Charleston Tavern Tour

Specialties

Pubs, pirates, patriots, police, priests, prostitutes… Charleston’s history through the bottom of a glass!

Stroll with our pirates & colonial rogues to some of Charleston’s most popular taverns and hear unusual, but true, Charleston stories that you won’t hear on other history tours. Where else but Charles Towne would a clergy member get so drunk that he baptized a bear?



Discover why Charleston is not only steeped in history, but also steeped in spirits. Your period-​dressed guide regales you with stories of early drinking habits, Prohibition-​era criminals, and the historical oddities of the Holy City.

Along the way, guests of appropriate age can enjoy libations in the various taverns. Beverages are not included in the price of the tour… that would be against SC state law.

History

Established in 2009.

Our lead Charleston Tavern tour guide, Michael Coker, has been sharing Charleston history with visitors for years. One of Charleston’s most requested guides, Michael’s extensive knowledge and humor make his tours a special experience for his guests.

Meet the Manager

Michael C.

Manager

Author, historian, Charleston native, and pirate extraordinaire, Michael Coker, leads our Charleston Tavern Tour. Michael avidly researches Charleston’s history looking for those interesting details that turn a tour into much more than just a recital of dry facts.

Michael has served as the curator of the visual materials collection at the South Carolina Historical Society, written numerous articles for Charleston Magazine covering various topics of South Carolina history and co-​authored the S.C. Historical Society publication «Historic South Carolina — A Pictorial History. Michael also has two other books under his pirate belt: Charleston Curiosities: Stories of the Tragic, Heroic and Bizarre and The Battle of Port Royal. He is currently working on a new book, Arsenal of History– Charleston’s Old Powder Magazine.

Michael is a highly experienced guide. In fact, he helped write the City of Charleston’s Tour Guide Training Manual!