A local's eye view
Built in 1761-1771, the Old Exchange Building on East Bay Street is one of the most important colonial era buildings in Charleston, and the United States. Many important things have happened in its halls over time, but one of the most significant is that it is where the first local reading of the Declaration of Independence took place.
Anchored on the Meeting Street end by the elegant Market Hall, the City Market is unusually quiet during the coronavirus pandemic. Designed by the famed Charleston architect E. B. White and built in 1841, Market Hall has some beautiful details, including the ram and ox heads above the columns — signifying that it was a meat market.
Located across from Colonial Lake on Beaufain Street, this house — built for one family c. 1840 — once served as a home for “Presbyterian and Huguenot woman of gentle birth and small means.” In 1971 it was converted back to a single family house.
This unusual building is the only house in Charleston on top of the harbor. A former degaussing station once owned by the Navy, it was converted into a private home in 2010. Almost 6000 square feet with a 240 foot private dock, it has pretty nice views too!
A beautiful gate and piazza on a Rutledge Avenue house built in 1852. The piazza was actually a later addition.
This beautiful wall of jasmine can be found on Lamboll Street. The fragrance is stupendous.
This cool glass fronted house is on Murray Boulevard, behind the gardens of the C. Bissell Jenkins House. The modern design is a nice counterpoint to its grand neighbor, which was the first house built on Murray Boulevard after the land was reclaimed creating the peninsula as we know it today.
This handsome house on Anson Street was built c. 1800. The beautiful curving staircase was added 44 years later — the same time a third story was added to the house. In a renovation in 1969, the third story was removed and the house returned to its original profile.
These cool window boxes are on Elliott Street, right around the corner from Rainbow Row.
This cannon was discovered under a house on Tradd Street when the house was being renovated. It’s now on display in the front yard for all to see.