1|Page
CHARLESTON TOUR GUIDE ACTUAL
EXAM PREP 2026 QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS
ALREADY A GRADED WITH EXPERT
FEEDBACK |NEW AND REVISED
When did Catholicism come to Charles Town? - ANSWER- c. 1786,
when an Italian priest arrived in the port and celebrated Mass in the
home of an Irish Catholic along with eleven others. Catholicism wasn't
officially accepted until after the revolution. The first Catholic church in
the Carolinas was St. Mary of the Annunciation in 1789.
What religious/regional groups made up the original congregation of the
Circular Church? - ANSWER- Scottish Presbyterians, French
Huguenots, English Congregationalists, and other Protestants from
Ireland
What is the St. Andrews Society? - ANSWER- formed in 1729 by a
number of Scots, named after the patron saint of Scotland who is also
associated with unconditional charity. It is the oldest St. Andrew's
Society in the United States.
What is the German Friendly Society? - ANSWER- founded in 1766 by
members of St. John's Lutheran Church. Membership is not restricted to
people of German descent
,2|Page
What is the Brown Fellowship Society? - ANSWER- founded in 1790
by several free black men from St. Philip's Church. They worked
primarily to support members during difficult times and provide
education for young black children.
What is the Humane Brotherhood? - ANSWER- founded in 1843 as an
offshoot of the Brown Fellowship Society, composed of black freedmen.
In what years did earthquakes hit Charleston? - ANSWER- 1698
(shortly after a smallpox epidemic); 1886 (killed nearly 100)
In what years did hurricanes hit Charleston? - ANSWER- 1699 (around
the same time as the first yellow fever epidemic which claimed almost
200 lives); 1752 (two within a few weeks of each other); 1813; 1822;
1886; 1893; 1911; 1940; 1959 (Gracie); 1989 (Hugo)
When did the Great Fires occur? - ANSWER- 1740 (burnt nearly half
the city); 1778; 1796 (East Bay to Meeting; Broad and Cumberland most
damaged); 1838 (145 acres, nearly 1,000 buildings)l 1861 (worst fire,
diagonal from Cooper to Ashley)
When was the first public library in the US established and by whom? -
ANSWER- Anglican missionaries founded the Charles Town library in
1697. On Nov. 16, 1700 the Colonial Assembly elected to fund it,
making it a public library. It was in operation until 1714.
,3|Page
What was the first opera performed in the US? - ANSWER- "Flora, or
Hob in the Well", put on in Shepheard's Tavern 1735
What were the two other walled cities in North America? - ANSWER-
St. Augustine under Spain and Quebec under France. Charles Town was
the only English walled city in North America.
What was the first building in the US created solely for use as a theater?
What was its opening performance? - ANSWER- The New Theater
(now the Dock Street Theater); "The Recruiting Officer"
What was America's first musical organization and in what year was it
created? - ANSWER- St. Cecilia Society, 1762
What was the first museum in America? - ANSWER- The Charleston
Museum, first organized in 1773 by the Charlestown Library Society
When was the chamber of commerce established? - ANSWER- 1773. It
is the oldest chamber of commerce in the US
In what year was the College of Charleston founded? What year was it
incorporated? - ANSWER- 1770, 1785
What is unique about the College of Charleston? - ANSWER- It is the
oldest municipal college in the US
, 4|Page
Who was the first US vice president to resign? - ANSWER- John C.
Calhoun, under Andrew Jackson 1829
How long was the longest railroad in the world in 1833? - ANSWER-
136 miles. It ran from Charleston to Hamburg, outside Savannah, GA.
What is significant about the 1931 zoning ordinance? - ANSWER- it
created the nation's first historic district
What significant contribution to desegregation occurred in Charleston in
1959? - ANSWER- Mayor J. Palmer Gaillard integrated the Charleston
Municipal Golf Course, making it the first integrated municipal facility
in the US.
What is the oldest Jewish burial ground in North America? - ANSWER-
Coming Street cemetery, now owned by Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim
What is the oldest Jewish charitable society in the US? - ANSWER-
Hebrew Benevolent Society, or Hebra Gemilut Hasadim ("Society for
Deeds of Loving Kind"), formed 1784
What is currently housed on the site of the original settlement at
Albemarle Point? - ANSWER- Charles Towne Landing State Park
Who was the first governor of South Carolina? - ANSWER- William
Sayle; he selected the site at Oyster Point, but died before the settlement
was relocated there
CHARLESTON TOUR GUIDE ACTUAL
EXAM PREP 2026 QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS
ALREADY A GRADED WITH EXPERT
FEEDBACK |NEW AND REVISED
When did Catholicism come to Charles Town? - ANSWER- c. 1786,
when an Italian priest arrived in the port and celebrated Mass in the
home of an Irish Catholic along with eleven others. Catholicism wasn't
officially accepted until after the revolution. The first Catholic church in
the Carolinas was St. Mary of the Annunciation in 1789.
