The Better Angels of Our Nature: Abraham Lincoln and the Outbreak of the Civil War

Members of our Director’s Club are invited to join Ashbrook in Charleston, S.C. for…

 

Fort Sumter

On April 12, 1861, the Confederacy fired on the Union garrison of Fort Sumter beginning the U.S. Civil War. Today, the walls of this island fortress still stand is home to historic civil war artillery pieces, a museum, and an iconic flagpole where tour groups get the opportunity to raise and lower the American Flag. Getting to Fort Sumter requires a short ferry ride where you will see the U.S.S Yorktown which was used in WWII, the Charleston skyline, and, if you’re lucky, dolphin escort. 

 

 

Boone Hall

Boone Hall Plantation was founded in 1681 when Englishman Major John Boone came to Charleston and established a lucrative plantation and home on the banks of Wampacheone Creek. The family and descendants of Major Boone were influential in the history of South Carolina, the colonies and the nation. In 1743, the son of Major John Boone planted live oak trees, arranging them in two evenly spaced rows.

 

This spectacular approach to his home

symbolizes Southern heritage and will take root in your memory for many years to come. It would take two centuries for the massive, moss-draped branches to meet overhead, forming today’s natural corridor and a scene that NBC Daytime television says is “a must see stop on any trip to Charleston, S.C.”

 

Historic Downtown Charleston

Shop for unique gifts in Charleston’s 4 block long market which is only a 5 minute walk from the hotel! Prefer to spend your time at a museum? Visit the Old Slave Mart Museum or tour the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon. You can also see where South Carolina ratified the U.S. Constitution on the second floor of the Old Exchange. Iconic Rainbow Row and the pineapple fountain are also not to be missed when exploring the city. 

 

 

Conversations with…

Ashbrook Teachers and Professors

 

Accommodations

We’re pleased to share that there is no registration fee for the 2025 Director’s Club Weekend if you register before March 22nd. Your meals, local transportation, and tours are included as a benefit of being a Director’s Club member. In order to secure the best rate for lodging, Ashbrook is reserving and paying for rooms directly and passing the savings on to you. The fee charged below is for one room for a two-night stay at the Mills House Hotel, checking in on May 16th and checking out on May 18th. Further lodging details will be sent to you upon registration. If you require additional nights, or an additional room or if you do not require lodging, please contact us at emodricker@ashbrook.org.

 

Register Now!

“The Better Angels of Our Nature: Abraham Lincoln and the Outbreak of the Civil War” May 16-18, 2025, Charleston, SC.

The last day to register is April 20, 2025. If you are a Director’s Club member already, register using the form below. If you register before March 22nd, there is no registration fee, only a payment for your lodging. *This event is exclusively for members of Ashbrook’s Director’s Club, who generously support our work with gifts of $1,000 or more annually. If you are not a Director’s Club member and wish to join, please contact Elizabeth Newman at directorsclub@ashbrook.org or (810) 701-7173 before registering.*