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• Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon

The Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon, built in 1771, reflected the wealth and importance of Charles Towne as a bustling and prosperous seaport. The building has been a Charleston landmark for almost 250 years, and today is a non-profit historic site focusing on the American Revolution and colonial Charleston. During the American Revolution, British forces used the basement of the building as a military prison, also called Provost or Dungeon. This space was used to house American prisoners of war, British soldiers and enslaved individuals. 

In 1788, the Exchange hosted South Carolina leaders as they debated and approved the U.S. Constitution. Today, the Old Exchange Building is one of only four structures remaining where the nation’s founding document was originally ratified.

In 1791, George Washington spent a week in Charleston on his southern tour. The Exchange was the site of lavish dinners, concerts, and a fancy dress ball attended by Washington. 

Today, visitors to the Exchange and Provost Dungeon can view the Half-Moon Battery, the only standing portion of the original Charles Town city wall open for public viewing.

Admission to the Old Exchange includes a self-guided exhibition on the top two floors of the building and a 25 minute guided tour of the bottom floor cellar, otherwise known as the Provost Dungeon.  Most visitors spend between 45 minutes and 1 hour on site, though guests are welcome to take as much or as little time as they like exploring the self-guided exhibition.

Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon Photos

Click Photos to Enlarge

Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon Hours and Admission

Hours:   Open Mon. - Sat. 9 am - 5 pm Sun. 11 am - 5 pm Closed New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day Dungeon tours begin every half hour from 9:30 am - 5 pm

Admission: Adults (13+) $15 Child (7-12) $8 Children 6 and under Free

Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon Address and Map

Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon 122 E Bay St Charleston SC 29401 Old Exchange Website

Current and Upcoming Events at the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon

No Events Currently Scheduled.

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Home » Ghost Tour Locations » Charleston » Dungeon

Want to learn more about the Eerie Past behind the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon? Check out US Ghost Adventures Haunted Tour of Charleston.

Though Charleston is as old as the original thirteen colonies, dating back to the 17th century, its culture today is as thriving and vibrant as ever. 

What continues to elude notice, however, is the dark and haunted side of Charleston. Its bloody past clouds its otherwise bright and busy streets. 

Charleston’s seaport, located strategically for both trade and battle, has always attracted traumatic wartime activity. Whether due to the battles on its shores or the slave trade that gave the city its wealth and prominence, historic Charleston is a hub of gruesome activity. 

If you find yourself drawn to the more chilling aspects of Charleston’s seaport history on your ventures, then the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon should be your next stop. 

The Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon is far more than just an old trading post in Charleston’s city center. The iconic structure is also a marker of some of the most disturbing chapters in Charleston’s haunted past.

Historic Trading Post or Haunted Dungeon?

If one were to visit the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon today, it would be hard to picture the full extent of the disturbing activities that transpired there only a little more than a century ago. 

The ornate Georgian structure is deceptive, hiding the fact that the building was a major trading post for slaves brought in through Charleston’s harbor. They say ghosts linger when their deaths transpired in the worst circumstances, and nothing was more horrifying than the Atlantic slave trade that trafficked so many through Charlotte’s ports. 

In addition, it also housed prisoners of war, pirates, and some of the city’s most sinister criminals. 

Because so many were unfortunate enough to have died in its confines, countless ghosts are reputed to be wandering the halls of the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon. Floating orbs, inexplicable cold drafts, and distant screaming that can’t be traced are common occurrences in the holds. 

Though the building itself is beautiful, experiences inside the walls of the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon are known to be far eerier than its facade implies.

Haunted Charleston, SC 

If you’d like to experience more such chilling ghost lore surrounding the Dungeon and other spooky sites, join US Ghost Adventures on a   haunted tour of Charleston . The Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon is just one of many haunted spots that tell the story of this historic city. 

About US Ghost Adventures

Since 2013, US Ghost Adventures has offered entertaining, historic, and authentic ghost tours of America’s most haunted cities. We deliver fun yet honest accounts of hauntings across the nation for curious people of all ages. Our ghost stories are based on historical research, but that doesn’t mean they won’t send a chill down your spine.

