West Ashley in Charleston in Charleston County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Postponed Aspirations
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 6, 2013
1. Postponed Aspirations Marker
Settlers came to Carolina seeking land and fortune. But fear of Spanish and Native American attacks made cautious businessmen out of them. For ten years, they postponed their dream of having a flourishing settlement at Oyster Point across the marsh from here, where deeper water was ideal for trade. They opted instead for the relative safety of Albemarle Point because the creek and marsh provided greater defense. These natural elements, however, limited their capacity for trade.
Once the settlement was firmly established, the colonists moved to Oyster Point and helped develop the port city known today as Charleston.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Settlements & Settlers.
Location. 32° 48.055′ N, 79° 58.959′ W. Marker is in Charleston, South Carolina, in Charleston County. It is in West Ashley. It can be reached from Old Town Plantation Road. Marker is located on the History Trail at Charles Towne Landing. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1500 Old Towne Road, Charleston SC 29407, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Lowcountry. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Deep South. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Trade, Profits and Support (within shouting distance of this marker); The Adventure, Trading Ketch (within shouting distance of this marker);
this page online
More about this marker. The background of the marker features a picture of ships near the city of Charleston. It has a caption of “The move to Oyster Point fulfilled the colonists dream of a flourishing port city.”
A map of the vicinity in the upper right of the marker compares the two sites. The caption is as follows:
“Albemarle Point / Old Charles Towne
Protected by marshes and narrow creek
Limited trade access
Easily defensible
Oyster Point / Charleston
High ground and deep water
Ideal location for port city
More exposed to attack”
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 6, 2013
2. Postponed Aspirations Marker
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 6, 2013
3. Marker at Charles Towne Landing
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 6, 2013
4. View from the Marker
The Oldtown Creek, seen here, provided the primary access to the Charles Towne settlement.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 19, 2013, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 739 times since then and 177 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 19, 2013, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.
