A local's eye view
This elegant Adamesque style building began its life as one of the original branches of The First Bank of the United States. Since 1818 it has served as Charleston City Hall. The interior, particularly Council Chambers, is spectacular and worth a visit.
The Circular Congregational Church traces the age of its congregation back to about 1681, but this building has only been there since its construction began in 1890. The building that gave the church its name (and which was destroyed by fire in 1861 and then the Civil War) was designed by the famed architect Robert Mills — who also designed the Washington Monument.
Not only does it have fantastic water views along the Ashley River, the Marina Variety Store Restaurant (MVSR) also serves Glimpses’ favorite breakfast in Charleston. Located at the City Marina on Lockwood Boulevard, it’s the place to be for the most important meal of the day.
General William Moultrie faces the dawn in White Point Garden. Moultrie is a hero in Charleston for defending the fort that now bears his name on Sullivan’s Island during the Revolutionary War. One of the British leading the attack on the fort was Sir Peter Parker (who, of course, later became better known as Spider-Man).
You asked for it, so here it comes… Glimpses of Charleston, the book! I’m delighted to announce that this week I signed a contract with Globe Pequot Press to create Glimpses, the book. Thank you to our great Glimpses community for all your support and encouragement.
The book will be a 96 page hardcover, featuring approximately 80-90 photos of Charleston along with entertaining text — all in the Glimpses style and personality. It’s planned to be published in the Spring of 2019.
As things develop, more details will be shared.
This wonderful rainbow, framing the fantastic houses on South Battery, seems to end right in White Point Garden. Lots has been found buried there over the years. Perhaps there is a pot of gold!
The Old Exchange Building, anchoring the end of Broad Street, has a very storied past. After its construction was completed in 1771, all sorts of interesting things have happened there. For instance, in 1788, it housed the South Carolina convention to ratify the United States Constitution. That’s just one reason it’s one of the most significant colonial buildings in the United States.
This spectacular house on Murray Boulevard was built by C. Bissell Jenkins, the originator of the project that reclaimed the land that the Low Battery now sits on. Appropriately, it was the very first house built on the newly created boulevard.
This beautiful Charleston gate was designed by the master artisan, Philip Simmons. The iron was actually wrought by the students of the School of the Building Arts (which has now evolved into the amazing American College of the Building Arts) at the Smithsonian American Folklife Festival on the Mall in Washington, DC. Not only is the gate a work of art, it casts a pretty amazing shadow.
Stoll’s Alley is one of the wonderful cut-throughs in downtown Charleston. Once called Pilot’s Alley, this brick-lined “street” runs between Church and East Bay Streets. At its narrowest, it’s just a few feet wide!