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Explore Charleston’s 9 Porgy Houses: A Guided Tour of Historic African‑American Residences

This year’s Spoleto Festival USA is highlighted by the internationally acclaimed Porgy and Bess, a new production of George Gershwin’s opera inspired by Charleston businessman DuBose Heyward’s novel Porgy, the first major Southern novel to portray the lives of Charleston’s sea‑island culture.

Spoleto Festival USA invites you to honor Charleston’s soulful heritage by visiting The Porgy Houses—a curated series of nine residences that have been embellished with West‑African design motifs, echoing the final act of Porgy and Bess. Each dwelling has been chosen for its significance in African‑American history.

Ready to explore? Download your map to get started and dive deep into the roots of Gullah culture.

Explore Charleston’s 9 Porgy Houses: A Guided Tour of Historic African‑American Residences Explore Charleston’s 9 Porgy Houses: A Guided Tour of Historic African‑American Residences Explore Charleston’s 9 Porgy Houses: A Guided Tour of Historic African‑American Residences


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