Charleston Pirate Tour
"You know you are on the right tour, when other tours stop to look at yours!"
​Eric and Sabrina Lavender, accompanied by their trusty companion parrots, lead you through the French Quarter and along the waterfront, exploring the oldest sections of the city, the Golden Age of Piracy and Charleston pirates.
A master storyteller, Eric doesn't just quote the facts and dates. Sabrina carries on the fine tradition of female pirates with a sense of humor almost as sharp as her sword. You'll feel like you're right in the middle of the action, as they share the stories of Blackbeard, Stede Bonnet, Charles Vane, Calico Jack Rackham, Anne Bonny, and Mary Read, along with the fascinating, true facts of pirate life.
We'll explore how and why Charleston went from pirate haven to pirate target and how piracy impacted Charleston and its economy.
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You'll be surprised at how many of today's common sayings have piratical roots. We can't say more, or we'd "let the cat out of the bag!"
This 2-hour walking tour will make you want to "go on account" and join the sweet trade.
Tour begins in the
Powder Magazine
at 79 Cumberland Street.
Some of the questions we'll answer on the pirate tour:
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Why did Blackbeard blockade the Charleston harbor?
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Was Blackbeard really born in the Charleston area?
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What did the notorious Anne Bonny do to her father before running away from Charleston to be a pirate?
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-Why did the Gentleman Pirate, Stede Bonnet, don a dress?
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Why did Anne Bonny & Mary Read dress as men?
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What was Calico Jack's connection to Charleston?
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Which pirates danced the hempen jig in White Point Gardens?
Charleston Pirate Tours offers guests the opportunity to visit two National Historic Landmarks, the Powder Magazine Museum (1713) and the Old Exchange Building and Provost Dungeon. Learn more about these fascinating buildings on our Museum Partners page.
All tours include admission to the Powder Magazine Museum, a National Historic Landmark and one of the oldest buildings in Charleston.
We have a partnership with the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon that saves you up to $5 per person on admission to the Exchange. If you would like to visit the Old Exchange, choose the the combination ticket.​​