What religious/regional groups made up the original congregation of the
Circular Church? - ANSWER- Scottish Presbyterians, French
Huguenots, English Congregationalists, and other Protestants from
Ireland
What is the St. Andrews Society? - ANSWER- formed in 1729 by a
number of Scots, named after the patron saint of Scotland who is also
associated with unconditional charity. It is the oldest St. Andrew's
Society in the United States.
What is the German Friendly Society? - ANSWER- founded in 1766 by
members of St. John's Lutheran Church. Membership is not restricted to
people of German descent
,2|Page
What is the Brown Fellowship Society? - ANSWER- founded in 1790
by several free black men from St. Philip's Church. They worked
primarily to support members during difficult times and provide
education for young black children.
What is the Humane Brotherhood? - ANSWER- founded in 1843 as an
offshoot of the Brown Fellowship Society, composed of black freedmen.
In what years did earthquakes hit Charleston? - ANSWER- 1698
(shortly after a smallpox epidemic); 1886 (killed nearly 100)
In what years did hurricanes hit Charleston? - ANSWER- 1699 (around
the same time as the first yellow fever epidemic which claimed almost
200 lives); 1752 (two within a few weeks of each other); 1813; 1822;
1886; 1893; 1911; 1940; 1959 (Gracie); 1989 (Hugo)
When did the Great Fires occur? - ANSWER- 1740 (burnt nearly half
the city); 1778; 1796 (East Bay to Meeting; Broad and Cumberland most
damaged); 1838 (145 acres, nearly 1,000 buildings)l 1861 (worst fire,
diagonal from Cooper to Ashley)
When was the first public library in the US established and by whom? -
ANSWER- Anglican missionaries founded the Charles Town library in
1697. On Nov. 16, 1700 the Colonial Assembly elected to fund it,
making it a public library. It was in operation until 1714.
,3|Page
What was the first opera performed in the US? - ANSWER- "Flora, or
Hob in the Well", put on in Shepheard's Tavern 1735
What were the two other walled cities in North America? - ANSWER-
St. Augustine under Spain and Quebec under France. Charles Town was
the only English walled city in North America.
What was the first building in the US created solely for use as a theater?
What was its opening performance? - ANSWER- The New Theater
(now the Dock Street Theater); "The Recruiting Officer"
What was America's first musical organization and in what year was it
created? - ANSWER- St. Cecilia Society, 1762
What was the first museum in America? - ANSWER- The Charleston
Museum, first organized in 1773 by the Charlestown Library Society
When was the chamber of commerce established? - ANSWER- 1773. It
is the oldest chamber of commerce in the US
In what year was the College of Charleston founded? What year was it
incorporated? - ANSWER- 1770, 1785
What is unique about the College of Charleston? - ANSWER- It is the
oldest municipal college in the US
, 4|Page
Who was the first US vice president to resign? - ANSWER- John C.
Calhoun, under Andrew Jackson 1829
How long was the longest railroad in the world in 1833? - ANSWER-
136 miles. It ran from Charleston to Hamburg, outside Savannah, GA.
What is significant about the 1931 zoning ordinance? - ANSWER- it
created the nation's first historic district
What significant contribution to desegregation occurred in Charleston in
1959? - ANSWER- Mayor J. Palmer Gaillard integrated the Charleston
Municipal Golf Course, making it the first integrated municipal facility
in the US.
What is the oldest Jewish burial ground in North America? - ANSWER-
Coming Street cemetery, now owned by Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim
What is the oldest Jewish charitable society in the US? - ANSWER-
Hebrew Benevolent Society, or Hebra Gemilut Hasadim ("Society for
Deeds of Loving Kind"), formed 1784
What is currently housed on the site of the original settlement at
Albemarle Point? - ANSWER- Charles Towne Landing State Park
Who was the first governor of South Carolina? - ANSWER- William
Sayle; he selected the site at Oyster Point, but died before the settlement
was relocated there
