Charleston: Women's History Walking Tour & Rainbow Row

Charleston's Women Changed Everything: Here's Where They Did It

You walk for two hours through downtown Charleston with a licensed guide who focuses entirely on the women who shaped the city's history. The tour hits St. Philip's Church, the Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon, Rainbow Row, and the Nathaniel Russell House. You'll need moderate fitness for the walking distance, and the tour doesn't shy away from difficult history alongside the triumphs.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each4 stops

1. St. Philip's Church15m
2. Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon10m
3. Rainbow Row10m
4. Nathaniel Russell House10m

Charleston Badass Broads Walking Tour

• Discuss Charleston background history
• Begin Badass Broads Tour at St. Philip's Church
• Discuss Badass Broads of Charleston
• Continue discussion at Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon
• Continue discussion at Rainbow Row
• Discuss more Badass Broads at Nathaniel Russell House

The experience

The guide meets you at St. Philip's Church and doesn't waste time with the usual Charleston script. Instead, she starts talking about the women who actually shaped the city: the ones whose names didn't make it into the standard history books. You're walking through streets you've maybe seen before, but the stories land differently when someone who knows them is standing right there, pointing out the buildings where these women lived, worked, fought, and refused to be forgotten.

From St. Philip's, the Charleston women's history walking tour moves through the Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon, where the conversation shifts to the women who survived and resisted during some of the city's hardest moments. The guide doesn't gloss over the difficult parts. She leans into them. Then you reach Rainbow Row, those pastel townhouses everyone photographs, and she tells you who lived there, what they did, and why it matters that their stories are still standing. It's a two-hour walk, so you're moving at a pace that lets you actually absorb what you're hearing instead of just collecting facts.

The last stop is the Nathaniel Russell House, and by this point you're not just looking at architecture. You're seeing the women who moved through those rooms, made decisions, raised families, and sometimes broke rules that needed breaking. The guide wraps up the tour here, and you leave with a version of Charleston that most visitors never get to know. It's the kind of walk that makes you want to come back and look at the city differently.

What’s included

Your two-hour guided walk includes a licensed tour guide who leads you through St. Philip's Church, the Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon, Rainbow Row, and the Nathaniel Russell House while discussing the women whose decisions and actions shaped Charleston's history.

Information

Lasts 2h, runs every day at 10:00, from US$ 40 per person, with a live guide in English and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 10:00Another time? ›

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (7 to 11 years) · Infant (under 7): free

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by JWalk Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want Charleston's actual history instead of the postcard version, and you're comfortable walking for two hours at a steady pace through downtown streets.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (7 to 11 years); Infant (under 7): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the Charleston women's history walking tour?

Two hours of guided walking through downtown Charleston.

What are the main stops on this tour?

St. Philip's Church, Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon, Rainbow Row, and Nathaniel Russell House.

Is this tour suitable for people with mobility issues?

The tour requires at least moderate physical fitness for walking. Infants and small children can use a stroller, but it's not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health.

Do I need to book transportation to the starting point?

Public transportation options are available nearby the starting location at St. Philip's Church.

Is this tour only about women's history?

Yes, this is the only tour in Charleston that focuses specifically on the women who played major roles in the city's history.

Are service animals allowed?

Yes, service animals are allowed on the tour.