Summerville 
Walking the Ville 
- Historic Downtown Tour 

About the Tour


Beginnings:
Not far from the ocean, close to the Ashley River, and covered with towering pine trees, the land on which Summerville sits was a haven waiting to be discovered for centuries. In the late 1600s, it was first the pioneering puritans from the North who settled in the nearby colony of Dorchester and later by summering wealthy Charlestonians. Seeking a place to escape the oppressive heat and mosquitoes of the hotter months, the city dwellers found refuge in the forested ridge of Summerville, and felt rejuvenated by the scent of the surrounding pines. Later, in 1888, the International Congress of Physicians declared the town one of two of the best places in the world for treatment and recovery of lung diseases, and word quickly spread that Summerville was the place to go for a health retreat. The distinction brought scores of new visitors to the area seeking to breathe clean air and improve their health, benefitting the local economy greatly, as opulent inns and guesthouses welcomed presidents, celebrities, and vacationeers to the "Flower Town in the Pines." 
Join us as we Walk the Ville and discover the past with 13 stops on the Historic Downtown Tour.  



13 Historic Downtown Buildings to Explore

Where to Begin: 
Begin at the Summerville Museum located at 100 E Doty St.
 Parking information here  
The tour is a self-guided walking tour.  
If you would like a private tour with a historian, inquire at the Museum.  
 

Download Printable Map

Interactive Tour Map

Where to Begin: 

Begin at the Summerville Dorchester Museum located at 104 E Doty St.
 Parking information here  
The tour is a self-guided walking tour. 

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