01/02/2026
After closing out Charleston magazine’s big 50th anniversary year, we’re rolling into 2026 and an auspicious milestone—the 250th birthday for the United States. It’s a huge deal, and Charleston was selected by Congress and the America250 commission as a “lead city” for official commemorations, alongside Boston, Philadelphia, and New York, due to its significant role in the American Revolution.
That’s why we’re kicking off the New Year with a feature on our city’s Revolutionary past. In “The Road to Independence” (page 70), longtime journalist and history buff Jeff Wilkinson surveys Colonial Charlestown from 1763 to 1776 and some of the people and places integral to the pursuit of liberty. We’ve included sidebars on important sites as well as upcoming local events to attend throughout the year so you can plan how you want to mark the anniversary.
In addition, see how photographer Doug Hickok has captured centuries of the city’s ornamental ironwork in our “Shaping Place” photo essay. Happy New Year!
Start off 2026 by picking up a copy of our January issue at your favorite local newsstand or subscribe to our digital issue at charlestonmag.com.
Cover: Philip Simmons’s Egret Gate at Waterfront Park photographed by