Charleston Tea Party was hosted by The Powder Magazine Museum/NSCDA-SC, and was supported by a grant from the South Carolina American Revolution Sestercentennial Commission (SC250). The South Carolina Historical Society, the Old Exchange Building and Oliver Pluff & Co. sponsored the event.
For more information about South Carolina’s Revolutionary-era milestones and upcoming events, visit CelebrateSC250.com.
About SC250
The South Carolina American Revolution Sestercentennial Commission (SC250) was chartered by the state General Assembly to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Revolutionary Era and highlight the state’s significant role in securing America’s freedom. SC250’s mission is to celebrate and promote South Carolina’s role in the American Revolution by engaging and inspiring South Carolinians and visitors through heritage tourism, rural economic growth initiatives and educational programs.