Category: Photos - Page 13 - Glimpses of Charleston

Shopping?

King Street is one of the great shopping streets in the US, and has been frequently called the Rodeo Drive of the South.

Rainbow Row on East Bay Street is one of Charleston’s iconic sites (or should it be “sights?”). There are many apocryphal stories as to how the 13 buildings came by their pretty pastel colors — including that it was meant to be a visual aid to help drunk sailors remember where they were sleeping. The true story is that it was just a way to spruce up the area after it had become nasty and rundown and the buildings were being restored in the 1930’s and 40’s.

Old Exchange Building

The Old Exchange Building at the intersection of Broad and East Bay Streets is one of the most significant colonial buildings in the United States. Lots of important historical events have taken place there — including it being one of the four existing structures where the US constitution was ratified. In its interesting history, the bottom floor was even used by the British as a very unpleasant prison (The Provost Dungeon).

Dock Street Door

The stage door to the Dock Street Theatre looks good on this cool wall on Queen Street.

Barracks

The construction of the Unitarian Church building on Archdale Street began in 1772, but due to damage caused during the Revolutionary War it was not completed until 1787. During the war some of the damage came from being used as barracks for both the British and American forces (although not at the same time).

Behind the Swords

Past the famed gate, this beautiful entrance leads to the Sword Gate House on Legare Street. With over 17,000 square feet of living space, the selling price last year was $10 million.

CofC

Founded in 1770. the College of Charleston is the 13th oldest educational institution in the United States — and the oldest south of Virginia. And really pretty.

Framed

Some pretty cassia framing the wonderful Philadelphia Alley.

St. Michael’s

The beautiful St. Michael’s Church, at the corner of Meeting and Broad Streets, is the oldest church building in Charleston — opening in 1761. But, the original St. Philip’s Church was first on that site (dating back to the 1680’s) — moving to Church Street when they needed more room.

Baskets

The wonderful art that are Sweetgrass baskets originated in Africa and was brought over to the Lowcountry by enslaved Africans. The baskets were originally made from bulrushes, but eventually a switch was made to Sweetgrass which was more flexible — which allowed for more complicated designs to be created.