Conference Activities

2016 Annual Conference
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston City & Homes Tour
This tour will transport you along the peninsula and share the history and stories that make Charleston the
jewel of the Southeastern United States and “America’s best-kept secret,” Through occupation, economic
hardship, fires, earthquakes, and hurricanes, Charleston has exhibited a remarkable resilience. History is found
literally around every corner, and the city is oen called a living museum.
During the tour of the city, you will experience houses, gardens, mansions, churches and parks as you hear
about the different buildings, history, architecture, flora and people. You will also explore the Citadel, South
Carolina’s Military College, the Hunley replica, as well as Rainbow Row, White Point Gardens, The Charleston
Baery Park, St. Michaels Church, and the Four Corners of Law. This outing will also include tours of two of
Charleston’s house museums:
Edmonston Alston House: Only the Edmonston-Alston House (constructed in 1825 and enhanced in 1838)
commands a magnificent view of Charleston Harbor. From its piazza, General P.T. Beauregard watched the
fierce bombardment of Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861, signaling the start of the Civil War.
Nathaniel Russel House: Since the early 1800s, visitors have admired the townhouse of Nathaniel and Sarah
Russell, completed in 1808. Set amid spacious gardens, the mansion is recognized as one of America’s most
important neoclassical dwellings. The graceful interiors with elaborate plasterwork ornamentation,
geometrically shaped rooms, and a magnificent free-floating staircase are among the most exuberant ever
created in early America.
Sweetgrass Basket Weaving & Breakfast
Sweetgrass basket making has been part of the Charleston community for more than 300 years. Brought to the
area by slaves who came from West Africa, sweetgrass basket-making is a traditional art form which has been
passed on from generation to generation. Today, it is one of the oldest art forms of African origin in the United
States.
During the days of slavery, rice cultivation and the flourishing plantations of the Old South, these baskets were
in great demand for agricultural purposes. They also brought extra income to slave owners, who oen sold
baskets to other plantation owners. Men made many of these special baskets for grain storage, coon, fish and
shellfish. Functional baskets for everyday living in the home were made by women. Some of these were made
for bread, fruits, sewing, clothes, storage and more. They were made from the soer, pliable grass commonly
called Sweetgrass, because of its pleasant fragrance, which is very similar to smell of fresh hay.
In this workshop format, a sweetgrass artisan will display a variety of her own personal work. She will also lay
out a series of “starter” sweetgrass baskets, and guests will join her and learn a bit how to weave these
masterpieces of their own.
2016 Annual Conference
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston City & Homes Tour
This tour will transport you along the peninsula and share the history and stories that make Charleston the
jewel of the Southeastern United States and “America’s best-kept secret,” Through occupation, economic
hardship, fires, earthquakes, and hurricanes, Charleston has exhibited a remarkable resilience. History is found
literally around every corner, and the city is oen called a living museum.
During the tour of the city, you will experience houses, gardens, mansions, churches and parks as you hear
about the different buildings, history, architecture, flora and people. You will also explore the Citadel, South
Carolina’s Military College, the Hunley replica, as well as Rainbow Row, White Point Gardens, The Charleston
Baery Park, St. Michaels Church, and the Four Corners of Law. This outing will also include tours of two of
Charleston’s house museums:
Edmonston Alston House: Only the Edmonston-Alston House (constructed in 1825 and enhanced in 1838)
commands a magnificent view of Charleston Harbor. From its piazza, General P.T. Beauregard watched the
fierce bombardment of Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861, signaling the start of the Civil War.
Nathaniel Russel House: Since the early 1800s, visitors have admired the townhouse of Nathaniel and Sarah
Russell, completed in 1808. Set amid spacious gardens, the mansion is recognized as one of America’s most
important neoclassical dwellings. The graceful interiors with elaborate plasterwork ornamentation,
geometrically shaped rooms, and a magnificent free-floating staircase are among the most exuberant ever
created in early America.
Sweetgrass Basket Weaving & Breakfast
Sweetgrass basket making has been part of the Charleston community for more than 300 years. Brought to the
area by slaves who came from West Africa, sweetgrass basket-making is a traditional art form which has been
passed on from generation to generation. Today, it is one of the oldest art forms of African origin in the United
States.
During the days of slavery, rice cultivation and the flourishing plantations of the Old South, these baskets were
in great demand for agricultural purposes. They also brought extra income to slave owners, who oen sold
baskets to other plantation owners. Men made many of these special baskets for grain storage, coon, fish and
shellfish. Functional baskets for everyday living in the home were made by women. Some of these were made
for bread, fruits, sewing, clothes, storage and more. They were made from the soer, pliable grass commonly
called Sweetgrass, because of its pleasant fragrance, which is very similar to smell of fresh hay.
In this workshop format, a sweetgrass artisan will display a variety of her own personal work. She will also lay
out a series of “starter” sweetgrass baskets, and guests will join her and learn a bit how to weave these
masterpieces of their own.