Scuba may seem more at home in Aruba, but some good thinking in doing some sinking has South Carolina's ocean bottom burgeoning with life. What was mostly sandy bottom has been greatly enhanced by the creation of artificial reefs, made up of everything from old U.S. Army tanks to former New York City subway cars. And altogether, the sunk junk has paid off in attracting formerly unfathomable finds in fins and flippers.

The Swamp Fox, the Fighting Gamecock, the Wizard Owl, and Old Danger were militia leaders who essentially won the Revolutionary War in the South. Few realize how important South Carolina was in the Revolution and that more than 200 battles and skirmishes occured here. The key to patriot victory was the corps of clever militia leaders such as Francis Marion, Thomas Sumter, Andrew Pickens, and William Thomson, who saved the day for the American side.

Off-the-wall, odd balls, odd halls, odd calls have all given Charleston a full tank of cranks, pranks and eccentricities. Charleston is historically unique, with a distinctive culture affected by its diverse melting pot and its significant role America's colonial, antebellum and modern history. There's no place like Charleston, and here are some reasons why.

Fights against boozing were always a recipe for losing in the Charleston area, despite some inventive efforts to make this waterfront city high and dry. Charleston has been through several eras of prohibition, and was the last state to use the mini-bottle. But no matter what methods were made to curb imbibing, spirits in Charleston were always thriving.

Shaping Charleston's character has largely been by design that durable and curable, in the form of clay beds turned to brick, lime and sand mixed as stucco, and a panorama of pastels that is the most photographed in town. Rainbow Row is one of the historic city's most acclaimed names, and in its multi-colored majesty, tells how its famous facades have become a major must for visitors.

The origins of our curious collection of coastal cognomens come from a diversity of backgrounds and cultures, and often offer and energetic exercise in elocution. The diversity of backgrounds in Charleston and surrounding coastal South Carolina since its colonial beginnings has produced some very unusual names that often are as confusing as they are amusing.

With street names such as Ropermakers Lane, Charleston's weaving wonders have a common thread in the talents of fingers nimble with shuttle and thimble. The origins of our curious collection of coastal cognomens come from a diversity of backgrounds and cultures, and often offer and energetic exercise in elocution. The diversity of backgrounds in Charleston and surrounding coastal South Carolina since its colonial beginnings has produced some very unusual names that often are as confusing as they are amusing

Charleston is historically picturesque, with a collage of captivating colors in its streetscape and landscape. Enhancing the eye appeal has come in various forms and methods that manipulated light to magnify the delight of the site. Methods in beautifying through paint, photography and glass involved some of the most famous names in American history, such as Samuel F. B. Morse and Louis Comfort Tiffany, all of whom had a hand in making the city so grand.

Discover Charleston in edifying, entertaining video tour with 9th-generation South Carolinian and Charleston native Michael Trouche.

Charleston is virtually surrounded by ocean, rivers and creeks, all of which have played important roles in the city's history. Among the water wonders was the world's first successul submarine, The Hunley, as well as monuments to marine manipulation in the form of harbor jetties, colonial canals, and hydro-electric dams and locks.