Glimpses of Charleston

A local's eye view

Houses/Buildings/Gates

The Simmons-Edwards House on Legare Street is one of the most spectacular houses and properties in Charleston. It is ore popularly known as the Pineapple Gates House, for obvious but inaccurate reasons. The "pineapples" are actual stylized Italian pine cones. But, pineapples would be good too, as they symbolize "welcome" or "hospitality."
These almost twin doors are part of Bee's Block, which is a stretch of connected houses on Bull Street.  There is another pair on the block as well. They're all gorgeous and a pleasure to see every time you go by.
The beautiful Isaac Jenkins Mikell House (circa 1853) is well known for a variety of reasons (including that it was the public library for many years and more recently has been on the TV show Southern Charm). Its Corinthian columns capitals are carved from cypress wood and are ornamented with rams heads. No bull.
The beautiful Belvedere (aka the Albert W. Todd House, circa 1900) fronts Colonial Lake at the corner of Rutledge Avenue and Queen Street. It's named for the demolished Cooper River plantation house where much of wood and interior details (cornices, wainscots mantels) were salvaged. And to make it even better -- you can sleep there, as it is now a B&B.
This house dates back to 1763 and was the home of John Rutledge, who was clearly an underachiever. Not only was he a singer of the Declaration of Independence, he was the first Governor of South Carolina, and Justice of the United States Supreme Court (among other things). The cool thing is that you too can sleep there, as it is now an inn and has one of the most recognizable sidewalks in Charleston.
This Glimpse contains one of my favorite father/son memories -- the baseball lodging in our gate while tossing with my son when he was young. Besides being able to catch baseballs, a very cool thing about the gate is that it was designed for us by Philip Simmons, the famed Charleston blacksmith. Even cooler, the gate was built on The National Mall in Washington, DC in 2001 at the Smithsonian Institutions' American Folklife Festival. Even cooler, each decorative scroll was wrought by a different student of the School of the Building Arts (now the American College of the Building Arts). And to make it that much more cool, the ornament on top of the gate was added by Mr. Simmons at the very end, because he "wanted my wife to have a diamond." While it may be a modest gate, it's story is as good as any in Charleston!
This unusually double-bowed porch fronts a beautiful house on Chapel Street (built circa 1840). The house holds the distinction for having the first documented use of linoleum in Charleston -- which was used as the stair hall floor coverings.  The builder had to order from England. Talking about being fashion forward!
Inside the Post Office and Federal Courthouse  (under the flag on the right) is the Postal Museum -- a tiny gem of a museum. One room, full of all sorts of cool postal history, is worth taking the time to see. Plus, it's a great reason to go into the Post Office, which is gorgeous.
The United States Custom House on East Bay is one of the most imposing buildings in Charleston. Construction began in 1849, but was not completed until 1879 -- 30 years later! The reason it took so long is that the Civil War interrupted the work, and then it took another 12 years to finish after it was reauthorized by Congress in 1867. 
This very colonial (circa 1686) little building, at the corner of East Bay and Exchange Street,  is the oldest liquor store in the United States. Pretty cool.
Charleston is so full of amazing houses and buildings. This row of antebellum houses (built in the 1790's/1800)is on Elliot Street, right around the corner from Rainbow Row.  Have you strolled by them?
This wonderful combination of iron gate and antebellum house can be found on Gibbes Street. Built in 1806, the Parker-Drayton House would have once had a view across the marshes to the Ashley River.
This surprisingly modern glass fronted house is looking out on Murray Boulevard -- the Low Battery. Nestled behind the garden of the  C. Bissell Jenkins House -- the first house built on Murray Boulevard, it is unlike any other house in the area. It certainly provides a spectacular view for those inside, as well as those looking in! You can learn all about this unusual house here.
This house on John Street, which was built about 1885, has some beautiful details -- including some wonderful blooming Confederate Jasmine.  Both stories of the house are fronted by a porch (which is not a piazza -- as those appear on the side of Charleston single houses),  providing a beautiful setting for catching the evening breeze.
Charleston is known as the "Holy City," due to the large number of churches which were historically here and that when viewed from the harbor the city's only structures sticking above the low rooftops were church steeples. This is the Citadel Square Baptist Church's -- which is one of the tallest in Charleston.
These glorious window boxes and pretty cool shutters (and mailbox) can be found on King Street. So Charleston.
This "porthole" can be found on the front of Charleston City Hall. With some identical twins along the sides of the building, this iconic beautiful iron and stone work is a quick identifier for this significant Charleston building. Have you posed in front of one?
Market Hall anchors the front end of the Charleston City Market -- which traces its roots back to 1788, when the land for the market was ceded to the City by Charles Pinckney with the stipulation that the land be used as a public market in perpetuity. Market Hall was designed by the well-known architect, E.B. White, and was inspired by Temple of the Wingless Victory in Athens. Across the top are friezes of sheep's and bull's heads, symbolizing that there was a meat market there.
The Miles Brewton House (circa 1769) on King Street is one of the truly special houses in Charleston. Its whole complex, complete with its dependency buildings, is considered to be the finest example of Georgian architecture remaining in America. During the Revolutionary War it served as the headquarters for British General Henry Clinton, and towards the end of the Civil War it was the Union army headquarters. It's a spectacular house and property -- thanks to Town & Country magazine, you can get a peek inside here.
The US Custom House if one of the grandest government buildings in Charleston, The original plans called for it to be even grander -- including four porticos, a dome and an expanded interior plan. Even in its diminished form, it's still pretty imposing!
