Legacy

Before shrimp and grits became synonymous with Charleston cuisine, a free Black entrepreneur named Charles C. Leslie was reshaping the city's entire seafood industry. Born poor in present-day Mt. Pleasant in the mid-1800s, Leslie built a wholesale seafood empire, championed species once dismissed as “trash fish,” and became one of Charleston's wealthiest Black businessmen — leaving a legacy written into the city's food culture, its historic architecture, and the scientific record. This is his story.

Standing at 200 feet tall, and nearly 200 years old, St. Phillip's Church is truly an icon of Charleston. The National Historic Landmark has an enduring legacy of resilience, so when the city saw scaffolding surround its historic spire, our team took the opportunity to learn more and discovered an incredible example of stewardship and preservation.