When considering historic places in the Holy City, most people probably think of the charming homes and cobblestone streets of Charleston’s downtown Historic District. A stroll around downtown Charleston leaves most in awe of its charm and allure. However, there’s a historic South Carolina park that’s a mere 3.8 miles north of Charleston’s White Point Garden (which is famously known as The Battery) and it holds a wealth of intriguing history.
Hampton Park, located on the upper peninsula, is a hidden gem even many of the locals tend to overlook.
But this historic park — and the ground on which it sits — holds much hidden history that remains under the radar, except to enthusiastic historians who love to tell its story.
The rich history traces all the way back to 1792 at the opening of Washington Race Course, a ritzy racetrack that remained open until 1882, although there were probably years during the Civil War when the races were suspended.
That's because the Grandstand (pictured here) and the interior of the race course were converted into a giant outdoor POW camp and used to hold prisoners of war from the Union during the Civil War.
Advertisement
But there was a problem with this makeshift POW camp that had opened near the end of the war, and 258 Union soldiers got sick and died. Fearing widespread disease, the Confederate soldiers manning the camp buried them all in a mass grave behind the building.
After the war ended, 28 former slaves marched to the race course, opened the mass grave, and moved the bodies to individual graves — giving them each a proper burial. A photo of the cemetery is shown here. Later, they returned with scores of people to hold the first-ever Decoration Day in observance of the lives lost during the war. Over time, that first Decoration Day in Charleston evolved into an observance of those lost in any conflict and is now known as Memorial Day.
Around 1871, the graves of the Union soldiers were reinterred in the Beaufort National Cemetery.
Advertisement
By 1900, the area now known as Hampton Park was being readied for the first ever (and only) South Carolina Inter-State and West Indian Exposition. Additional land was donated by a local and a total of 240 acres along the riverfront were prepared for an exposition meant to be as grand as a World Expo.
The expo opened in December 1901 and closed in June 1902, having failed miserably. In total, 1.2 million dollars was spent on the expo (grand buildings, gardens, fountains, grandstands, etc. were constructed), but attendance was not as expected.
This vintage photo shows the main garden area of the expo, with its grand reflection pool, elaborate statues, and extensive plantings. The bandstand is seen at top right.
The bandstand from the above vintage photo still remains in Hampton Park, although it's been moved from the original location. It's a beloved part of the park and the site of many weddings held here each year.
Mary Murray Drive, a one-mile, one-way road that circles the park, is said to be precisely where the track for Washington Race Course was located.
On your visits to Charleston, have you ventured over to Hampton Park? And did you already know any of the fantastic hidden past of this historic South Carolina location?
Hampton Park is maintained by the City of Charleston. It’s open from dawn to dusk. The park features picnic tables, walking paths, a playground, a bike path, and restrooms. Entrance to the park is free. Learn more at this link.
Address: 30 Mary Murray Drive, Charleston, SC, 29403
Love uncovering the hidden history behind your favorite places? For the untold stories behind Charleston’s White Point Gardens, keep reading here!
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
