Marion Square (Charleston)
Encyclopedia
Marion Square is greenspace
in downtown Charleston, South Carolina
, spanning six and one half acres. The square was established as a parade ground for the state arsenal
under construction on the north side of the square. It is best known as the former Citadel Green because The Citadel
occupied the arsenal from 1843 until 1922, when the college moved to Charleston's Westside. The name was then changed to Marion Square, in honor of Francis Marion
.
The square is bounded by Calhoun, Meeting, Tobacco (a pedestrian only right-of-way that lies between the square and properties to the north) and King streets. The land is what remains from a 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) parcel conveyed to the colony
of South Carolina in 1758. The square is jointly owned by the Washington Light Infantry
and the Sumter Guards. It is operated as a public park under a lease by the city of Charleston. Under the terms of the lease, the center of the square is kept open as a parade ground. Marion Square is situated directly across from the historic Citadel Square Baptist Church, and the South Carolina State Arsenal (Old Citadel). The space is a favorite place for College of Charleston
students because of its proximity to campus.
The Square is the home to many monuments, including a Holocaust memorial and a statue of John C. Calhoun
atop a giant pillar. During the summer the square is also the home to a farmers market on Saturdays and various festivals such as the Food and Wine Festival and the renowned Spoleto Arts Festival
.
Open space reserve
Open space reserve, open space preserve, and open space reservation, are planning and conservation ethics terms used to describe areas of protected or conserved land or water on which development is indefinitely set aside...
in downtown Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
, spanning six and one half acres. The square was established as a parade ground for the state arsenal
Arsenal
An arsenal is a place where arms and ammunition are made, maintained and repaired, stored, issued to authorized users, or any combination of those...
under construction on the north side of the square. It is best known as the former Citadel Green because The Citadel
The Citadel (military college)
The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, also known simply as The Citadel, is a state-supported, comprehensive college located in Charleston, South Carolina, USA. It is one of the six senior military colleges in the United States...
occupied the arsenal from 1843 until 1922, when the college moved to Charleston's Westside. The name was then changed to Marion Square, in honor of Francis Marion
Francis Marion
Francis Marion was a military officer who served in the American Revolutionary War. Acting with Continental Army and South Carolina militia commissions, he was a persistent adversary of the British in their occupation of South Carolina in 1780 and 1781, even after the Continental Army was driven...
.
The square is bounded by Calhoun, Meeting, Tobacco (a pedestrian only right-of-way that lies between the square and properties to the north) and King streets. The land is what remains from a 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) parcel conveyed to the colony
Colony
In politics and history, a colony is a territory under the immediate political control of a state. For colonies in antiquity, city-states would often found their own colonies. Some colonies were historically countries, while others were territories without definite statehood from their inception....
of South Carolina in 1758. The square is jointly owned by the Washington Light Infantry
Washington Light Infantry
The Washington Light Infantry is a military and social organization located in Charleston, South Carolina. Founded in 1807, it is one of the oldest of these militia groups still active in the United States....
and the Sumter Guards. It is operated as a public park under a lease by the city of Charleston. Under the terms of the lease, the center of the square is kept open as a parade ground. Marion Square is situated directly across from the historic Citadel Square Baptist Church, and the South Carolina State Arsenal (Old Citadel). The space is a favorite place for College of Charleston
College of Charleston
The College of Charleston is a public, sea-grant and space-grant university located in historic downtown Charleston, South Carolina, United States...
students because of its proximity to campus.
The Square is the home to many monuments, including a Holocaust memorial and a statue of John C. Calhoun
John C. Calhoun
John Caldwell Calhoun was a leading politician and political theorist from South Carolina during the first half of the 19th century. Calhoun eloquently spoke out on every issue of his day, but often changed positions. Calhoun began his political career as a nationalist, modernizer, and proponent...
atop a giant pillar. During the summer the square is also the home to a farmers market on Saturdays and various festivals such as the Food and Wine Festival and the renowned Spoleto Arts Festival
Spoleto Festival USA
Spoleto Festival USA in Charleston, South Carolina, is one of the world's major performing arts festivals. It was founded in 1977 by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Gian Carlo Menotti, who sought to establish a counterpart to the Festival dei Due Mondi in Spoleto, Italy...
.