This video gives you a small taste of what you might experience on your ghost tour — subscribe to our YouTube Channel for more.

US Ghost Adventures also offers virtual tours, a self-guided mobile app, and an Alexa voice app.

Also See Other Haunted Locations

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Visit the Old Exchange Building and Provost Dungeon

This post provides details about how to visit the Old Exchange Building and Provost Dungeon in Charleston. We’ll include information about ticket prices, tours, and the best ways to save money on this attraction.

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WHAT IS THE OLD EXCHANGE AND PROVOST DUNGEON?

Built in the 1760s, the Old Exchange Building and Provost Dungeon was and still is a public building – first as a customs house, then an exchange, barracks, and prison.

This architectural highlight in historic Charleston is not only a glimpse into the city’s past, but also it’s grim and sordid past. 

According to some, the tortured souls of slaves sold at the market and the prisoners left chained to its dungeons walls through disease, famine and floods have left a presence here.

Entrance to the building includes a self-guided visit to the museum on two floors and a docent-led tour on one floor. The docent tour is about 30 minutes long.

There are a few different ways to get tickets for the Old Exchange Building and Provost Dungeon, including some deals we will cover in our discount section .

Here are the prices for general admission:

• $12/Adults | $5/Children & Students
• Kids 6 and under get in for free.

The Old Exchange Building and Provost Dungeon are open from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm from Mon-Sat and from 11:00 am - 5:00 pm on Sunday, but there are also after-hours tours you can take which are included with certain tours that we detail below.

Learn more here

This section includes details about tours which include a trip to the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon. We’ll cover information about the type of tour, when it takes place, ticket prices and more.

Bulldog Tours

This company offers a variety of tours in Charleston including their Ghost and Dungeon Walking Tour. On this outing, you’ll visit several notable locations including the Provost Dungeon!

The tour itself lasts for a total of 1 ½ hours, with about a 20 minute stop at the Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon. 

While this location typically closes at 5 pm, these tour groups are given the opportunity to visit after dark between the hours of 7 pm - 9 pm.

Although you won’t spend much time there, it’s nice to see the dungeon after the sun goes down and without worrying about crowds!

• $37/Adults | $27/Children (4-12)
• Availability: Tue - Sat
• Hours: 7 pm & 9 pm
• Purchase tickets or learn more .

TIP: Admission to this tour is included with the Charleston Tour Pass, which we cover in greater detail under our discount section .

If you’re interested in learning more about the potentially haunted history of this city, make sure to read our Charleston ghost tours post.

DISCOUNTS AND DEALS

The following section provides information about how to save money on admission to the Old Exchange Building and Provost Dungeon, including details about tourist passes and other discount opportunities.

Tourist Pass

If you’re planning to visit a lot of different attractions in Charleston, you may want to consider purchasing a tourist pass to save some money .

The Old Exchange Building and Provost Dungeon are included with the Charleston Tour Pass, as is the Ghost and Dungeon Walking Tour from Bulldog Tours.

This is an all-inclusive pass that provides admission to over 40 different activities for a specific amount of time (1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 days).

Here are a few of the other services included with this tourist pass:

• Historic City Bus Tour | $25
• Speedboat Adventure | $75
• Boone Hall Plantation | $24
• Palmetto Carriage Tour | $28
• Charleston Tea Plantation | $12
• Aiken-Rhett House Museum | $12
• Old Slave Mart Museum | $8
• Powder Magazine Site | $6
• Charleston Harbor Tour | $30
• Drayton Hall Plantation | $32
• McLeod Plantation | $15
• Fort Sumter Tour | $24

Depending on how you use the pass, you could save anywhere from 10% - 50% off general admission prices – or more!

The best way to save money with this pass is by using it for as many activities as possible.

For more details, make sure to read our post covering Charleston tourist passes .

Old Slave Mart Combo Pass

If you combine your tickets to the Old Exchange Building and Provost Dungeon with admission to the Old Slave Mart Museum, you can save money on both.

