Historic Charleston Foundation

Great small shop of local treasures and gifts. I really wish I had more time to explore. They have food items but also a lot of household goods and decorations. I was there when it wasn't busy at all and received quick easy service.

I found the perfect Charleston Christmas ornament. The store is beautiful and full of memorabilia from Charleston. I also bought a water bottle to use every day!

I have had this store on my list of places to check out for awhile since Scotty mentioned during a Yelp event that they have great gift items at decent prices. I had a few out-of-town family members coming in to celebrate the holidays and thought I'd check this store out for some Charleston themed items to include with their gifts -- this store has the best selection!

The items in the store are either locally made or locally themed; they have an assortment of candles, soaps, lotions, cookies, paintings, housewares, ornaments, bedding, etc.! The selection is great, I was able to pick up Charleston made dog treats, an Angel Oak ornament, benne wafers in Charleston themed tins, beautiful platters and some cheddar biscuits to include in their gifts. They have items for all ages and genders, definitely worth checking out!

A friend of mine was putting together a care package for a mutual friend of ours in HI. She wanted to grab some quintessential Charleston items to add in and had been to this store before so I tagged along. Honestly, I expected to find a bunch of overpriced benne wafers and some tacky magnets. It turns out this store is so much cooler than that! First of all, it's not just a store, it's a museum... and free one at that. There are all sorts of historical displays throughout the shop and even an original well that was uncovered and preserved to look into!

At first glance, this fancy museum shop looks like you'll be paying museum prices too. Yes there are some pricey items but I really found everything to be reasonably priced or even below what I expected. No matter what price range you're looking for or type of Charleston related gift, you'll find it here. I even found a few things I wanted to take home myself. Unfortunately, I have pretty expensive taste so I think I'll have to hold off on those hand embroidered throw pillows until the next time I have a few hundred bucks to burn.

Having lived my entire adult life in a town frequented by tourists, first Boston, and now for more than 10 years, Charleston, I've made it my mission to find those shops that offer gifts and wares that truly represent some local flavor. The Shops of Historic Charleston does just that.

I suppose we are all occasionally seeking the token mug or fridge magnet, but more often than not I find myself wanting to share with a friend or family member abroad a piece of our culture that represents something special from this beautiful city we call home.

Everything from local art, books written by local authors, unique items featuring rainbow row, jewelry depicting local decor, lamps, furnishings, glassware, frames and pillows, to name more than a few. These items and so many more are offered in a broad price range. Whether you're looking for a quality local piece to add to your own home, or something to share with a friend for under ten dollars or more than a hundred, this shop is worth a stop. An assortment of local teas and tasty sweets is also available.

It's located next to one of our most beautiful cobblestone streets with benches out front to sit a while to do some serious people watching. If you haven't stopped in yet, it's worth the trip.

I enjoy this store as the proceeds go toward the preservation society. I found some items featured in mags such as the hand made bow ties made with feathers. The store features local artisans and has a great book section and maps in the back with local history.

What a wonderful boutique shop showcasing the history of Charleston!!!

Amazing floral scents greet you as you enter the door -- candles, soaps, body powders ... special blends to recreate the smell of Charleston and nearby Savannah.

This is the perfect place to pick up locally inspired accents for your home. Of course many, many great souvenirs and gift ideas too!!

The store front is misleading in terms of size - as you enter the building you'll find the space grows into rooms full of books, home decor, and museum-like exhibits showcasing the history of Charleston.

The staff are welcoming and more than happy to answer questions, share stories about the history of our city, and just talk shop on their favorite places to visit around town. Truly an enjoyable visit!

The shop itself has cute items. However, as I was standing right at the counter to pay for my item, the cashier pulled over a man and his wife who were fourth in line to her side cash register - ignoring and bypassing me (right at the counter in front of her), my friend behind me, and two other shoppers in line. It was incredibly odd and made no sense. The only reason I could imagine for her to do so is that I'm brown-skinned - otherwise I was being quiet and polite in line and had had no conversation with her. She was a somewhat heavyset older woman with a white blonde bob hairstyle. She said absolutely nothing when my friend expressed confusion by saying "Excuse me? We are all in line." Didn't even look at us. The couple who had been asked to come forward said, "she asked us!" I ended up moving over to a different cashier to the side. I hadn't had any other experiences like this during my visit to Charleston and was shocked at this one. I can't remember the last time anyone blatantly treated me so rudely without explanation. Ruined my day to think people still act this way, especially at a historical society gift shop.

Charleston has many shops spanning each street, often with art, prints, and beautiful framing if needed. We sought out this souvenir shop in search of calendars, candles, and anything uniquely Charleston.
While the shop had a wide array of items, the staff seemed preoccupied or busy with repeated phone calls, and no one was available to assist us with checking out. It would've been much appreciated to receive a warm "hello" or "pardon while we take these calls." We wanted to purchase a few things and quilts, but after wandering the store for 15 minutes looking for, and after receiving no help, we simply put the items back and left.

This is a great store to get locally made items and gifts from Charleston. A good collection of local books too. The old well is interesting to see.