Art and Architecture in the Downtown Charleston Historic District

(32 reviews)

Charleston, West Virginia audio tour: Art and Architecture in the Downtown Charleston Historic District

This is a 1.3mi walking tour

It takes an average of 60 mins to complete.

Charleston, West Virginia

The United States

$5.99

Access all 28 locations offline with the VoiceMap app

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About the Tour

If you like 20th century history, diverse architecture, and quirky public art, this walking tour in the Downtown Charleston Historic District is for you!

Having lived in Charleston all my life, I decided to channel my passion and love for the city into something I could share with others. On this circular walk, I’ll unlock the stories behind several fascinating places that you’ll see along the way, including:

The site of the first brick-paved street in the United States
Two former State capitols’ locations
Charleston’s oldest business and its modern day incarnation (spoiler alert: it smells amazing!)
Beautiful Kanawha River and its scenic spots
Home of the best ice cream in town
Charleston’s smallest piece of art

Whether it’s your first time in Charleston, or you’re a lifelong resident who’s eager to learn more about the city, this tour is a valuable introduction to all that historic downtown Charleston has to offer.

This hour-long walk starts and ends along the Kanawha River, but not before taking you down the city’s historic Capitol Street. Along the way, there are plenty of restaurants and shops along the route for a short or lengthy stop.

Tour Producer

Emma Carpenter

1 tour

Hi! My name is Emma Carpenter and I have lived in the beautiful city of Charleston, West Virginia, my entire life. I have a passion for Charleston's rich history and beautiful art and architecture and love sharing it with others! I am currently studying Interior Design at Auburn University with a plan to pursue my dream of restoring historic buildings in Charleston. Hope you enjoy the tour! :)

Preview Location

Location 1

Haddad Riverfront Park

Hello! Welcome to my hometown, Charleston, West Virginia. My name is Emma Carpenter and I am excited to share my passion for this city with you. Our tour will begin at the top of the amphitheater with the large white awning, directly across the street from the Four Points Sh... Hello! Welcome to my hometown, Charleston, West Virginia. My name is Emma Carpenter and I am excited to share my passion for this city with you. Our tour will begin at the top of the amphitheater with the large white awning, directly across the street from the Four Points Sheraton Hotel. You can find granite benches near the top of the amphitheater. Take a seat while I tell you about our tour.

Let me first provide some background about why I wrote this tour. You may be surprised to learn that, at the time of writing, I'm a senior in High School. For as long as I can remember, I've had a passion for Charleston's history and architecture. I've spent countless hours researching, reading, and journaling about the Daniel Boone Hotel, Blossom Dairy, and many other buildings you will hear about today. Several years ago, I attended a summer session on historic preservation and interior design at the Savannah College of Art and Design, also known as SCAD. It was amazing to see all of the city of Savannah's beautiful buildings given new life through the love and care of its community and the students at SCAD. I hope to someday do the same for Charleston. I plan to first study architecture, with an emphasis on historic preservation, to gain the skills and knowledge needed to help restore this beautiful city. Perhaps after taking this tour, you'll be energized to help work on Charleston, too!

You can choose your pace for today's tour. I recommend setting aside at least an hour. We'll be exploring Charleston’s rich history, viewing beautiful art and architecture, and showing off our tasty food scene. Eating is optional, but recommended! Before we begin, let’s go over some directions to help your tour experience go more smoothly. VoiceMap will use your location to play the audio automatically as you make your way through the tour. Feel free to touch the pause button located at the bottom of your screen at any time so you can grab a bite, snap a pic, or stop in a shop. You can also fast forward or rewind if you would like. Follow the onscreen map for guidance, or put your device away and listen to the walking directions.

Our tour begins at Haddad Riverfront Park, located just across the street from the Four Points Sheraton Hotel on Kanawha Boulevard. Also known as The Levee, this park was built in 1993 by the US Army Corps of Engineers on the banks of the Kanawha River. This 36,000 square foot concrete amphitheater is at the heart of many outdoor festivals and events in downtown Charleston. During the summer months, local food trucks and entertainers gather here while boats dock nearby to enjoy festivities from the water. Check out the City of Charleston's Facebook page to find a list of the activities happening at Haddad Riverfront Park.

Let's get walking. Now, facing the river, turn right and start walking along Kanawha Boulevard.

Charleston is the capital city of West Virginia and the county seat of Kanawha County. Two rivers flow through the city: the Kanawha, currently on your left, and the Elk, which joins the Kanawha about half a mile further in the direction you are walking. The Kanawha River is approximately 97 miles long and flows into the Ohio River in Point Pleasant, West Virginia.

You might notice the word Kanawha used throughout the city. The name is Native American in origin. Interpretations vary; some believe Kanawha means "new water" while others believe it means "friendly brother". Many different Native American tribes once lived in the area, some dating as far back as 11,000 BC.

Settlers arrived in 1788 and built Fort Lee near downtown Charleston. A monument for Fort Lee reads, "A western frontier outpost, guarding settlers against the Indians. Built here in 1788 and named for Gen. Henry "Light House Harry" Lee, one of Washington's most trusted officers. Later Lee was governor of Virginia. "

It's not on this tour, but if you are interested in seeing the original location of Fort Lee, you can find a monument near the corner of Brooks Street and Kanawha Boulevard, about one-half mile in the opposite direction from where this tour started.

Keep going straight. Read More

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Major Landmarks

City Hall
Capitol Street
Old Daniel Boone Hotel
Stone and Thomas
Blossom Dairy
Mortar Man

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Getting There

Route Overview

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a set starting point. It’s how we give turn-by-turn directions and tell a story greater than the sum of its parts.

Start location
601-699 Kanawha Blvd E, Charleston, WV 25301, USA
Total distance

2km
Final location
Charleston, WV 25301, USA
Distance back to start location

144.53m

Directions to Starting Point

The tour begins at Haddad Riverfront Park, also known as The Levee. It is located on the riverbank side of Kanawha Boulevard, directly across from the Sheraton Four Points Hotel.

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Tips

Places to stop along the way

If you're in the mood for a bite during this tour, we'll be walking by a few of my favorite restaurants along the way, as well as two ice cream places, and a historic snack shop. I also recommend stopping by a few fun stores. Here are some of my favorites:

Restaurants:
-Black Sheep Burrito and Brews
-Pies & Pints
-Adelphia Sports Bar and Grille
-Fife Street Brewing
-Swiftwater Cafe
-Coco’s
-Ichiban
-Sam’s Uptown Cafe

Ice Cream:
-Ellen's Ice Cream
-Stellas Gelateria/Specialty Market

Snacks/Other Dessert:
-Rock City Cake Company
-The Peanut Shoppe

Shops:
-Buck & Bette
-Taylor Books
-Stray Dog Antiques
-Art Emporium

Best time of day

This tour is best anytime during the day.

Precautions

Be aware of any construction occurring downtown.

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App Store Review

“Great app. walk around at your own pace, stop where you want, move on or speed up when you want. Read the script before you go or during the commentary, speed it up or replay it. Repeat the tour whenever you like.”

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Questions and Reviews

4.8 / 5

32 Ratings

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