Entry No. 17 — the Charleston file — filed under: history

St. George's Bell Tower — Colonial Dorchester State Historic Site

A single freestanding brick bell tower, built in 1751 for St. George's (Anglican) Church, still stands alone above the Ashley River with no church attached — the sanctuary around it is long gone. (The tower itself is brick; the site's famous oyster-shell tabby is the nearby fort/redoubt.) The 1886 Charleston earthquake split the tower along its full height, and for decades it was held together with iron straps; locals reportedly feared it would collapse on anyone who touched it, so it was left banded until it was finally repaired and stabilized in the early 1960s.

The move: Walk the quiet tabby-ruin trail out to the tower around dusk when the park is nearly empty, then continue on to the earthwork fort remains and the river bluff for a picnic.

• 📍 Summerville
• 💸 Free
• ⚡ Up for anything
• 🌗 Outdoors

Where: 300 State Park Rd, Summerville, SC 29485

Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current hours before you go.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Further reading: southcarolinaparks.com · Wikipedia

last checked: 2026-07-20