The handsome home of the Charleston Library Society was built on King Street in 1914, but the organization was founded far earlier. Now 273 year old, it was founded in 1748 and is the second oldest circulating library in the United States and the oldest cultural institution in the South.
Viva La France
A little bit of France on St. Michael’s Alley — which can be found just south of Broad Street in the Charlestowne neighborhood.
On Meeting
This wonderful entry is across Meeting Street from The South Carolina Society Hall, which was was built in 1804 as the home for a club that was founded in 1737 as “The Two Bit Club.” It later became the “South Carolina Society,” and its home was eponymously named.
Masked
This handsome house on Limehouse Street, built circa 1859, has a “masked” piazza — where the brick of the house extends past the actual house and shields the piazza from the street.
Bloomin’
This house on Murray Boulevard always has a wonderful floral display.
Charleston Museum
This is all that remains of the “old” Charleston Museum in Cannon Park. Fortunately, the contents were moved to the museum’s new location before it was consumed by fire. As it did in the old museum, the skeleton of a 40’4″ right whale hangs in the entry. In 1880, the whale had the misfortune of entering Charleston harbor where it was pursued and ultimately captured and brought ashore.
Reflecting
A cool window box and reflection on Atlantic Street.
Deep Purple
This beautiful wisteria is on the wall of 2 Water Street — a house built before 1818 by Nathaniel Ingraham, who sailed during the Revolutionary War with John Paul Jones on the famous Bon Homme Richard. Interestingly, the ship is named in honor of Benjamin Franklin. Richard was a pseudonym used by Franklin (think Poor Richard’s Almanac).
Church Street Beauty
The garden behind this cool wall on Church Street was designed by the famed landscape architect, Loutrel Briggs.
Pineapple Gardens
You can find this beautiful garden at the Simmons-Edwards House on Legare Street, which is popularly known as the Pineapple Gates House.