The Citadel

Having lived near Catterick Garrison in the UK - currently the largest British Army garrison in Europe - I'm somewhat used to driving about the place and seeing military personnel at their posts - or being at the local supermarket and seeing a couple of army guys wandering about in uniform. Whilst this is not exactly the case here in Charleston, it is often a familiar sight to see cadets in uniform walking about in groups - particularly at the weekend - or, as often seems to be the case, in large groups at the laundrette taking over a good number of washing machines. The reason for this is due to the presence of the Citadel - the Military College of South Carolina - here in Charleston.

The Citadel first came into being in the 1800s - when in 1822, South Carolina Legislature passed an "Act to establish an competent force to act as a Municipal Guard for the protection of the city of Charleston and the vicinity,". An arsenal and guard house was selected from the land of the North end of Marion Square - now in the heart of downtown Charleston and construction on the Citadel was completed in 1829.In 1842, an act was passed establishing the South Carolina Military Academy and so the Citadel (and it's counterpart in Colombia - the Arsenal) became an educational facility. It is somewhat renowned for high academics and strict military discipline. Of course, the Citadel is no longer in downtown Charleston as despite numerous building additions, it could accommodate only 325 students. So, in 1918, the City of Charleston gave the State 176 acres on the banks of the Ashley River for a new campus and the college moved there in 1922. However, the original Citadel building still remains downtown and is now an hotel - the Embassy Suites (i stayed there when i came for my interview in Feb 2005) - somewhere to think about staying if you plan on visiting.