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The Old Magazine Lot
It's been nearly 30 years since the ground breaking investigation & restoration of The Powder Magazine.
Join us as we remember that amazing work and launch a new investigation!
Click Above to Register & RSVP for
The Powder Magazine's
2022
Spring Lecture Series
PAY WHAT YOU CAN
(You set the price- suggested donation $10 each)
Please include your email and we will confirm your date(s)
UPDATE: The May 24th in-person tour is now FULL! If you want to be added to the wait list, please email katherine@powdermag.org
This Session Now Filled
Empower Your Students to Experience the 18th Century!
Book a Field Trip with Us!
The Powder Magazine is a small building with a BIG history!
We offer a variety of educational programs for students and families, with some of the most fun and engaging field trips around! Guided tours of The Powder Magazine (built 1713) are offered during our normal hours of operation (Monday to Saturday 10:00 to 4:00pm and Sunday 1:00pm to 4:00pm).
K-12 field trips and other specialized educational programs for kids and families are scheduled with our staff. (A minimum of ten paying program participants is required for most field trips) To book your experience, review the options below, choose some possible dates and contact our staff at info@powdermagazine.org or (843)722-9350. You can also start the process by filling in the short form below.
In addition to our The Powder Magazine’s education programs, and we also collaborate with the Old Exchange Building, the Heyward-Washington House and the Old Slave Mart Museum on multi-site field trips.
Powder Magazine Tours & Programs
Young Colonials:
Grade levels (3rd – 8th)
This engaging field trip includes a tour of The Powder Magazine and cannon yard. Students learn about the colonial history of 18th century Charles Town and get "hands-on" with cartridge rolling, a musket demo, and more!
Time: 30-45 minutes. Fee: $5 per student, $6 per adult, teachers are free. Minimum 10 students, maximum 40 students.
STEAM Trunk:
Grade levels: (4th and higher)
This exploration of The Powder Magazine comes with a focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math. Students will learn about the architecture and engineering that was used in the construction of this building in 1713 and why it still endures today. They'll learn about the composition of gunpowder and the chemical reactions that took place in 18th century weapons. Our cannon is a perfect example of a "simple machine" that illustrates concepts such as angles, and types of energy. Who knew the oldest public building in the Carolinas had so much to say about science and technology?
Time: 45 minutes. Fee: $5 per student, $6 per adult, teachers are free. Minimum 10 students, maximum 40 students.
Multi-Site Programs and Field Trips
Rebels & Redcoats:
Grades (3rd- 8th)
Includes: The Powder Magazine, Heyward-Washington House, and Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon
It's 1781 and Charleston is under British Occupation. Your secret mission begins with fellow Patriot soldiers at the Old Exchange. See where prisoners are being held by the British in the dungeon and learn about the Declaration of Independence in the Great Hall. Then journey to the Heyward house where Mrs. Heyward will talk abut the daily life of her household and the difficulties in Charleston while her husband has been imprisoned. Finally, sign up for the militia and prepare for battle as you learn about gunpowder, muskets, and cannons at The Powder Magazine.
*Please note! Students will have the option to handle non-hazardous 18th-century musket replicas to better understand technology of the American Revolution.
Time: 3 hours. Fee: $15 per student, $6.00 per adult, teachers are free. Minimum 12 students, maximum 120 students.
Pirates, Patriots, and Powder
(Grades 3rd- 8th)
Includes: The Powder Magazine, Heyward-Washington House, and Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon
Start at the Old Exchange, exploring the British provost (dungeon) where American Patriots were kept during the Revolution. Learn about the Charleston Tea Party, George Washington's visit, and see where South Carolina ratified the U.S. Constitution. Next, your group will engage in a colonial/American Revolution themed scavenger hunt through Charleston's historic district, discovering locations and objects relevant to the early history of this city, state, and nation. Along the hunt, students will experience a tour of the Heyward-Washington House where they will learn about Declaration of Independence signer Thomas Heyward Jr.'s role during the Revolution, as well as the stories of other patriots. The scavenger hunt continues to the Carolinas' oldest public building, The Powder Magazine. There, your students will learn about how "Charles Town” was fortified as the only English walled city in North America, its early geography and inhabitants and why this colonial town's powder magazine was an essential part of its survival.
Time: 3 hours. Fee: $15 per student, $6 per adult, teachers are free. Minimum 10 students, maximum 80 students.
Colonial Quest: Exploring The Colonial and Revolutionary City
(Grades 3rd- 8th)
The Powder Magazine and Heyward-Washington House
A variation of the Pirates, Patriots, and Powder program minus the Old Exchange and Dungeon.
Time: 2 hours. Fee: $10 per student, $6 per adult, teachers are free. Minimum 10 students, maximum of 80 students.
*A la Carte
We are happy to talk to you about Powder Magazine field trips utilizing any combination of the above sites (Heyward Washington House and Old Exchange Building), as well as the Old Slave Mart Museum. Call or email us to discuss!