On Charleston

Travel and Leisure magazine has just ranked the top “Most Romantic” cities in the US, with Charleston coming in at # 2, http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/americas-most-romantic-cities/3. The magazine cites the city’s rich history and Southern charm.

I’d also point out Charleston’s uniquely changing, yet resilient character. The resilience has been necessitated by events such as British occupation during the Revolutionary War, the tempestuous events leading to succession from the US in 1860, a shattering siege during the Civil War, a destructive earthquake in 1886, and the occasional hurricane. But each blow has bounced off the fair City, much like the British cannonballs bounced off the palmetto log walls of Fort Moultrie when the King’s army first tried to take Charleston in June, 1776. (This victory led to the Palmetto being named the official state tree.)

With each challenge, the City has adapted.

As the surrounding marshes change with the tides, and the weather with the seasons, so too the city has changed with society (albeit not always willingly) and reinvented itself at each turn, while preserving its historic personality.

A common sight in town is the South Carolina Palmetto Flag. The symbols on the flag so well capture the special essence of Charleston. The ever-changing moon represents the adaptable nature of the city and the palmetto tree stands for its resilient sturdiness.

The resulting combination is a modern city with a traditional heart. Who wouldn’t fall in love with that?