Charleston... the name itself evokes visions from the past.

Here the struggle of life and death has been the very heart of human drama.

And here, through hard work, sheer determination, and a belief in an idea called liberty, man has created a city.

Not only through the stories of the men and women who have walked these streets do we find the city coming alive, but also in the buildings they have left.

We are surrounded by historic landmarks, buildings built at a time when men cared only to do the best they could with the skill of their hands, based on the principles of a desire for beauty and lasting events.

One of the most historic buildings we have here at the end of Broad Street... the Old Exchange.

♪ ♪ ♪ Hello, I'm Mary Long.

I'm so looking forward to learning about this beautiful building.

I'm Sue...nice to have you at the Old Exchange.

I'm sure there are thousands of stories connected with this building.

Why don't we start in the Rutledge Room?

Oh, it is lovely!

Was this room named for John Rutledge, signer of the Constitution, or for his brother Edward, signer of the Declaration of Independence?

This is the John Rutledge Room, named for the president of the Republic of South Carolina.

Was this his chair?

No, this is a reproduction of a chair made by local craftsman Thomas Elfe for the royal governor, wh o represented the king.

It's Chippendale style wi th ball-and-claw feet, has elaborate handles wi th eagle and feathers carved.

Was the governor a tall gentleman, because it's quite a large chair?

No, the size of the chair isn't for size of the man, but for the importance of representing the king.

And this portrait, the handsome gentleman?

This is Ch arles II, for whom Ch arleston is named.

Came to power in 1660.

We think of him daily!

Why, certainly!

Let's go this way.

♪ ♪ Now, who is this handsome gentleman?

The Marquis de Lafayette, who was 19 when he of fered his services for the Am erican Revolution.

He arrived in South Carolina-- a lot of people do n't know that-- and he went from here to Alexandria, Virginia, with John Paul Jones, then went on to Philadelphia.

He was having trouble with his French, and John Paul Jones translated to George Washington so that he would understand that Lafayette was offering his services.

Washington's headquarters were Philadelphia.

He was a very brave young man, to cross the ocean to fight for democracy.

♪ ♪ Sue, these wonderful stones feel very old and very unusual.

They are old.

They were cut fo r the building and brought over when they be gan construction in 1767.

Many things were brought especially for the building because the British wanted to build a sturdy, beautiful structure.

One thing that impresses me are these three huge doors here and behind us.

Why are they so large?

Originally those were open archways.

These floors extended over this entire area.

The whole area wa s open.

It was a place where people gathered to exchange ideas and goods, but also to exchange gossip.

It was like a colonial mall where people visited.

That's where the word ex change comes from.

They exchanged goods here.

You mean small items, such as spices, as well as bales of cotton?

Yes, right.

There were factors who helped with trading, but people would come from plantations and trade a sweetgrass basket for a bouquet of flowers or something, as well.

So this was a state of barter as opposed to extreme amount of money as today.

Yes, for in general, colonists were not allowed to have much hard or paper money, so trading and exchanging was very important.

In particular, here they stored and traded a lot of indigo and rice for the products that came in from the sea.

The building was on the waterfront.

So products would come through this door and be exchanged at boutiques?

It might have been similar.

Things from the ship were stored downstairs.

Things from plantations were brought in the other side and stored until trade.

Then they would have trading on this floor.

Well, isn't that amazing!

When did it all become enclosed?

The building was owned by the federal government, and they converted it into a post office.

They put in windows and doors to help retain heat and keep out extra heat in summertime.

Well, how did people in colonial and early 19th-century days know when mail had come in?

They would haul a flag to the top of the cupola.

If you saw a flag of Germany, mail had come from Germany.

If a French flag, mail had come from France.

Also, during the War Between the States, things came through the blockade.

Yes...they had trouble getting enough paper.

They would use something creative like wallpaper, reuse a legal form, reuse mail two or three times.

Here's a stamp from inside stamped on the outside.

I noticed two numbers... what does that mean?

The Federal government and Confederate government didn't recognize each other.

Even though you'd paid 3 cents up North, your mail would arrive marked postage due.

Here you have the two stamps of the two governments.

So each had to be paid.

Did they use envelopes?

These are envelopes.

So they were used at the time.

After that terrible war, did this still maintain itself as a post office?

This was a post office for some time, but it became disused, falling into disrepair after the great earthquake of 1886.

Then the federal government decided to put the property up for sale.

Oh, dear, that would have been terrible!

♪ So this beautiful building was scheduled not only for demolition, but it had become a gas station?

That was the rumor at the time.

The Daughters of the American Revolution saved the building after many long struggles.

This is the local chapter's meeting room.

When they had their first meeting, the early 1920s, they didn't have any furniture.

Everyone was asked to bring a chair from home.

You'll see that the chairs ar e all quite different.

That must have taken years of work and politicking to acquire this building and to maintain it so beautifully.

It's still a hard job.

And the odd chairs are lovely!

There are other interesting pieces too.

The mirrors used to be in the castle of Queen Wi lhelmina of the Netherlands.

They were sent here du ring the Second World War for safekeeping.

