Old Slave Mart

The Old Slave Mart is an African American history museum housed in a former auction building from the 1850s on Chalmers Street in Charleston. The brick structure with Gothic details contains several exhibition rooms across two floors and a small courtyard.

The complex was built in 1859 as Ryan's Mart and served the trade of enslaved people until 1863. After the Civil War the building changed ownership several times and reopened as a museum in 2007.

The site preserves testimonies from the era of enslavement through personal belongings, written accounts, and recreated spaces showing how enslaved people lived and worked. Visitors encounter names, faces, and stories of families who were separated and sold in Charleston.

The museum stands in the pedestrian area of the old town, a few minutes from Market Street. The exhibition spreads across two stories with steep stairs and no elevator.

Some staff members descend from enslaved people who lived in Charleston and share these family connections during tours. The courtyard contains a well where people once waited before auctions.

Location: Charleston

Inception: 1859

Architectural style: Gothic Revival

Fee: Yes

Address: 6 Chalmers St, Charleston, SC 29401

Email: OSMM@charleston-sc.gov

Website: http://theoldslavemartmuseum.org

GPS coordinates: 32.77722,-79.93000

Latest update: December 14, 2025 00:41