Our team recently had the wonderful opportunity to take a private tour of the Old Exchange Building and Provost Dungeon. Our tour was led by Alec, the education coordinator, whose enthusiasm and deep knowledge of the site’s history made the experience especially memorable.
The Tour
The tour begins in the museum area, where the guide provides an overview of the building’s history. Builders originally constructed the waterfront building in the Georgian architectural style, making it the first of its kind in Charleston.
They designed the structure to rival the great port cities of Boston, New York, and Philadelphia. He explained its role as both a customs house and a center for commercial exchange, serving as a vital hub of Charleston’s economic and civic life since its completion in 1771.
The Dungeon
After an overview of the museum area, our guide led the team to the dungeon. The underground brick structure featured low arched ceilings and dim lighting. Builders originally designed the space as a cellar for storage. Shifting demands soon gave it much darker purposes. In the early 1700s, it served as a holding place for pirates. Members of Blackbeard’s crew were kept there before their trials and executions.
During the transatlantic slave trade, the dungeon became a holding area for enslaved Africans awaiting auction. Nearly 40% of enslaved people entered America through Charleston’s port. This site remains a haunting reminder of that painful legacy.
During the Revolutionary War, the British used the dungeon as a military prison. They held American patriots, suspected rebels, and private citizens who opposed the Crown. Conditions were extremely harsh. Many inmates succumbed to disease during their short stays.
The Assembly Room / The Great Hall
Our last stop on the tour was the Great Hall. A grand room with the original 1771 fireplaces, high ceilings with large windows, and ornate plasterwork, like the rest of the building, this room is packed with history. Leaders once gathered here for political and social events, and delegates convened in this space to debate the ratification of the U.S. Constitution.
After the Revolutionary War, the site hosted George Washington during his week-long stay. The room hosted a banquet, a concert, and a ball all in his honor. Today, historians and preservationists have thoughtfully restored the Great Hall to mirror its original appearance, nearly 250 years after the building’s completion.
The Old Exchange Building and Provost Dungeon offer a window into Charleston’s history, from commerce and politics to hardship and resilience. Visiting the site reminds us of the importance of preserving these stories for future generations.