The combo pass will save you approximately $3, so it’s not the best discount, but it’s a pretty good deal nonetheless.

• $15/Adults | $11/Seniors | $8/Children
• Only available on-site at the ticket booth.

Don’t forget that both of these locations are included with the Charleston tour pass , which is another way to save money on both attractions.

Discount Sites

It’s not uncommon to find outings such as those offered by Bulldog Tours on discount sites like Groupon and Living Social .

In addition to whatever deals they may be offering to begin with, these sites also typically provide coupon codes to help you save an extra 20% - 30% off local activities.

Before you make any purchases, make sure to check both the top and bottom of the page for a banner that may include a coupon.

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Old Exchange and Provosts Dungeon

South carolina.

122 E Bay St Charleston , SC 29401 United States

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The "Old Exchange" was a symbol of the importance of Charleston as a harbor in the Southern Colonies prior to the revolution, and it maintained its significance well after independence. Use as storage and an "exchange" for imported and exportable goods, the warehouse was used as a dungeon for Patriot forces captured during the fall of Charleston. After the war, it was used by the government of South Carolina to debate the ratification of the US constitution. 

The building is available for self-guided tours, and also allows access to the half-moon battery which defended the harbor against British invasion.

Old Exchange and Provosts Dungeon: What's Nearby

Rev War   |   Museum Old Exchange and Provosts Dungeon Charleston, SC

Rev War   |   Battlefield Charleston Charleston, SC

Civil War   |   Battlefield Fort Sumter Battlefield Charleston, SC

Civil War   |   Battlefield Fort Wagner Battlefield Charleston, SC

Civil War   |   Museum Medal of Honor Museum Mount Pleasant, SC

Fort Fort Johnson Charleston, SC

Civil War   |   Battlefield Secessionville Battlefield Charleston, SC

Rev War   |   Battlefield Sullivan’s Island Sullivan's Island, SC

Civil War   |   Fort Fort Moultrie Sullivan's Island, SC

Civil War   |   Historic Site Fort Sumter National Monument Sullivan's Island, SC

Rev War   |   Battlefield Breach Inlet Sullivan's Island

Related Battles

The battlefields today.

Visit Charleston

Completed in 1771, the Old Exchange Building is a Charleston landmark and the site of some of the most important events in South Carolina history. Over the last two and a half centuries, the building has been a commercial exchange, custom house, post office, city hall, military headquarters, and museum.

Previously the property of the british, united states, confederate, and charleston city governments, the old exchange building is today owned by the south carolina state society of the daughters of the american revolution and operated by the city of charleston., visit us and discover:.

The Provost Dungeon

During the American Revolution, British forces converted the bottom floor of the Exchange into a military prison known as the Provost or “dungeon.” American prisoners of war, British soldiers, private citizens, and enslaved people all endured its harsh confines.

George Washington's Southern Tour

In 1791, city leaders entertained President George Washington at the Exchange with a series of lavish dinners, concerts, and dances, attended by hundreds of members of Charleston’s elite.

The Ratification of the United States Constitution

Previously a meeting place for local Patriots, the Exchange in 1788 hosted South Carolina leaders as they debated and approved the U. S. Constitution. Today, the Old Exchange Building is one of only four structures remaining where the nation’s founding document was originally ratified.

The Domestic Slave Trade

Between the American Revolution and the Civil War, the Exchange was Charleston’s most common destination for public slave auctions, making the site one of the most important in the history of the domestic slave trade.

The Half-Moon Battery

Finished in 1701 and excavated from underneath the Old Exchange Building in 1965, the Half-Moon Battery is the only standing portion of the original Charles Town city wall that is open for public viewing.

Architecture

One of the country’s premiere examples of Georgian-Palladian design, the Exchange was constructed from the finest materials available as a symbol of colonial Charles Town’s wealth and power.

“In our society, it is accepted that we set aside homes where great men are born, but in this house, South Carolina was born.”

Hobart G. Cawood, speaking at Old Exchange rededication (1981)

Your ticket for: History