This grand house on Bee Street, is well situated if you need to go to school. It's just around the corner from Ashley Hall -- from which Barbara Bush graduated high school in 1943 -- as well as being down the street from the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). 
The Old City Jail was built in 1803 and was a pretty horrible place to be (this is the front, which was the Jailer's quarters). But what few people now know is that there was a building next door (which has long since been torn down) that was an even nastier place. Known as the Work House, or the Sugar House, it was where captured runaway slaves were kept and -- along with other slaves who were sent there -- punished. Some truly awful stuff went on there. 
This house on Murray Boulevard is being raised up to help it better deal with possible flood waters. While raising the protective levels of the entire the Low Battery is in the works, it's going to be a long (and expensive!) process. The owners here are taking action into their own hands.
Unless you are walking west along Tradd Street, this beautiful house is usually not seen from this angle. As a one way street (going west to east), if you are biking or driving on Tradd you'll usually just see the pretty flower boxes that front the street.
The Philip Porcher House, located at the corner of Archdale and Magazine Streets, was built outside the walled city of Charleston in about 1773. Despite the relatively modest exterior, both the interior of the house and its gardens are gorgeous. If you are lucky enough to have the opportunity to see either, take it!
This beautiful scene, at the corner of South Battery and Lenwood Boulevard, highlights a wonderful Colonial Revival house -- designed by the famed architect Albert Simons. For Charleston, it's a relative youngster... built in 1935-16.
The Unitarian Church's steeple has contributed to the Charleston skyline since 1852 (the construction of the main body of the church itself began in 1772), helping create the "Holy City" moniker. A beautiful church.
In the street in front of this beautiful antebellum house at the corner of Tradd Street and Rutledge Avenue lies the remains of a torpedo boat (which looked a lot like a submarine, but never fully submerged in the water), which was  abandoned and left to rot in the water that used to be there. You can see a very cool photo of it here. In 1998, a team using ground penetrating radar found anomalies under the pavement of Tradd Street which resembled the boat. But since that area has long been filled in and is now under Tradd Street, it was never excavated. Pretty cool to think it is there though.
These beautiful red doors, protected by the wonderful iron fence and gates, are found at St. John's Lutheran Church on Archdale Street. Built  in 1816-18, to replace a wooden structure, it is believed to have been designed by Frederick Wesner -- who also designed the Old Citadel building, as well as the portico of the South Carolina Society Hall. Interestingly, the ironwork was designed by Wesner's brother-in-law, Abraham P. Reeves. 
The beautiful Aiken-Rhett House was once the home of the 61st governor of South Carolina, William Aiken, Jr. The house was in the hands of the Aiken family for 142 years before being sold to the Charleston Museum. It is now open to the public and maintained by the Historic Charleston Foundation. One of the most interesting aspects of HCF's ownership is that they elected to preserve it in an "as found" state, providing the opportunity for it to be experienced as it would have been in the mid-19th century. It's definitely worth the visit!
The Old City Jail is one of Charleston's most haunted buildings (and it is Glimpses' favorite). While numerous ghostly activities and been seen and felt by its visitors -- there are countless interesting stories -- the most famous concern Lavinia Fisher -- who is commonly thought of as America's first female serial killer. She has been spotted many times haunting the Jail. While the Jail has been featured on many TV shows, you can experience it in person through the excellent tours of Bulldog Tours. Ooooooo.
Some beautiful Live Oaks with Spanish Moss framing the Towell Library along the Cistern Yard at the College of Charleston. Before it became the heart of the College, the Cistern Yard was the site of some Revolutionary War barracks, which in 1790 started hosting classes.
This house, with its tall Ionic columns, on Murray Boulevard is well known for the pigs guarding the bottom of the stairs, as it has (well, used to have) a connection to the Piggly Wiggly supermarkets. If you time it right, you might find them dressed in various costumes -- as they usually dress for the holidays.
The beautiful Branford-Horry House, at the corner of Meeting and Tradd Streets, was built in 1750. In 1830s the striking portico was added -- making it one of the few buildings that extends over the sidewalk in Charleston.
This beautiful Greek Revival house on Broad Street, also know as the Cooper-O'Connor House, was built about 1855 and served as a prison for Union officers during the Civil War. Southern hospitality...
This beautiful gate fronts the house at 75 Tradd Street, which was built in about 1815 by Dr. Aaron Leland. Leland served as the minister at the nearby First Scots Presbyterian Church -- which is the fifth oldest in Charleston. While traffic was not as much of an issue then, he did ensure he would have a short commute.
These beautiful flower boxes hang on the front of the youngest of the houses known as the Three Sisters on Meeting Street. Built following the Revolutionary War, this house is distinguished from its sisters who were constructed before the Revolution. 
This beautiful antebellum house (circa 1857) on Legare Street is located on land that was originally part of the property of the pre-revolutionary era Miles Brewton House (one of the most significant Georgian houses in the United States). If you are going to live in a subdivision in downtown Charleston, this looks like a good way to go!
This house on East Bay Street holds a very special distinction on Rainbow Row -- it was the very first to be restored on the row (which is the largest collection of attached antebellum houses in the United States).
Built in 1805 by the Adam Tunno, the "King of the Scotch" (which has nothing to do with single malt), this beautiful house was later home to a governor of South Carolina, Andrew Macgrath (he served less than a year, with his term ending when he was arrested by Union troops).