Marion Square

MARION SQUARE

 

NAMED IN HONOR OF

 

GENERAL FRANCIS MARION

 

AT THE TIME OF THE REVOLUTION THE TOWN GATES STOOD NEAR THIS SPOT ACROSS WHAT IS NOW KING STREET, ORIGINALLY THE HIGH WAY INTO CHARLES TOWN AND FORMERLY CALLED THE "BROAD PATH. IN 1780 THESE GATES WERE ENCLOSED IN THE "HORN-WORK THE POST OF HONOR IN THE CITY'S LAND DEFENSES EXTENDING FROM RIVER TO RIVER AND KNOWN AS "THE LINES". THE "TOBACCO INSPECTION-WAREHOUSES ESTABLISHED FOR THE INSPECTION AND STORAGE OF TOBACCO BEFORE EXPORTATION- STOOD NORTH OF THE SQUARE BETWEEN TOBACCO AND HUTSON STREETS. THE BUILDINGS NOW ON THAT SITE INCLUDE THE ARSENAL, ERECTED FOR THE MUNICIPAL GUARD AFTER THE ATTEMPTED SLAVE UPRISING OF 1822, AND SUBSEQUENTLY NAMED THE "CITADEL IN 1842 THEY WERE OCCUPIED BY THE SOUTH CAROLINA MILITARY ACADEMY. IN 1937 THESE BUILDINGS WERE CONVERTED INTO COUNTY OFFICES. CEDED IN 1833 TO THE FIELD OFFICERS OF THE FOURTH BRIGADE, THE SQUARE WAS AND STILL IS HELD AS A PUBLIC MALL AND A PARADE GROUND. IT. HAS LONG BEEN KNOWN AS THE "CITADEL GREEN".

 

ERECTED BY THE CITY OF CHARLESTON 1941