They look painted in place, but they were not originally meant to be here.

I wish we had time to hear every story!

That's all the time we have.

Another guide upstairs will tell you about the Great Hall.

Oh, that'll be fun... thank you!

♪ ♪ I'm Becky... welcome to the Great Hall.

I'm looking forward to understanding all about this beautiful room.

Let me show it to you.

[footfalls echoing] This is charming!

This is one of the three most important public buildings of colonial America.

Part of that is because of the elegance.

This was one of the most elegant structures the British built in the colonies.

It was built in a style popular in Europe, Palladian.

This room is a good example of Palladian architecture.

In a Palladian building, everything is symmetrical.

If there is a door on one wall, there is a door opposite.

The fireplaces are a good example.

There are two fireplaces exactly opposite each other.

This was very practical, also, because the only heat in this building was from these fireplaces.

The first floor was open, and they didn't heat the cellars, but this floor was heated.

The overmantel is another thing that was very popular in the 18th century.

It was used fo r paintings, and we have Qu een Henrietta, the Maria.

She was the mother of King Charles II, the wife of King Charles I.

She's a beautiful lady.

She had a very sad life, with her husband being beheaded.

And she's matched with Charles I over the other fireplace.

Yes, we have Charles I ov er the other fireplace.

The coved ceiling is very interesting.

Notice how it 's curved.

Is that the cove that comes in somewhat?

That's the cove.

Notice it's pa inted differently.

This was popular in the 18th century, and this is a documented 18 th-century color.

Notice under it the dental work.

The Ionic columns appear to be supporting it, but these are simply de corative columns.

They do no supporting.

And Ionic, according to the curve at the top?

Correct.

Well, they're lovely!

I noticed through the three windows-- matched on each side-- that Broad Street seems awfully wiggly.

Right, you notice th e wavy panes of glass.

This is amazing...these panes have not been broken by the earthquake, all of Charleston's fires, hurricanes, wars.

These panes managed to remain over 200 years.

These are the originals?

You'll notice th ere are clear panes, so not all of them ma de it through 200 years.

Isn't that amazing!

[footfalls echoing] Becky, this room, it's been used a long time by a lot of people.

Exactly, this was built by the British as a meeting hall.

Little did they realize, this was to be the scene of important Revolutionary meetings.

They met here and decided what they would do about the tea.

They decided they would not sell it, would not pay the tax.

They stored it 3 1/2 years in the cellars.

Not long after, they elected delegates here who would represent South Carolina in discussing these problems with representatives from other colonies.

They went to Philadelphia, wrote and signed the Declaration of Independence.

Those men who were elected in this room later were imprisoned, when the British occupied Charleston, down in the cellars.

So elected here, imprisoned downstairs!

Also, this is where we were declared an independent republic.

South Carolina was the first colony to formally break from England.

On the front steps of the Exchange, they read their new constitution and declared John Rutledge president of this independent republic.

We've always been independent people!

Very much so...let's move on to the other side.

[footfalls echoing] There have been many large gatherings here.

In 1788 after the Constitution had been written, each state had to ratify it.

South Carolina had its convention here.

222 men in May, which can be quite warm in Charleston, were packed into this room with spectators.

For two weeks, they argued pros and cons of ratifying the Constitution.

Those from the Upcountry generally were opposed.

They didn't want a strong government.

Those in the Lowcountry, who saw sails in the harbor every day from other states and countries, felt we needed a strong central government.

Most in the Lowcountry were for the Constitution.

Finally it was passed.

We were the eighth state to ratify.

This is one of four buildings still standing where the Constitution was ratified, which makes South Carolina special.

[chuckling] We always are!

George Washington came.

After being elected, trying to draw the states together, he made a Southern tour in 1791.

Charleston, being the largest city in the South, was where he chose to stay.

During the week, he was here many times.

There was a large ball for him.

It was the most elegant entertainment during his stay.

They had a chandelier that was a replica of the ship he had used.

He was entertained with dancing and music.

The ladies even had his portrait painted on ribbons and put the ribbons over their dresses or in their hairdos.

They had his picture painted on their gloves so they could curtsy, hold out their hand, and Washington would take it and kiss...his portrait.

He wrote in his journal what a wonderful time he had and how lovely the ladies were!

Of course... of course.

The room is still used as it was in the 18th century.

We have parties, wedding receptions, dinners, a lot of meetings... much the same as in the 18th century.

It's wonderful that some things can continue in usefulness.

While Bush was vice president, he was entertained here.

So you see, we have had from one president to another!

Thank you...this has been wonderful!

I hope you enjoy the dungeon, where those men were imprisoned.

That's where I'm going?

To the dungeon!

[no audio] [elevator rattling] [footfalls clicking] [footfalls clicking] Hello, I'm Mary Long.

Hi, I'm Merle Dowd.

This place is downright spooky!

You get used to it!

(Merle) I want to show you part of the original seawall of Charleston.

This dates to around 1690, the earliest settlement on the Cooper River.

This is where the river came to.

All that water was right up here!

Now there's two blocks of buildings behind us, all built on landfill.

