Old Slave Mart Museum

Old Slave Mart Museum The Old Slave Mart Museum, located at 6 Chalmers St. In the seven decades between the drafting of the U.S. In 1938 Miriam B.

The Old Slave Mart Museum, located at 6 Chalmers St., recounts the story of Charleston's role in this inter-state slave trade by focusing on the history of this particular building and site and the slave sales that occurred here. History
The 1808 ban on the United States' participation in the international slave trade led to a renewed demand for slave labor, which was satisfied, in part, by the cr

eation of a domestic slave-trading system in which Charleston functioned as a major slave collecting and reselling center. Constitution and the Civil War, more than one million American-born slaves were sold away from plantations in the upper South to work the rapidly expanding cotton and sugar plantations in the lower South. In Charleston, enslaved African Americans were customarily sold on the north side of the Old Exchange Building. An 1856 city ordinance prohibited this practice of public sales, resulting in the opening of the Old Slave Mart and a number of other sales rooms, yards, or marts along Chalmers, State and Queen Streets. Possibly the only known building used as a slave auction gallery in South Carolina still in existence, the Old Slave Mart was once part of a complex of buildings known as Ryan's Mart that occupied the land between Chalmers and Queen Streets. The complex consisted of a yard enclosed by a brick wall and contained three additional buildings: a four-story brick building partially containing a "barracoon," or slave jail, a kitchen, and a "dead house," or morgue. Slave auctions at the Old Slave Mart ended in November 1863. The property changed hands many times after the Civil War, and between 1878 and 1937 the building was used as a Negro tenement and as an auto repair shop. Wilson purchased the building, which by then, had come to be known locally as the Old Slave Mart, and established a museum featuring African and African-American arts and crafts. Judith Wragg Chase and Louise Wragg Graves took over the Old Slave Mart in 1964, placed it on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 and operated it until its closure in 1987. Recognizing the significant importance the institution of slavery has had in Charleston's history, the City of Charleston acquired the property in 1988.

1860 engraving captioned "Negro Church, Smith's Plantation, Port Royal Isl'd, S.C."
06/12/2026

1860 engraving captioned "Negro Church, Smith's Plantation, Port Royal Isl'd, S.C."

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06/11/2026

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Here’s an exclusive look at the progress of the memorial dedicated to honoring the victims and survivors of the 2015 racially-motivated shooting at the historic Emanuel AME on Calhoun Street. (Full story below.)

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06/09/2026

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The event will focus on the role of Black educators, the importance of archives in preserving history, and conversations about teaching African American history in classrooms amid national debates. (Full story below.)

"The forces driving Gullah youth away from their ancestral homes are centuries in the making, rooted in the legacy of sl...
06/08/2026

"The forces driving Gullah youth away from their ancestral homes are centuries in the making, rooted in the legacy of slavery, sharpened by a political culture that has long resisted federal authority, and accelerated by a wave of wealthy White retirees that has driven up land prices and reshaped the economy of a community with some of America's most distinct cultural traditions."

Many young Gullah-Geechee adults are considering leaving places like St. Helena Island along South Carolina’s coast in search of brighter prospect. Learn about the challenges driving those decisions.

1834 engraving titled "Auction at Richmond". Published in "Picture of slavery in the United States of America".
06/08/2026

1834 engraving titled "Auction at Richmond". Published in "Picture of slavery in the United States of America".

Telfair Museums announces its latest exhibition, “Roots in the Rushes: African American Basketry of the Lowcountry.” Thi...
06/05/2026

Telfair Museums announces its latest exhibition, “Roots in the Rushes: African American Basketry of the Lowcountry.” This compelling showcase explores the enduring legacy, technical brilliance, and cultural resilience behind one of the oldest African American art forms in the United States. This inspiring exhibition will run through April 4, 2027.

Makers once known; Coiled fanner basket, c.1900; bulrush and reed; Telfair Museum of Art, 1228 Makers once known; Coiled fanner basket, c.1900; bulrush and reed; Telfair Museum of Art, 1228 SAVANNAH, GA, June 03, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Telfair Museums announces its latest exhibition, “Roots in t...

Public notice of 1833 slave sale in Charleston, SC by Richard Clagett.
06/05/2026

Public notice of 1833 slave sale in Charleston, SC by Richard Clagett.

06/02/2026

Kid Tours are back at the Charleston Museum this summer, with crafts and educational activities lined up designed to ignite the curiousity of young minds.

Address

6 Chalmers Street
Charleston, SC
29401

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+18439586467

Website

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