Rediscovering Charleston’s Colonial Fortifications

The Mayor’s Walled City Task Force was appointed by Charleston Mayor, Joseph Riley Jr., in August of 2005 to further the study, identification, protection, and interpretation of the Walled City of Charleston. Since its inception, this group of fifteen professionals (including historians, curators, archaeologists, engineers, attorneys, and civic leaders) has engaged in a number of educational and research activities.

The Task Force has sponsored several lectures, a living history program and encampment, and two successful “Walk the Walls” events. To date, more than 9,000 Walk the Walls brochures have been distributed, encouraging the public to take a self-guided tour of the Walled City boundaries and places of interest. Task Force members also continue to research the fortifications and to promote the recognition of this significant part of Charleston’s heritage.

An exciting mapping project was begun in 2006 with the City of Charleston to create a digital synthesis of historic maps and plats and the current urban street grid using GIS (Geographic Information System) technology. This process, which will continue to be refined as more historic plats are identified, will greatly enhance our ability to identify the locations of Charleston’s colonial fortifications, and to better predict the location of remnants below the modern cityscape.