A Summer of Time: Toasting 250 Years of American History
Set in downtown Charleston, SC, one of only four cities designated by Congress as an official America 250 showcase city, this is The Ryder’s take on celebrating 250 years of American history. From May through July 2026, we’re doing it the Ryder way: warm nights, strong pours, and a social scene that feels more backyard bash than history lesson.
At the heart of it is a one-of-a-kind Drunk History Bar Crawl, created in partnership with Bulldog Tours. Guests hop between a hand-picked lineup of Charleston’s most storied bars, iconic spots with real ties to American history and the local culture that helped shape it. These aren’t just great places to drink. They’re legendary backdrops for good stories, laughter, and late nights you won’t forget.
When the night winds down, the celebration follows you back to The Ryder with a Time Capsule Turn-Down. Each evening, guests find a curated keepsake from a different decade of American history waiting in their room, paired with a pop-culture moment card that captures the spirit of that era.
The nostalgia doesn’t stop there. As part of the package, guests enjoy two drinks of choice from The Ryder Hotel’s Two-Fifty Menu, a playful lineup of large-format cocktails for two, each priced at $50. Inspired by childhood summers in the U.S., the menu pays tribute to classic American flavors with creations like Apple Pie Sangria and Spiked Root Beer Float.
Each stay also includes a Patriot Pajama Party set, created in partnership with Elby. Patriotic pajamas made for late-night lounging, post-crawl wind-downs, and heading home with something worth keeping.
Welcome to A Summer of Time at The Ryder, where every drink has a story, every night ends with new friends, and every stay feels like the kind of summer you never want to grow out of.
Charleston is one of only four cities designated by Congress as an official America 250 showcase city, the only one in the South, alongside Boston, Philadelphia, and New York. From the 1776 Battle of Sullivan’s Island at Fort Moultrie to the 2026 Heritage 250 festival at Marion Square, this city’s streets, forts, and bars hold more history than most places twice its size.
The Ryder Hotel sits at 237 Meeting Street, right in the middle of all of it. A Summer of Time is how we’re celebrating.
Package Includes:
- Two Tickets to Bulldog Tours Drunk History Bar Crawl ($500 value)
- Two $50 Share Cocktails (Apple Pie Sangria & Spiked Root beer float)
- Time Capsule Turn Down Service
- Patriotic Elby Pajamas
Rate is per room/per night, exclusive of taxes, gratuities, and other charges; rate does not apply to groups of 4 or more rooms per night; cannot be combined with any other offer. Offer is subject to availability and to change. Cancel by 4pm local time 72 hours prior to arrival to avoid penalty of one night’s room and tax. Early departure from reserved departure date will result in a charge of one additional night’s room and tax. Reservations must be guaranteed with a valid credit card. A temporary hold of $100 per night will be held at check in for any incidental charges during the stay. Any unused funds from this hold will be released at check out. Blackout dates may apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Drunk History Bar Crawl is a guided tour put together exclusively with Bulldog Tours, Charleston’s go-to tour operator. You’ll move through some of the city’s most storied bars, places with real ties to American history, with storytelling, laughs, and a great night out baked in. Two tickets are included with every Summer of Time package.
May through July 2026 at The Ryder Hotel, 237 Meeting Street, downtown Charleston, SC. It’s limited time and subject to availability. July 4th weekend tends to go fast, and this year more than most given it’s America’s 250th Independence Day.
Each evening your room gets a curated keepsake from a different decade of American history, alongside a pop-culture moment card from that same era. It’s something different every night, and it’s exclusive to the Summer of Time package at The Ryder.
Very much so. Charleston is one of only four cities officially designated by Congress as an America 250 showcase city, the only one in the South. In 2026 that means Heritage 250 at Marion Square, the Carolina Day ceremony at Fort Moultrie, and a city-wide July 4th waterfront fireworks celebration.
237 Meeting Street puts you steps from Marion Square where Heritage 250 runs, a short walk from Dock Street Theatre hosting the American Revolution Symposium and historian Rick Atkinson’s talk, and close to the waterfront for July 4th. Fort Moultrie is a short drive. Everything is close.