But there's still water there.

Yes, it seeps in th rough the landfill.

(Merle) Right over here, we'll show you about the prisoners held here by the British during the Revolutionary War.

(Mary) They look almost real.

It was a dreadful time.

Yes, ma'am, it was.

They held common criminals as well as political prisoners.

These figures are chained, some by the neck, so me by arm...dreadful!

Conditions were just like you see them.

Was there an y heat?

No, only those fireplaces in the Great Hall.

And the only light wo uld be candles.

Yes, and they opened windows during the daytime.

Man was ve ry unkind to man.

The archways above us, they're just fascinating!

The curves, th ey're beautiful.

They're called groined arches.

They span many bricks thick in the center, but at the top in each arch, one brick holds the weight of the entire building.

Above these is nothing but a layer of 6 to 8 inches of sand and the Purbeck stones on the main floor.

These are ha ndmade bricks?

Yes, they date to construction of the building, completed in 1771.

They're just architecturally fascinating.

They are, definitely.

I find it difficult to walk on this floor!

Come with me...

I'm used to it!

These are original bricks?

Yes, ma'am, they are.

No wonder they're irregular... so many feet have walked on them for hundreds of years.

The doors here show that the building has settled.

The street started out level with the floor.

Now the street is 5 feet up.

Was that fill or what?

A foot is buildup on the street.

Each time it's repaved, it gets higher.

The other 4 feet is sinkage of the building.

How come these columns were not disturbed or cracked?

We don't know.

Just a marvel of engineering!

People were clever in those days... even though they did have irregular bricks to walk on!

This is so dark and dismal!

Now, this was originally used for storage?

Yes, the storage of goods that were exchanged later on the main floor.

And then became a prison.

When the British occupied the city in 1780.

Another thing relates to that period, a secret room constructed by General Moultrie and his men, just before the British came, to hide gunpowder.

(Mary) The British never found it?

No, ma'am.

The British were coming into the city.

Moultrie and his men took 10,000 pounds of gunpowder out of the powder magazine on Cumberland Street.

They bricked in the exterior window, made this wall, and left the gunpowder.

The British never thought of measuring the building to find this room?

They never fo und it.

You have figures here and kegs.

It's damp...would that affect the gunpowder?

When they came back 2 1/2 years later, the gunpowder was useless be cause moisture had gotten in.

All of that effort!

Well, they still kept it from the British.

How about that!

Well, this is amazing... quite a building!

Here's another portion of the seawall to give you a feel for how it went beneath where th e building is now.

You can see where they to ok off part of the top to construct th is building in 1767.

How did you discover all this?

Was it an archeological dig?

They were building an elevator shaft.

A modern convenience to discover something ancient!

Have you found skeletons and bones down here?

We did find one skull and quite a few other artifacts.

Oh, that's interesting... things people throw away become historical to us.

I'm glad there was only one skull!

Behind this wall sat a tiny building, the Court of Guard.

It was barracks fo r the soldiers.

The top floor wa s the barracks.

The bottom floor, the main level, was a prison.

Off and on for 300 years, there's been a prison.

It sat behind the seawall, and the most famous prisoners we re the pirates.

(Mary) Pi rates?

Oh , my!

(Merle) Right this way for pirates.

[footfalls clicking] They're very grim looking.

The gentleman in the center is Stede Bonnet, the Gentleman Pirate.

He and his crew were captured off Charles Town in 1718 and brought here for imprisonment prior to being hanged where The Battery is now.

This one looks like an Indian.

He wasn't an Indian, but there were Indians here.

They were ve ry desperate men and created a lot of havoc.

I don't like these gentlemen.

You want to get away?

[chuckling] From the pirates, yes!

Okay, come this way!

So the only light would be candlelight, and they would incarcerate people in these nooks and crannies.

Yes, it was very crowded here during the Revolutionary period.

Were women thrown in here with the ge ntlemen?

Oh, yes, ma'am, yes, ma'am... whether for an actual crime or for just communicating with the American forces.

There was no separation of men and women?

No separation of anyone.

Well, it's obvious they had no privacy...it's dreadful.

It would make quite a dungeon, but I'm glad that disturbance ended.

Then after the Revolution, what was this used for?

It went back to being used for storage for the Exchange.

When the building was the post office, mail was stored here.

Eventually, around the beginning of the 1900s, they forgot it was down here.

Oh, really?

Well, I'm glad we no longer needed a dungeon!

Thank you so much.

At a later time, I'd like to spend more time.

Just come on in!

[footfalls clicking] [no audio] [vehicular noise] In an earlier "Yesteryear" detailing the life of Robert Mills, a native of this city and the first American-educated architect, we said that men and nations are known by their monuments.

But Charleston never intended to create the monuments we admire so much today.

It's interesting that the citizenry simply built them as utilitarian forms which answered a need of the times.

Such a building is the Old Exchange.

It did answer a need, yet it was built on ideals and principles and ideas which formed the fabric of dreams... dreams which created a city, a state, and a nation.

♪ ♪ Program captioned by: CompuScripts Captioning, Inc. 803.988.8438 ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