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Charleston quickly grew wealthy from its prosperous shipping and agricultural products and the community's cultural and social opportunities, especially for the elite business merchants, plantation owners and planters. In 1736, the first theater building in America was built in Charleston, but was later replaced by the 19th-century Planter's Hotel where wealthy planters played and stayed during Charleston's horse-racing season (now the Dock Street Theatre). Many different benevolent societies were established by several different ethnic groups: the South Carolina Society, founded by French Huguenots in 1737; the German Friendly Society, founded in 1766; and the Hibernian Society, founded by Irish immigrants in 1801. The Charleston Library Society was established in 1748 by a group of wealthy Charlestonians who wished to learn more about the scientific and philosophical issues of the day. In 1770, this group also helped establish the College of Charleston, the oldest college in South..

Also known as: Charleston Destinations