THE 36th ANNUAL MEETING OF THE
SOCIETY FOR SPANISH AND PORTUGUESE HISTORICAL STUDIES
Sponsored by the College of Charleston, Charleston, South
Carolina
March 10-13, 2005
HOTEL INFORMATION
Blocks of rooms have been reserved at two hotels for SSPHS members attending
this conference for the nights of Thursday March 10, Friday March 11, and
Saturday March 12. Both hotels are downtown on the peninsula
within walking distance of the College of Charleston campus, where our meetings
will take place.
The Weston Francis Marion Hotel is located at 387 King Street at
the corner of King and Calhoun Streets. It is one of the grand old hotels
in the city and is one block from the College of Charleston. Completely
refurbished and modernized several years ago, its rates for SSPHS members
are $149 per room for single or double occupancy. The fee for an additional
person is $25. Rooms must be booked before February 6, 2005 by calling
877-756-2121. You must identify yourself as a member of SSPHS to
receive this rate. Parking is available in a garage next to the hotel
for an additional daily fee of $10 (self-parking) or $15 (valet parking).
The Days Inn Charleston Historic District is located at 155 Meeting
Street near the intersection of Meeting and Queen Streets. As the name
claims, it is in the middle of the historic district of Charleston, about
six blocks, (and a very pleasant fifteen-minute walk) from the College of
Charleston campus. Rate for SSPHS members are $139 each night.
Members can call 1-866-683-8411 to make reservations before February 8,
2005. Parking is free at the Days Inn.
Please note that you must book your room before early February to receive
these rates, which do not include city and state taxes. After
the cut-off dates (above) the hotels will only be able to offer rooms on
a space available basis, at their rates current at that time (much more
expensive). March is a beautiful time of the year here. Consequently,
it is also very busy time in Charleston. I urge you to make your hotel
and airline (or other travel) reservations early.
Getting to/from Charleston
By air:
The airport is located about 10 miles (15-30 minutes away, depending on
traffic) from downtown Charleston. There is a shuttle service from
the airport, with departures every 15 minutes. For around $15-20,
they will deliver you to your hotel. There is also taxi service, which is
around $30. Departures using either service can be arranged from a
stand outside the baggage claim area of the airport. Your hotel will
assist you in arranging a shuttle/taxi for the return trip from your hotel
to the airport. The Charleston Airport is connected to the wider world
by a number of carriers. Both Delta and USAir have frequent daily flights
from Atlanta and Charlotte (respectively). A number of other carriers
(Continental, Independence, American) have flights to Charleston.
By train:
Amtrak serves Charleston on the main north-south line from New York and
Washington DC to Florida. Taxis are available at the train station in
North Charleston to take you to your hotel, about 8 miles away. The
cost is around $30.
By car:
Driving is another option for those members who live nearby in the South.
Charleston is at the eastern end of I-26 and about ten hours from Washington
DC, nine hours from Miami, six hours from Atlanta; and three and a half hours
from Charlotte.
Additional information (rental cars, currency exchange):
Cars can be rented at the airport, if desired. However, unless you
are planing to tour the area, you will not need a car while staying in the
historic area of Charleston. Parking is a problem anywhere on the peninsula,
especially in the historic areas near the College.
Members arriving from overseas are advised to obtain US dollars before
arriving in Charleston.
Charleston Area Attractions
Charleston was one of the major cities in British North America at the
time of US Independence. It has a
rich legacy
of revolutionary and pre-civil war era homes and plantations. Charleston
is also a serious restaurant town with a number of restaurants that annually
win national competitions.
For those who have not visited the city before, you will find that there
is a lot to do and see here. If you are able, you might consider
extending your stay in Charleston to see some of the sights listed below
or to tour the Carolina Lowcountry. Mid-March is one of our most
pleasant times of the year; the azaleas and other flowers are normally in
bloom and the heat has not usually arrived just yet.
There is a network of tourist trams (the DASH system) connecting the major
places of interest on the peninsula. Many of the historic sites on
the peninsula are within walking distance from the hotels.
Some sites of interest on or near the peninsula:
Fort Sumter National Monument
The Calhoun Mansion, a 24,000 square foot mansion in downtown Charleston
Beth-Elohim
Synagogue
, the second oldest in the United States
Edmondston-Alston
House
, one of many fine museum homes
The Charleston Museum
, America's oldest museum. Features a collection of history and arts of
the Carolina Lowcountry
The Gibbes Museum of Art
Off the peninsula, you will find a number of historic plantations, such
as:
Drayton Hall
Middleton Place
Charles Pinckney House
Detailed information about area attractions and restaurants will be
included in your registration folder. More information, as well as
city tours (highly recommended), are available at the Charleston Area Visitors'
Center on Meeting Street, between Ann and John Streets. See their
web site with additional information:
www.charlestoncvb.com
. There is also a travel itinerary for Historic Charleston on the website
of the National
Register of Historic Places
.