Welcome

Colonial Dorchester is an archaeological treasure and a walk into South Carolina’s past. The park is on the site of the town of Dorchester, which flourished from 1697 through the Revolutionary War.

The brick bell tower of St. George’s Anglican Church and a fort made of an oyster-shell concrete called tabby still stand at the town site. The remains of a log wharf, visible at low tide, are a reminder of the town’s role as a trading center. And just beneath the surface is one of the most complete archaeological records of colonial America, a time capsule that allows visitors to not just observe, but participate in unearthing an irreplaceable piece of the nation’s early history.

Colonial Dorchester offers visitors the rare opportunity to join with park staff in hands-on archaeology work. Their findings, combined with the extensive written record of the town’s history, provide a deeper understanding of life in Dorchester and a look into the process of archeological discovery as it takes place.